THE AIRFORCE - AIRCRAFT - BK 117
Aircraft Stats:
Powerplant: 2 x 600 shp Avco Lycoming LTS101 turboshafts
Speed: 275 kph, 171mph mph
Range: 660km, 410miles
Seats: 1+7
Length: 9.88m, 32ft 5in
Span: 11.0m, 1ft 1in
Empty Weight: 1 520kg, 3,351lb
Max T/O Weight: 2 800kg, 6,173lb
Period of Service: 1994 - Current
Weapons:
None specified
Squadrons:
15 Squadron, 15 Squadron - 'C' Flight, 87 Helicopter Flying School
Attrition:
3 incidents recorded
None specified
Squadrons:
15 Squadron, 15 Squadron - 'C' Flight, 87 Helicopter Flying School
Attrition:
3 incidents recorded
BK 117
Status: Current
Manufacturer: Eurocopter
Country of Manufacture: Germany
Role: Utility
MBB-Kawasaki BK 117A
Original aircraft were inherited from the Apartheid-era "homelands", the Ciskei having acquired 3 in 1983, Venda 2 in 1985, Transkei 2 in 1986 and Bophuthatswana 2 in 1987, making a total of nine. Further examples were then acquired by the SAAF.
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