In the year in which it celebrates a half-century of existence and 35 years operating the M-18 Dromader, Dirk Jan de Ridder visits the firefighting specialists of the Hellenic Air Force’s 359 MAEDY.
Greek firefighters
The 359 Moira Aeroporikis Exypiretisis Dimosion Ypiresion (MAEDY, Public Services Air Support Unit) was established in 1968 and initially flew ten Bell 47 crop-dusting helicopters from Elefsis air base, west of Athens. The unit moved to Tatoi air base, on Athens’ northern outskirts, two years later. Fifty years after its establishment, and after operating C-47 Dakotas and Grumman G-164 Ag-Cats in the same role, the unit currently includes 22 PZL M-18 Dromader aircraft, three of which are twin-seat M-18BS training aircraft. During the Cold War, these were the only aircraft manufactured in an Eastern Bloc country serving with a NATO air arm. Thirty single-seaters were delivered in 1983, but the aircraft’s attrition rate is testament to the dangers of aerial firefighting. Five aircraft were lost in the first three years and four more by the turn of the century – in 2002 the survivors were supplemented by the three two-seaters to enhance in-house training.
The 359 MAEDY is not the Hellenic A…
