The National Air Force Museum of Canada has announced they have acquired a CH-125 helicopter, commonly referred to as the “Flying Banana.”
The museum says in a press release that they accepted the delivery of a Vertol Canada CH-125 Workhorse (Piasecki H21B from the BC Aviation Museum in Saanich, British Columbia.
It is referred to as the “Flying Banana” due to its shape.
The single-engine tandem rotor helicopter was first acquired by the RCAF in 1954 and remained in service until 1973.
The helicopter would transport personnel, equipment, and supplies to remote radar sites across Canada.
After supporting transport operations, the helicopters were transitioned to a search-and-rescue role until they were replaced by the CH-113 Labrador.
“The museum’s newly acquired CH-125 is wearing its original paint scheme and tail number 9641 – but not much more,” the museum said in the release.
“Its rotor blades, engine, and spare parts needed for restoration are still in BC. The helicopter will require significant work from the museum’s restoration team to bring it to display condition.”
Despite its name, and its role with search and rescue, CH-125 9641 will not sport the familiar yellow colour of today’s Search and Rescue aircraft.
Instead, it will be restored to its original blue, white, and red paint scheme worn by Air Transport Command rescue aircraft.
There is currently no timeline for restoration.
Members of the museum’s restoration team and a crew from Bay Crane coordinate a safe landing for the museum’s newly acquired CH-125.
