SE-JJA

Information

This rather unusual piece of machinery left the Bell factory as a L3 version of the Long Ranger back in June 1990. It was operated in the US in four years before it was sold to Japan. However, in those four years it was converted to a double engined "Gemini ST" by Tridair Helicopters Inc. The owner in Japan purchased the aircraft in November 1994 and used it for a variety of missions, many of which were photographic flights over suburban areas - which required two engines. It was exported back to the US to the aircraft dealer Corbett Aviation Inc in mid-2004 and was soon sold to the Swedish trucking company Wiklunds Åkeri AB.

The helicopter came to the Swedish town Gävle in late October 2004. It was assembled in Arlanda Helicopter's hangar at the local airport and flight activities were initiated in early June 2005.
The helicopter is owned by Wiklunds Åkeri AB but operated by the air taxi company Arlanda Helicopter AB. The company has two double engined Long Rangers - this Gemini and a Twin Ranger, which was delivered in early February 2005. The helicopters joined a fleet of three Jet Rangers, three Long Rangers, one Agusta 109 and one Bell 407.

SE-JJA has been fitted with a cabin sliding door on the right hand side as well as a new leather interior and a blue livery. It's got a photo hatch in the cabin floor from the time when it was operating in Japan. It had merely 750 hours when it came to Sweden.