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GDF commissions new Bell helicopter, refurbished plane
…as President Ali talks up Air Corps modernisation
Kaieteur News – President Irfaan Ali, on Saturday, commissioned the recently refurbished Beechcraft Super King Air 350, and a new Bell 412 EP1 helicopter, at the Guyana Defence Force’s (GDF), Air Corps Station at Timehri, East Bank Demerara (EBD).
During his feature address, the President said that the introduction of the additional aircrafts signals the dawning of a transformational era for the Defence Force, adding that it complements the larger human resource asset.
“The modernisation of the air corps or the aviation wing of the GDF has just begun. We have invested heavily in ensuring that we have the right complement of human resource personnel, and also the right level of training,” President Ali said.
The New Bell 412 helicopter
He continued, “We are sparing no effort in ensuring that we put our Guyana Defence Force and Air Corps in the frontline of modernisation and transformation and creating an environment in which we are second to none. This vision requires transformational thinking,” the Head of State underscored.
The Beechcraft Super King Air 350 has been identified as one of the most sought-after turboprops within the industry and has spent the last two years undergoing extensive upgrades to serve as the executive aircraft for the government.
The refurbished Beechcraft
It is equipped with twin engines, a cruising capacity of some 35,000 feet, and a 1600-pound weight capacity with maximum fuel.
Meanwhile, the Bell 412 EPI Helicopter is expected to tremendously enhance GDF’s capacity for rapidly deploying forces to the remote areas of the country. It will also play a significant role in improving the country’s territorial defence, and improving surveillance capacity, in keeping with the country’s robust defence policy.
This is the second Bell Helicopter in GDF’s Fleet; the first arrived in March 2021 and cost Guyana $414M.
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