REQ: French Air Force H-21s

[Mainsail]

Can anyone provide me with a c/n listing of H-21s ('Flying Banana') operated by the French Army/Navy, i.e. in the FRnnn sequence?
Failing this can you refer me to a site/publication that might list these? I have trawled the web with no success.
Thanks in advance,
Colin

[Frank Mink]

Hi Colin,
Is the sscramble database of any use for you?
https://www.scramble.nl/military-database
Select France and fill in"H-21*" at Type.

Greetz,
Frank Mink
www.tristaraviation.org

[Mainsail]

Hi Frank,
That's perfect - I should have looked closer to home!
Much obliged,
Colin

[Numbercruncher]

Hiya!

Please note the c/n's of these H-21's are much debated. From what I understand, the consensus is these came from Piasecki, and some (all?) where delivered directly to France, but I've never found a complete list of French serials to US serials. Checking joebaugher.com states 3 matchups on fy56:
56-2015 (MSN C.177) delivered Feb 04, 1957 by Aicraft Carrier DIXMUDE to French ALAT in France as 8.000.218 and became FR26.
56-2016 (MSN C.178) delivered Feb 04, 1957 by Aicraft Carrier DIXMUDE to French ALAT in France as 8.000.219 and became FR27.
56-2043 (MSN C.205) to French Army Aviation as FR59.

There are some more in fy55.

I think I've also seen some sources mentioning these were license built in France, however nobody has ever stated an actual factory, and I've never found any reference to this in 'mainstream' publications. Currently unable to access my previous research, but stating the c/n's as FR1 to FR108 would seem erroneous...

Of course I welcome any divergent opinions, preferably with rock solid evidence...

As a sidestep, I would also appreciate anyone sharing a view of an actual construction number plate on any H-21...

Regards,

Robert Weenk

[Mainsail]

Hi Robert,

Thanks for the note of caution with regard to these c/ns and I have to agree.
Certainly to assume that the range runs from FR001 to FR107 would be a serious mistake!

I too heard that they were built in France but have yet to have this confirmed.

I did find reference that the Aeronavale received the following:-

B.136 (53-4386) to 31F.1
B.137 (53-4387) to 31F.2
B.138 (53-4388) to 31F.4
B.162 (55-5127) to 31F.3
B.163 (55-5128) to 31F.5
B.165 (55-5130) to 31F.6
B.166 (55-5131) to 31F.7

But even these I am not too sure about.

I understand that the French ALAT received 98 and the Aeronavale 10 and consequently will try and reconcile these figures.

I am attempting to compile a complete listing of all H-21s for all airforces and this may assist (or confuse!) further tie-ups.

With regard to your request for a c/n plate image, I have written to my contact in the Classic Rotors Museum, Ramona, CA for a photograph of the plate on their CH-21B N64606, ex 54-4001 and will pass on if/when I receive it.

Thanks again,
Colin

[Numbercruncher]

Hi Colin,

But even these I am not too sure about.

I understand that the French ALAT received 98 and the Aeronavale 10 and consequently will try and reconcile these figures.

I am attempting to compile a complete listing of all H-21s for all airforces and this may assist (or confuse!) further tie-ups.

With regard to your request for a c/n plate image, I have written to my contact in the Classic Rotors Museum, Ramona, CA for a photograph of the plate on their CH-21B N64606, ex 54-4001 and will pass on if/when I receive it.

3 further remarks:
1. The French seem indeed to have received 10 B's and 98 C's, joebaugher.com gives about 15 references to French a/c, so far I haven't researched those yet.
2. I have a list of all c/n's matched to serial, problem would be to send you the full list (as most details are only shown on a details page), but I can send you a list of the 558 frames I know of.
3. Should your contact come through, I would also appreciate knowing where to look for the plate, since so far I haven't found any, but I may just not be looking in the right place...

HTH.

Regards,

Robert Weenk

[Mainsail]

Hi Robert,

Thanks for your last and I have now received a reply to my c/n plate request. I don't know if I can post images here and so you may prefer me to send as a private message or perhaps we can exchange email addresses via the secure contact page of my photo website https://www.colinsphotos.net/contactform.html

I am told that the plate is located "below and to the front of the pilots seat".

Regarding your offer to send me a listing that would be much appreciated and don't worry if it's too much trouble.
In the meantime, do you have a c/n for the 'one off' US Army tail # 52-8680 which falls between c/n B.042 & B.043? Perhaps it was never taken up?

Regards for now,
Colin