Air Wing of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces

Air Wing, Republic of Fiji Military Forces
The markings
Active	1987
Country	Fiji
Type	Air force
Role	Air defence
Garrison/HQ	Suva
Aircraft flown
Utility helicopter	Eurocopter AS 365N2 Dauphin 2, Aerospatiale AS 355F-2 Twin Squirrel
Transport	Boeing 707-339

The Air Wing of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces was the air force of Fiji from 1987-1997

History

The Air Wing of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces was founded in 1987, had a base at the airport in Nausori, but was abolished in 1997. Yehonatan Shimʻon Frenḳel writes that the "Air Wing was formed after the 1987 coup, when the French provided two helicopters as part of its military aid package." Frenkel goes on to say that the air wing was disbanded after both helicopters crashed and after subsequent revelations of huge debts incurred as a result of the aircraft.

The two helicopters were:

• 1 transport helicopter Eurocopter AS 365N2 Dauphin 2 – matriculation marker DQ-FGD – in service from 1989 to 1994.
• 1 transport helicopter Aerospatiale AS 355F-2 Twin Squirrel – matriculation marker DQ-FGH – in service from 1991 to 1997.

Helicopter AS-365 N2 Dauphin crashed off the coast of the main island in July 1994, a smaller helicopter AS-355F-2 continued in service until mid-1997 and in 1999 was sold to France.

The Air Wing did not have its own roundel or ensign and its only marking was the national flag used as a fin flash. Some websites mentioned that Fiji used the Harbin H-11 but that in fact was not true, but it was possibly mistaken for the Y-12 used by Air Fiji

A Fijian Boeing 707-339

The Boeing 707-339 was used by the Fiji UN ambassadors, it operated in Pakistan International Airlines markings with Royal Fiji Military Forces titles near the front passenger door.

References

http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/ops/mil/republic-of-fiji-military-forces.htm