No. 7 Squadron SLAF

No. 7 Helicopter Squadron is a squadron of the Sri Lanka Air Force. It currently operates Bell 212s, Bell 206s from SLAF Hingurakgoda for troop transport, MEDEVAC and training helicopter pilots.

History
In 1994, No. 4 Helicopter Wing was split into two Squadrons namely 401 and 402. No. 401 Squadron took charge of operational flying requirements and pilot training, and was located at SLAF Hingurakgoda with Bell 212 and Bell Jet Ranger helicopters in its fleet. It was later renamed as the No. 7 Squadron in July 1996 when Squadron Leader KVB Jayampathy was commanding. No. 402 Squadron remained at SLAF Katunayake and flew Bell 412 and Bell Jet Rangers, largely catering to VIP movement. In 1995 Mil Mi-24 were temporarily attached to this squadron before forming their own No. 9 Attack Helicopter Squadron.Flying Officer Asela Wickramasinghe was the youngest to command a helicopter at the age of 22.Pilot Officer Ravi Dharmawickrama was the first volunteer pilot ever to command a helicopter in battle field. Further he achieved a VIP rating when ranked flying officer a year after. Flight Lieutenant Dakshina Perera became the second volunteer pilot to command helicopters but his captaincy was withdrawn after an incident.

Aircraft operated

 * Bell 212
 * Bell 206
 * Mil Mi-24

Notable members

 * Air Vice Marshal (Then Sqaudron Leader) KVB Jayampathy WWV, RWP, RSP, (03bars),MSc (IR), MIM (SL), qhi, fndu(China) First Commanding Officer
 * Air Commodore (Then Sqaudron Leader) Royce Gunaratne WWV,RWP,RSP,Msc,NDC,PSc,QHI-Second Commanding Officer
 * Wing Commander (Then Squadron Leader) Avindra Mirando WWV (bar),RSP (03 Bars)- Third Commanding Officer
 * Wg Cdr Wasantha Jayawardhane RSP,psc,qhi Commanding Officer
 * Sqn Ldr Senarath Weerasekara BSc (Def Stu) Officer Commanding Maintenance
 * Sqn Ldr Dhammika Dias WWV, RSP, qhi Officer Commanding Operations
 * Sqn Ldr Dulip Hewawitharana BSc (Def Stu) Officer Commanding Training