Sierra Leone 2000
Views from the Front Seat of a Mi-24 Hind Helicopter
Gunship
The Mi-24 Hind is the most common
Russian made helicopter gunship. Brokers sell them for as little
as $1.2m,
and as sources in Sierra Leone
tell you, they can be a decisive force in bush wars. Cheaper, more
available,
and easier to maintain than their
western counterparts, they are also are large enough to carry a few passengers
and cargo, making them substantially
more versatile as well. Many of the parts are shared with the Mi-17
transport helicopter, easing logistics.
Hind Shadow.
A number of my sources have indicated
that the only reason that the RUF were able to march into Freetown
in the horrific January 1999
attack was because Sierra Leone's sole Hind was down for repairs.
The windows in the back of the Hind
have folding gun mounts and shields for the passengers.
The helicopter is well protected,
with titanium on the bottom, armored pilot's seats and armored forward
windshields.
The pilot as seen from the passenger/cargo
area.
Front Seat Controls
I was allowed to touch two gadgets
- the intercom and the canopy handle . . .
Hard to believe, but this ride beat
the hell out of my Toyota Celica . . .
Take off at dusk . . .
Helicopters fly low in this place.
A low pass over the beach bars at Lumley Beach, in
Freetown.
Usually I don't see bars from this angle until much
later in the evening . . .
Headed for base
Approach to Cockerill.
Landing.
If you have comments, suggestions, death threats or job offers, email me at
Hoosier84@aol.com