Francis Ogolla was set to celebrate his first anniversary as CDF.

Francis Ogolla: Features, Cost And Speed Of Helicopter That Crashed Killing Chief Of Defence Forces

Francis Ogolla was set to celebrate his first anniversary as CDF.

  • Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Francis Ogolla was onboard the Bell Huey II helicopter that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) acquired from the United States of America
  • Bell Huey II was designed for deployment on versatile missions, including disaster relief, firefighting and military assistance
  • The chopper, with a speed of 206km/hr, has a wide windscreen that provides excellent visibility for search and rescue operations

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TUKO.co.ke journalist Japhet Ruto brings over eight years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Francis Ogolla and nine other military officers perished in a tragic chopper crash on Thursday, April 18.

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Ogolla was onboard the Bell Huey II helicopter that the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) acquired from the United States of America in 2017, according to Africa Air.

The Bell Huey II is an upgraded version of the Bell UH-1H medium-lift helicopter produced by Bell Helicopter.

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What's Bell Huey II's capacity?

The manufacturer noted that the helicopter was designed for deployment on versatile missions, including disaster relief, firefighting, military assistance, cargo, special operations, search and rescue.

Business Jet Traveller reported that the chopper costs $5.6 million (KSh 744.8 million) when its new.

The Bell Huey II has a roomy cabin that can carry up to 14 people and is equipped with mechanical and electrical components for crucial communications.

Besides its life-saving equipment, its sliding doors and 2,268 kg cargo lifting capabilities provide strong and quick support for in-flight activities.

What are Bell Huey II's features?

  • Its multiple crew positions and litter configurations accommodate up to 14 passengers and mission-critical equipment.
  • The chopper's wide windscreen provides excellent visibility for search and rescue operations.
  • It boasts versatile cockpit configurations that enable various instrumentation and avionics.
  • The helicopter's original equipment manufacturer (OEM) increases its operational lifecycle, meaning more hours in the air and less maintenance time.
  • Its custom configurations allow the pilot to meet the unique needs of a specific mission.
  • It has a cabin height of four feet, width (eight feet) and length (nine feet).
  • Bell Huey II has a range of 205 miles (329.9km) and a maximum speed of 206km/hr.
  • The helicopter's cabin volume is 6.2 cubic metres.
  • Its maximum takeoff weight is 4,763 kilogrammes, while the max gross weight is 5,080kg. When empty, it weighs 2,552 kg.
  • It can fly to a maximum altitude of 12,700 feet (3.8km) and has a standard fuel capacity of 799 litres.

Which other choppers are owned by KDF?

Kenya's military is ranked 13th in the continent in terms of strength, with a power index of 1.7701, according to Global Firepower.

The country acquired F-16 fighter jets in 2019. As reported by Who Owns Kenya, Kenya became the first country in the region to own and operate the Lockheed Martin-made jet.

The Kenya Airforce operates two AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters acquired from Jordan. The acquisition came after Jordanian king Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein visited the country in 2016 and signed a military pact.

Nairobi got six Grob G120A basic trainer aircraft from Germany, the wealthiest country in Europe in terms of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) also unveiled the American C-145 Skytruck valued at KSh 1.4 billion in April 2021.

What to know about Francis Ogolla's death

  • Chief of Defence Forces Francis Ogolla had just addressed soldiers who were deployed to the troubled Kerio Valley before he died in a chopper crash.
  • Ogolla and nine military officers perished after their chopper crashed shortly after take-off at the border of West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet counties.
  • President William Ruto declared three days of national mourning in honour of the four-star general.
  • The body of the deceased general was received in Nairobi on Thursday, April 18, evening.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

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Francis Ogolla was set to celebrate his first anniversary as CDF.
Francis Ogolla was set to celebrate his first anniversary as CDF.
Features of Sh. 740 million helicopter that crashed, killed CDF Francis
Features of Sh. 740 million helicopter that crashed, killed CDF Francis
Francis Ogolla: Features, Cost and Speed of Helicopter That Crashed
Francis Ogolla: Features, Cost and Speed of Helicopter That Crashed