No. 104 Helicopter Squadron, IAF

No. 104 Helicopter Squadron
No. 104 Helicopter Squadron
Active	10 March 1954- Present
Country	Republic of India
Branch	Indian Air Force
Garrison/HQ	Suratgarh AFS
Nickname(s)	"Pioneer Rotarians"
Motto(s)	Apatsu Mitram; A friend in time of need
Aircraft flown
Attack	Mil Mi-35

No. 104 Helicopter Squadron (Pioneer Rotarians) is a fighter squadron and is equipped with Mil Mi-35 and based at Suratgarh Air Force Station.^[1]

History

The acquisition of Sikorsky S-55 in 1954 heralded the creation of the first Helicopter Flight within the IAF, and in 1958 become established as the first dedicated Helicopter Unit, No. 104 Helicopter Squadron.^[2]

The IAF S-55s were later phased out in 1966 inducting other helicopter types into service, such as the Mil Mi-35 model in 1990.^[3]

Assignments

Aircraft


Aircraft	From	To	Air Base
Sikorsky S-55	10 March 1954	March 1965	Palam AFS^[4]
	March 1965	May 1967	Hindan AFS
	May 1967	N/A	Saharanpur AFS
HAL Chetak	N/A	N/A
Mil Mi-35	April 1990	April 1995	Bhatinda AFS
Mil Mi-35	May 1995	Present	Suratgarh AFS

References

^ "Squadrons and Helicopter Units". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
^ "Sikorsky S-55 : The First Helicopters of the Indian Air Force".
^ "Our Strength". Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
^ "No.104 Helicopter Squadron Firebirds". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 30 August 2022.

[BRakshak-1] "Squadrons and Helicopter Units". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 4 December 2015.

[2] "Sikorsky S-55 : The First Helicopters of the Indian Air Force".

[3] "Our Strength". Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2015.

[104HS-4] "No.104 Helicopter Squadron Firebirds". Bharat Rakshak. Retrieved 30 August 2022.