Agusta-Bell AB.205A 'Cheetah' * Retired *
11 AB205A obtained covertly and delivered in crates in August 1978. The first was assembled and flew in October 1978. These helicopter were fitted with armour plating and machine guns. Used by 8 Sqn for the troop transport role. The survivors were put up for sale in 1990. Apparently, 13 new AB205s had been ordered by a customer in Kuwait, on behalf of the Rhodesian Air Force. The new helicopters were delivered via Lebanon, where the local Christian Militia took the opportunity to swap them for 11(12?) worn-out ex-Israeli Air Force machines, before shipping them on to southern Africa. Rhodesian Air Force engineers had a great deal of work to do before the helicopters could enter service.

Serial	c/no.	Prev. Identity	Delivered	Fate/Notes
R8600	4035		Oct 1978
R6801	4036		Oct 1978	w/o 14 April 1982
R6082	4037		Oct 1978	w/o ?
R6038	4039		Oct 1978
R6084	4040		Oct 1978	w/o 6 Jan 1980
R6805	4042		Oct 1978
R8606	4047		Oct 1978
R6807	4049		Oct 1978	w/o 10 Feb 1979
R6088	4050		Oct 1978
R6098	4051		Oct 1978	w/o 3 Sept 1979
R6180	4052		Oct 1978

References:

1. Rhodesian Air Force, A Brief History 1947-1980 (W A Brent, 1987)
2. Britain's Rebel Air Force (Roy Nesbit & Dudley Cowderoy, 1998)
3. African Military Aviation (W A Brent, 1994)
4. Take Off No.89 (Aerospace Publishing Ltd, 1990)
5. Air (WLAG) September 1989