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The Airbus Helicopters BK.117 is a ten-seat multi-mission medium-weight class, twin-engine helicopter. Development of the
BK117 started in 1977 as a co production between MBB from Germany and Kawasaki Heavy Industries from Japan. The
first of four prototypes, two built by MBB in Donauwörth and two by Kawasaki in Gifu, flew in Germany on 13 June 1979.
The first prototype built in Japan flew on 10 August 1979. The first production aircraft (built by KHI in Japan)
flew in December 1981, and first deliveries took place early in 1983. Initial production was of the BK 117 A1, while the
BK 117 A3 with higher max takeoff weight and enlarged tail rotor with twisted blades was certificated in March 1985.
The BK 117 A4 with increased performance and improved tail rotor head was introduced in 1987. When the helicopter
divisions of MBB from Germany and Aerospatiale from France merged in January 1992 to form the Eurocopter
Group, the MBB BK.117 program was transferred as well. In 2002, the assembly line for the Eurocopter BK 117 C-1 twin
helicopter was transferred from its German production facility in Donauwörth to Trento in Italy. Eurocopter uses the
production facilities in Donauwörth for the EC 145 multi-role helicopter. This EC 145 flew first in 1999 and has been
jointly developed by Eurocopter and Kawasaki Heavy Industries of Japan. The EC 145 is designated the BK 117 C-2 in Japan.
Over 400 Eurocopter / Kawasaki BK 117 helicopters in different versions were built, including production under licence
by IPTN in Indonesia and Avionline in Italy. |
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As a result of the merger between the Eurocopter parents Aérospatiale-Matra; DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA)
and Construcciones Aeronàuticas Sociedad Anonima (CASA) in July 2000, the Eurocopter group became a division of the new formed
EADS (European Aeronautic Defence and Space company). Taking off into 2014, EADS was rebranded as "Airbus Group". Uniting
all its activities under a single brand, its helicopter division Eurocopter was rebranded as Airbus Helicopters on 8 January 2014. |
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In 1999, Eurocopter BK.117C-1 c/n 7530 was registered D-HBKA with Eurocopter Deutschland and leased to Aeroveneta, Trento, Italy.
On 27 July 2000, the 1999-built Eurocopter BK.117C-1 D-HBKA crashed at Canta Algo (Bergamo) when operated by Aeroveneta in Italy.
On 30 July 2000, the wreck of the helicopter was brought from the mountains to Bergamo Airport with the
help of Alieurope SRL's AS332C I-EMEB. Later, the wreck of BK.117-C-1 D-HBKA was transferred to Trento Airport and stored until the damaged fuselage returned
to Donauwörth for rebuilt by Eurocopter Deutschland. After rebuilt, the helicopter was test flown with Eurocopter Deutschland test registration D-HMBC.
On 24 May 2005, registration D-HMBC was cancelled and on 6 June 2005, the helicopter was registered in 9A-HKB in Croatia with HIKO
(Helicopterska Kompanija - Heli Kompanija), Zagreb. HIKO was founded in 2004 by Human Consult, Austria, with the goal to set up an EMS network
in Croatia with stations at Zagreb, Slavonski Brod, Reijeka, Split and Zadar. Four EC145 and four EC130 B4 helicopters were ordered and
BK.117C-1 9A-HKB was one of the helicopters delivered to HIKO. The ambitions of HIKO were not fulfilled and in January 2008, registration
9A-HKB and the registration of its sistership EC145 9A-HKA were cancelled and both helicopters returned to Germany and were
in April 2008 seen stored at Baden Airpark. On 29 June 2009, permit to fly with registration D-HAOE was issued for Eurocopter BK.117C-1 c/n 7530.
On 19 November 2009, the helicopter was registered D-HAOE with HTM - Helicopter Travel Munich, Emden. In service with HTM the BK.117C-1
D-HAOE was operated in the winterseason 2009/2010 on behalf of Flymed, Scharnstein, Austria, as "Airmed 1" out of Kärnten. Since, the
D-HAOE was operated by HTM offshore on flights to the offshore windfarms from Emden and Husum. In January 2018, Eurocopter BK.117C-1 D-HAOE was
registered with Heli Service International, Emden. In August 2022, the D-HAOE was registered with NHC - Northern Helicopter, Emden.
On 25 June 2017,
the htm offshore' Eurocopter BK.117C-1 D-HAOE was seen at Hoogeveen airfield (EHHO) in the Netherlands.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the Eurocopter BK.117C-1 is BK117. |
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