SE-JUR

Information

This machine was constructed at Eurocopter's factory in Marginane (southern France) in 2001 and brought to Sweden in September the same year. It had been purchased by the legendary operator Norrlandsflyg AB via the Swedish Eurocopter dealer Michael Savbäck AB. Norrlandsflyg had a history of operating earlier versions of the successful Ecureuil family, but now found it appropriate to replace its B-model (SE-HUO) with the powerful B3-version. SE-JUR got its registration on September 7th 2001 - a few months before SE-HUO was sold to Finland.

As the new bird came to the main base at Gällivare, in northern Sweden, it came to be used for a wide range of tasks. It came to be used at the Esrange space research facility in Kiruna at frequent occasions, but was also a popular machine among the ski- and tourist resorts in the area. Being the most powerful Ecureuil in the company the aircraft naturally came to be used for a great variety of aerial works. The summers were filled with daily regular passenger flights between Nikkaloukta and Kebnekaise. It spent the whole summers outdoors among the mountains and the winters in Gällivare or the base in Kiruna. It was a true workhorse.

As time went by and Norrlandsflyg became a quite successful EMS and SAR operator in Sweden - having six S-76s in operation throughout the country - the management realized that the company had to focus in the life-saving operations. The entire "aerial works" part of the company was offered for sale. The division included four machines - two Ecureuils, one single engined Dauphin and one S-55T.
On 2nd February 2004 Piteå-based Kallax Flyg AB signed the deal and took over the activities, including the four machines. SE-JUR was flown to Piteå-Långnäs but soon returned to the Kiruna area where it came to be used for much the same kind of operations as earlier.
The helicopter was involved in a rather spectacular mission in mid-2004. It was hired by the Swedish Antarctic Research Programme to join a North Pole expedition during the summer. The helicopter was based onboard the Swedish icebreaker Oden along with its sister ship SE-JHI and was piloted by the Kallax Flyg pilots Sven Stenvall and Thomas Rönnkvist.
In Sweden Kallax Flyg's organization proved itself capable of operating with fewer aircraft than the current fleet of 10 machines. The B3 got excessive and was soon offered for sale.
SE-JUR was exported to the Swiss company Eagle Helicopter AG on May 5th 2005.