In 1951, Okanagan Helicopters of British Columbia started offering mountain flying training to helicopter pilots from its base at Vancouver Airport. In the mid-1950s the school moved to Penticton in the Okanagan Valley (which had better weather) when it won significant pilot training contracts from the RCAF, US Army and French military, followed by many other nations. This is the school's 2,500-square-foot cramped quarters in August 2008. In 2012, Canadian Helicopters reined the school "Topflight" and moved into a new $5 million, state-of-the-art building 20,000 sq ft facility next door.

Painted as Netherlands Air Force "X-5", but never flew as such. The real X-5 was c/n 33323. The aircraft seen here is in fact ex Danish AF K-688, and before that it served with the Norwegian AF and the USAF. It was acquired by the museum in 1983, first painted as "ZU-5", and later as "X-5". It was removed from the museum in 2010 for restoration as "T-443" of the Netherlands East Indies Air Force. It is currently on display as such in the new Nationaal Militair Museum (NMM).

Taken on charge by the Royal Netherlands Navy as a P2V-7B on 8 Sep 1961, redesignated to P-2H in Sep 1962, and converted to SP-2H circa 1963. Struck off charge 13 Nov 1981 and transferred to the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum a week later.

With name "de Ouwe Lobbes" barely visible. On long-term loan from the Royal Air Force Museum. This aircraft is widely quoted as c/n 5294, but that is its fuselage number. It is in fact Dornier Werknummer 3387 which was delivered to Spain in Sep 1944, becoming '65-7', then HR.5-7, HR.5-1 and finally HD.5-1. It was one of two examples bought in August 1976 by Dolph Overton and it was registered to him as N99225 in Feb 1977. The aircraft was never delivered to him, remaining in storage at Pollensa, Spain. Mr. Overton donated it to the Royal Air Force Museum in 1982, which in turn loaned it to the Dutch museum in Nov 1991.

This is the real McCoy, no fake identities here. This Mitchell started life as 44-31258 with the USAAF, but was immediately delivered to the Netherlands East Indies Air Force in Sep 1945 as N5-264, which was changed to M-464 in June 1947. In Jun 1950 it was transferred to the Indonesian AF, and after serving with them for many years (using the same serial M-464) it arrived at the museum in Oct 1971.

This Dominie started service with the Royal Netherlands Air Force in Sep 1944, initially with its former RAF serial NF689 (still carried on the fin in this photo). It briefly flew as PH-RAE in Mar 1946, before it was reserialled to V-3 in Mar 1947. Operated for the United Nations in Israel in 1948 as PH-VNC, coded '7'. To KLM as PH-TGC in Nov 1952, then to PH-OTA in May 1954. Reg cancelled in Nov 1966 and placed on display for a short while in the playgrounds of the Avifauna Birds Zoo in Alphen aan de Rijn, Netherlands in 1967. Acquired by the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum in Dec 1968.

Painted as Royal Netherlands Navy 099, but in reality this Harvard is the former B-103 of the Royal Netherlands Air Force. Used as an instructional airframe from 1972 to 1985, then to the museum. Restored to static display condition at Valkenburg, then stored at the museum until placed on display in Jan 2003 as seen here. The real Royal Netherlands Navy 099 is c/n 14-555, which has been on display at the Auto und Technik Museum in Sinsheim, Germany since 1983.

Taken on charge by the Royal Netherlands Navy on 18 Mat 1963, struck off charge 15 Aug 1978. Sold to the USA, but noted in a technical school at Skavsta, Stockholm in Sweden in 1993. Later stored at the Flygvapenmuseum at Malmen Airport, Malmslätt (near Linköping) in Sweden. To the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum in Dec 2001.

A very nice Grumman Tracker, taken on charge by the Royal Netherlands Navy on 18 Aug 1960 as an S-2A. Converted to S-2N, then US-2N and withdrawn from use on 1 Oct 1975. Officially struck off charge on 7 Jul 1976 and transferred to the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum.

On long-term loan from the Royal Air Force Museum. This aircraft is widely quoted as c/n 5294, but that is its fuselage number. It is in fact Dornier Werknummer 3387 which was delivered to Spain in Sep 1944, becoming '65-7', then HR.5-7, HR.5-1 and finally HD.5-1. It was one of two examples bought in August 1976 by Dolph Overton and it was registered to him as N99225 in Feb 1977. The aircraft was never delivered to him, remaining in storage at Pollensa, Spain. Mr. Overton donated it to the Royal Air Force Museum in 1982, which in turn loaned it to the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum in Nov 1991.

This Seabat was taken on charge by the Royal Netherlands Navy on 26 Jun 1963. It was withdrawn from use 28 Jun 1972 and became an instructional airframe in Aug 1973. Later transferred to the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum.

Taken on charge by the Royal Netherlands Navy as a P2V-7B on 8 Sep 1961, redesignated to P-2H in Sep 1962, and converted to SP-2H circa 1963. Struck off charge 13 Nov 1981 and transferred to the Militaire Luchtvaart Museum a week later.

Painted as Netherlands Air Force "X-5", but never flew as such. The real X-5 was c/n 33323. The aircraft seen here is in fact ex Danish AF K-688, and before that it served with the Norwegian AF and the USAF. It was acquired by the museum in 1983, first painted as "ZU-5", and later as "X-5". It was removed from the museum in 2010 for restoration as "T-443" of the Netherlands East Indies Air Force. It is currently on display as such in the new Nationaal Militair Museum (NMM).

Painted to represent 56-1032, but this airframe's actual USAF serial was 56-1052. It last served with the Greek AF as 61052.

Painted to represent 52-5385, but its actual serial in USAF service was 52-5180.

Painted to represent 56-1032, but this airframe's actual serial in USAF service was 56-1052.

Painted to represent 54-1871, but its actual serial in USAF service was 54-2265.