04066

Information

This helicopter was delivered to the Navy in October 1973. The Swedish Navy and Air Force had a total of 14 Vertol 107 helicopters (4+10) at that time. The helicopters had been in service as HKP 4A and HKP 4B from 1963, but as the Navy retired its lighter HKP 1s (Vertol 44) the need for further helicopters grew.

The Navy ordered seven Kavasaki-Vertol 107-IIs through the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) in May 1971. The order was made with the Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki Heavy Industries, which was the only manufacturer of the Vertol 107 since Boeing Helicopters had cancelled its production in 1971.

The helicopters were delivered by boat to Sweden between 1973-1974, and they were assembled at Ostermans Aero’s maintenance facility at Bromma Airport in Stockholm. Unfortunately the first helicopter, 04065, was badly damaged in a storm en-route to Sweden, why FMV had to order a replacement helicopter (04072). Y-65 was eventually repaired, and it became the eighth Kawasaki-Vertol 107 (designated HKP 4C) in the Swedish Navy as it was delivered in December 1976.

The II-16 version of the Vertol 107 is a special long-range search and rescue model. It has got improved external long-range tanks, rescue winch, domed windows, searchlights, improved navigation aids and an advanced custom-made SA-08 autopilot for anti-submarine operations. Ostermans Aero upgraded the Swedish KV 107s with two Rolls-Royce Gnome H.1200 turboshaft engines. The Gnome engines were featured in all HKP 4s and HKP 3s in the Swedish Armed Forces in order to find a versatile power source.

Fatal accident
On 6 November 1975 Y-66 was lost in a tragic accident at Mysingen, northeast of Utö in Stockholm's archipelago. The helicopter impacted the sea due to deficient instrument supervision. One crewmember lost his life in the accident.