Helicopter 1  (Hkp1)

Helicopter 1 (Hkp 1)

Vertol 44A No: 01009 Call sign: "Yngve 09"

Helicopter 1 (Hkp 1) is the Swedish designation for Vertol 44A (the Banana).

The Navy received the first two examples (01001-01002) in 1958 which were based at the Navy's 1st Helicopter Division at Bromma. This was followed by deliveries of another nine Hkp 1 (01003-01011) until Dec 1965.

Hkp 1 was the first helicopter in the Swedish defense. Its task was submarine hunting, minesweeping, reconnaissance, air rescue and transport.

In sea rescue missions, the stable flight characteristics were crucial when people in distress were lifted out of the sea with the help of the helicopter's winch.

The helicopter could transport up to 20 soldiers or other cargo of nearly two tons. Hkp 1 was initially based at Bromma airport and at the 1st and 2nd helicopter divisions at Berga and Torslanda, later Säve outside Gothenburg.

The helicopter has two rotors that were jointly driven by an air-cooled Curtis Wright, Cyclone R-1820 1,425 hp tuning engine that was located along the rear of the helicopter.

"Yngve 09" was delivered in Dec 1960 and was in the air a total of 2399.40 hours. It was taken out of service as the last flying Hkp 1 in Nov 1972 and then belonged to 2.hkp.div. on Säve.

Crew:                           2 pilots + flight engineer and a sonar operator for submarine hunting

Fuselage length:           16.0 m

Rotor diameter:             13.2 m

Height:                          4.8 m

Max take-off weight:      6,515 kg

Top speed:                   225 km/h

Armament:                    Dive bombs and sonars for submarine hunting

Other:                           Waterproof hull and floats

We have started work on restoring the helicopter to its original condition so far

it is possible. We gratefully accept help tracking parts and documentation, etc. about the helicopter.

There are only 2 Hkp 1 preserved. "Yngve 09" and the sister machine no. 01 which is at the Air Force Museum in Linköping.