On the morning of 20/8, two Mi8 and Mi24 helicopters were moved from the Southern Air Defense Museum in Tan Son Nhat ward, Ho Chi Minh City, to Bien Hoa Airbase in Dong Nai. This relocation facilitates a renovation project at the museum, where the aircraft will be temporarily stored before being displayed again.
To prepare for the move, technical personnel carefully disassembled the cockpit, turbine engines, and mounted machine guns from the aircraft's steel frame, ensuring their integrity during transport.
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Technical personnel disassemble the helicopter's internal engine compartment.
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The helicopter's engine system, machine guns, and steel frame were disassembled before transport.
Le Duy Giang, director of the Southern Air Force Museum, confirmed that renovations commenced in early August. This necessitated moving the two helicopters to Bien Hoa Airbase for storage. The museum will retain five other helicopters, combat aircraft, and fighter jets, which will be rearranged in the exhibition space once renovations conclude.
A specialized military vehicle cranes an aircraft engine for relocation. *Video: Nguyen Thuy*.
Both relocated helicopters boast significant combat histories. The Mi24 helicopter, registration number 7503, played a role in conflicts against Khmer Rouge remnants, defending the southwestern border from 1984 to 1986. Developed by the Soviet Union in the late 1960s, this heavy attack helicopter is designed for troop transport and fire support, equipped with machine guns, rockets, and anti-tank missiles.
The Mi8 helicopter, from the 917th Armed Helicopter Regiment, was instrumental in defending the nation's southern islands. It also assisted Military Regions 5, 7, and 9 in clearing forces encroaching on the southern border throughout the 1980s. This aircraft measures over 18 m in length and has a 12-ton payload capacity.
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Two Mig21 and F5 fighter jets are displayed at the Southern Air Defense Museum. *Photo: Dinh Van*.
The Southern Air Defense Museum in Ho Chi Minh City opened in 1995. It offers indoor and outdoor exhibition areas, housing approximately 350 artifacts, documents, and images that chronicle the history of the Vietnam Air Force.
Dinh Van
