Page 67 - AirForces Monthly - Issue 381 (December 2019)

a number of things. For example, our Hydra
and Hellfire rockets are always mounted on
the right-hand side of the helicopter and we
mount our 12.7mm machine gun on the left. If
we use the machine gun, we need to remove
the left door because of the overwhelming
blast of the gun – the pressure would simply
break the doors. You can imagine how it
feels when you are sitting next to the gun
when it fires with the doors removed!”
Full operational capability
Last year was a busy one for the EH, as the
commander recalled: “We had to train new pilots
on the OH-58D and, at the same time, needed to
educate student pilots [on the Bell 206]. On top
of that, headquarters requested our participation
in a number of exercises, including the national
large-scale exercise Velebit 18, conducted from
October 13 to 15. We participated with four
OH-58Ds during day and night operations. Due
to the many commitments, we weren’t able to
quickly train enough additional pilots for the
OH-58D. This year we have also participated
in a number of exercises, but we’ve not yet
participated in any international manoeuvres.
Our main focus this year is on reaching full
operational capability, planned before the end
of the year. The moment we have reached that
status we can focus on other things again.”
Lt Col Gren describes the OH-58D as a
“versatile and swift” helicopter. “It is used for a
to simulate a Hellfire attack.” same aircraft as the OH-58D in terms of flight wide range of tasks, including reconnaissance,
Having successfully concluded their techniques, but [in the OH-58D] you can do target acquisition, close air support and
training, the Croatian pilots were declared things much faster and more aggressively, and command and control during day and night
fully combat-ready and the squadron it’s much more responsive. It is a very swift conditions. It’s fit for the job and we expect a
reached initial operational capability (IOC). helicopter! Of course, the glass cockpit and bright future for the helicopter and our unit.
In December 2017, the American trainers the wide range of electro-optical equipment We expect to participate in large international
left the base and the squadron took over the and weapon capabilities were new for us. exercises soon. We already see foreign
tuition of the other pilots. At the beginning For that, you need a crew of two pilots. helicopters visiting our base on a regular basis
of 2018, the first four pilots undertook “At first, we thought that the mast-mounted to take advantage of the excellent weather
the first course given by the EH’s own sight would interfere with the aerodynamics of and training facilities in our country, including
instructors, and the latest batch of personnel the helicopter, but the opposite was the case: the Eugen Kvaternik gunnery range.” By the
concluded their training in May 2019. it stabilises the vibration of the helicopter. They end of this year, NATO’s Multinational Special
tried to install a new and much smaller version Aviation Program is scheduled to be up and
Good experiences of the sight on the subsequent OH-58F model running at the base, attracting more helicopters
Lt Col Gren considered that training his and concluded that the vibration was far worse and crew to Zadar. “We try to seize every
crews on the OH-58D was “relatively easy” . than with the original sight. In terms of flying opportunity to train together to get more
He added: “The Bell 206 is basically the with armament, we also had to get used to experiences,” Lt Col Gren concluded.“ AFM
Above: Croatian OH-58D serial 321 during a
low-level flight north of Zadar. The US Army
OH-58D fleet accumulated more than 800,000
combat flying hours during the wars in Iraq and
Afghanistan before it was replaced in the scout/
reconnaissance role by the AH-64 and UAVs.
Left: Photographed at Zadar-Zemunik, this
OH-58D was ready for a night reconnaissance
mission near the city of Split.
Right: The Eskadrila helikoptera not only trains
Kiowa Warrior pilots but also aircrew for the Mi-
8MTV-1 and Mi-171Sh. For this task, the unit
has eight Bell 206B-3 JetRangers at its disposal.
Here, students check their JetRangers before a
training flight from Zadar-Zemunik.

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