Přerov: Hinds 'n' Hips

During a trip to the CIAF at Brno, 3Greens.nl was able to visit 'nearby' Přerov Air Base. Přerov is home to three squadrons: 231.vrl Mi-24/-35 Hinds, 232.vrl with Mi-17/-171 Hips and 233.vrl with a couple of W-3 Sokóls.

The Czech heliforce has undergone a firm upgrade in the last few years: both the Mi-24 and Mi-17 fleets have been modernized with the arrival of Mi-35's and Mi-171's. These helicopters have been delivered by Russia since 2005 to resolve Soviet debts to the Czech Republic.

The Czech MoD had planned to close Přerov somewhere in 2007, with the helicopters moving to Náměšt nad Oslavou. The main reason for this decision was probably the lack of modern infrastructure at Přerov. However, the move to Náměšt seems to have been postponed to late 2008 and the Hip squadron might even stay to support the local economy.

During our visit to Přerov the weather was terrible, with lots of rain showers spoiling the photo opportunities. Nonetheless, the helicopters were still flying as they were rehearsing for the flypast at CIAF the next day. In fact, the day before our visit the Hinds were flying when the weather was even much worse (with a visibility of less than 1 km!). The personnel of 231 squadron told us it was not uncommon for them to fly under these conditions, although they will stay inside their own CTR.

We would like to thank commander Braun for arranging this visit and the personnel of 231.vrl for their hospitality and patience when they walked us through the rain.