The Guyana Defence Force has been called upon to remove the shells of three Soviet-manufactured helicopters from their Air Corps Base at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA), Timehri.
The helicopters were up to yesterday being moved from a sand pit area along the Soesdyke/Linden Highway to an undisclosed graveyard. At the sand pit workmen were getting their equipment together to remove the aircraft shells that were placed there the night before.
According to reports, the GDF was called upon to have the shells of the aircraft moved out of sight as quickly as possible but some equipment difficulties slowed the process down as one of the shells is approximately 30,000 lbs.
This newspaper understands that the choppers were received from the Soviet Union in the mid-1980s. The late President Forbes Burnham was responsible for their importation but he had passed away by the time they arrived in Guyana.
The helicopters fell into disrepair and the company that manufactured them went out of business. Stabroek News understands that the choppers would be inspected and a decision made about what would ultimately be done with them. Covers for the aircraft are already in place at the Air Corps flight hangers.
Members of the public have suggested that the aircraft be preserved as a part of Guyana’s military history.
