* * * * * In September of 1976 the Civil Aviation Company was formed in Laos, with the merger of Royal Air Lao and Lao Airlines, which in 1979 became Lao Aviation. When I joined Lao Aviation in 1995, for domestic service they were operating the following: The Harbin Y-12, a twin turbo-prop manufactured in Red China, carrying a crew of two and 17 passengers; resembling the DHC-6 Twin Otter, likewise powered by the Pratt & Whitney engines. The Xian Y-7, also manufactured in Red China, carrying a crew of two and 44 passengers, which was a twin turbo-prop based on the Russian designed Antonov An-24. In addition, they had acquired a Russian Mil Mi-8 twin-turbine helicopter painted all white in their airline’s livery. ...