The eyecatcher of the LIMA'15 exhibition was this 1967 built Nuri, the very first entering service with the Royal Malaysian AF that same year. 42 more would follow till 1978, but accidents and technical issues gradually reduced the availability of Nuris. When 12 new EC725 helis started to pour in as from 2012, the remaining Nuri's were to be handed over to the Malaysian Army. Thus AIROD delivered the first two during LIMA'15, both refurbished and wearing this stunning digital camo (the 2nd was M23-31, c/n 61798). The two were the only ones delivered, as technical issues grew and prevailed.

Delivered new to the RMAF in January of 1977 carrying serial FM-1720. It was then re-serialled to M23-16 in 1984 and is reported to have briefly carried civilian registration 9M-ZAR in 2008 (for modification and certification work?). A total of 16 RMAF S-61's were written off over the years, with M23-16 being the last one, suffering a hard landing on August 2, 2019. Actually, this very accident - luckily without loss of life - sealed the fate of the surviving 12 or so RMAF's Nuris, as the fleet was permanently grounded. Keeping them airworthy has become an issue in the previous years anyway.

1968 built M23-08 (ex FM-1708, ex FM-1148) was among the first batch of ten S-61 Nuri's (Parrot) delivered to the Royal Malaysian AF as from 1967. They were initally serialled FM-1140 to FM-1149. While FM-1143 was written off in 1972, the remaining nine in 1975 were re-serialled to FM-1701 to FM-1709. A further 33 Nuri's were deliverd between 1971 and 1978, bring the total number operated by the RMAF to 43. Unfortunately, 16 helicopters were lost over the years, finally grounding the fleet in August of 2019, after more than 50 years of operation.

Apparently the initial serial was FM-1150, in 1974 it became FM-1710 and finally, in 1983 it became M23-10.

The S-61 was named Nuri (parrot) in Malaysia.

Taking off to pick up some paras during the opening of the LIMA show.

The LIMA airshow opened with a mock airfield attack, and two S-61 Nuris were awaiting their part in an adjacent field. I was lucky to be passing by on my bicycle, and catch this moment.