Royal Thai Army Aviation Center

The Royal Thai Army Aviation Center (Thai: ศูนย์การบินทหารบก) is the administrative organization in the Royal Thai Army responsible for doctrine, personnel, and configuration of all army aviation units. It is based at Fort Princess Srinagarindra, in Mueang Lopburi District.

Royal Thai Army Aviation Center
ศูนย์การบินทหารบก
Founded25 June 1935-Present
CountryThailand
BranchRoyal Thai Army
TypeArmy aviation
Garrison/HQFort Princess Srinagarindra, Mueang Lopburi, Lopburi
Websiteaavnc.rta.mi.th/index2.htm
Insignia
Aircraft symbol
Aircraft flown
Attack helicopterBell AH-1F Huey Cobra
Boeing AH-6
Eurocopter Fennec AS550 C3
Cargo helicopterCH-47
Mil Mi-17-V5
Multirole helicopterAgustaWestland AW149
Bell UH-1H Iroquois
Eurocopter UH-72A Lakota
Trainer helicopterEnstrom 480,
Utility helicopterUH-60
Bell UH-1H Iroquois
Eurocopter UH-72A Lakota

History

Thai military aviation began in 1911 when three Siamese army officers were sent to France to learn to pilot aircraft. They returned to Siam in 1913 with four Nieuport monoplanes and four Breguet biplanes. An aerodrome constructed at Don Mueang and the army aviation units moved there on 17 March 1914. On 27 March 1914 the unit became the Army Air Corps. Since then, 27 March has been observed as the birthday of the Royal Thai Air Force.[1]

In 1918, the Army Air Corps gained the status of a division consisting of three wings. It remained under the army until December 1921 when it was renamed the Air Division and was placed directly under the Ministry of War. The Air Division's name changed again in 1935 to the Air Force Division. In 1937 it was proclaimed the Royal Thai Air Force.[1] In 1967 the Army Aviation School was founded, and the Army Aviation Center was created on 20 September 1977.

Mission
  • Planning, directing, and practicing And study about Operation of the Royal Thai Army
  • Conduct research Develop, define principles and make texts in science associated
  • Ruling the military units that the Ministry of Defense requires The commander of the Army Aviation Center is responsible for

Organization
  • Headquarters
  • Science Division
  • Service Division
  • Airport Division
  • Aviation Communications Division
  • Aviation Safety Division
  • Disease examination unit
  • Army Aviation School
  • Department of Aviation
  • Aviation Base Defense Battalion
  • Aviation Communication Support Division

Aircraft

The Royal Thai Army is known to operate the following aircraft:

Photo Model Type Origin Quantity Notes
Helicopters
Bell AH-1F Huey CobraAttack helicopter US7Serial numbers 9996, 9997, 9998. Serial number 9999 lost in 2001 crash. Four more of the same model were ordered in 2005.[2] The RTA has three AH-1F in storage for spare parts.[3]
Boeing AH-6Light attack helicopter US(8)Eight on order.
Eurocopter Fennec AS550 C3Light attack helicopter France8Gunships. Serial numbers are 7443, 7484, 7560, 7584, 7658, 7703, 7724, and 7775.
Sikorsky UH-60L/M Blackhawk (S-70A-43)Utility helicopter US12Serial numbers 6927, 6928, 6929, 7002, 7003, 7025, and 7026. Three more UH-60Ls[4] and three more UH-60Ms[5] ordered Aug 2009 and Jul 2011, respectively. S-70A-43, serial number 6928 was lost in a crash on 17 July 2011. The government has also approved the purchase of two more UH-60Ms. Three more S-70As (based on the UH-60L) arrived at the port of Laem Chabang on 8 April 2013. The serial numbers for these are 7220, 7221, and 7222. Three UH-60M Black Hawks were delivered to RTA on 31 August 2014.These are serial numbers 7334, 7335, and 7336.[6]
AgustaWestland AW149Utility helicopter Italy5
Bell UH-1H IroquoisUtility helicopter US92From US military aid during Vietnam War. Some were bought by RTA through Excess defence articles. Total delivered from 1968–2004: 174.[7] Less than 50% airworthy. All operable UH-1Hs are in use by three RTA airmobile companies. In 2016 20 UH-1Hs will be upgraded into the UH-1H Plus standard with engines replace by Honeywell T53-L703 as well as main rotor blade, tail boom, and many parts replace by the Bell 212 equipment standard.[8]
Bell 212Utility helicopter US60Used by 1st Airmobile Co, 2nd Airmobile Co, 3rd Airmobile Co, and Department of Army Transportation. 48 units undergoing upgrade to tactical helicopter.
Bell 206 Jet RangerUtility helicopter US25Both the Bell 206A and Bell 206B are in use.
Eurocopter UH-72A LakotaUtility helicopter US5These are serial numbers 9644, 9646, 9654, 9656, 9661, and 9666. Serial number 9656 has crashed in 2016.[9]
Eurocopter EC145VIP transport helicopter France6For VIPs.[10]
AgustaWestland AW139VIP transport/Utility helicopter Italy6For VIPs.[11][12]
Mil Mi-17-V5Transport helicopter Russia7Three helicopters delivered by AN-124-100 RA-82078 to U-Tapao RTNS on 22 February 2011. A photo has appeared of Mi-17 serial number 6403 being offloaded from an AN-124. The serial numbers of the remaining two are 6401 and 6402.2 additional Mi-17-V5 were delivered into U-Tapao RTNS on 26 November 2015 by AN-124. These were serial numbers 6404 and 6405.
Boeing CH-47D ChinookTransport helicopter US4
Schweizer S-300CObservation/Trainer helicopter US45For observation and training
Enstrom 480BTrainer helicopter US16For training
Fixed-wing aircraft
CASA C-295WTransport aircraft Spain1The RTA ordered one C-295W.[13]
CASA C-212-300 Aviocartransport aircraft Spain1Serial numbers 446 and 447 based with the VIP squadron at Don Mueang Airport. One of these aircraft is no longer in service.
Embraer ERJ-135LRVIP transport aircraft Brazil2Both aircraft delivered (serial numbers 1084/HS-AMP and 1124)
British Aerospace Jetstream 41VIP transport aircraft UK2Serial numbers 41060 and 41094. Based with the VIP unit at Don Mueang Airport.
Beechcraft 1900C-1VIP transport aircraft US2Serial numbers 0169 and 0170. Based with the VIP unit at Don Mueang Airport.
Beechcraft Super King Air 200VIP transport aircraft US2Serial numbers 0342 and 1165. Based at the Lopburi army complex.
Unmanned aerial vehicles
Elbit Hermes 450UAV Israel4The RTA has taken delivery of four Hermes 450 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, The UAVs are operated by the 21st Aviation Battalion at the Army Aviation Centre at Lopburi.[14]
IAI SearcherUAV IsraelUnknown
AeroVironment RQ-11 RavenUAV USUnknown

References
  1. "Royal Thai Air Force - Kong Thap Akat Thai". Scramble. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  2. "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  3. Ghiringhelli, Paul Steven (21 October 2010). "AH-1 Cobra retirement program at Fort Drum ends; final four helicopters head to Thailand". United States Army. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  4. Archived 16 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Archived 21 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  6. Archived 23 July 2015 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 October 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2019.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "D&S2015: Transworld upgrading RTA UH-1H and RTN & RTP Bell 212". Thai Armed Force. Archived from the original on 4 June 2016. Retrieved 4 November 2015.
  9. "Thai Army UH-72 Lakota Crashes". Military Aviation Review. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  10. "Thailand signs contract to buy six EC145 helicopters". Janes. Archived from the original on 24 February 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  11. "Royal Thai Army Takes Delivery of Two AW139 Helicopters". Leonardo Company. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
  12. "Thai Army Orders 8 AgustaWestland AW139 Helicopters". Defense World. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  13. "Orders, Deliveries, In Operation Military aircraft by Country - Worldwide" (PDF). Airbus Defence & Space. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2016.
  14. "Thailand expands ties with Israel through UAV acquisition". Janes. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2019.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.