Unknown helicopter, probably SE-HAC, photographed on board the Navy ship Tre Kronor (with no pilot on board).

The photo belongs to Kustflottan, via the Swedish Maritime Museum's collection (published with permission). The photographer is unknown.

This photo was probably taken at Bromma Airport during a demonstration of the helicopter stretcher ("brödburken") in the early-50s. As you can see the cover is removed to ease the ground handling of the patient. Note that the helicopter is equipped with fixed floats, used for operations in the archipelago.

The Swedish archipelago postal flight programme was launched in 1948. For many decades helicopters ensured that the post reached its recipients when the islands where isolated by ice during the harsh winter months in Stockholm's archipelago.

The helicopters flew a regular postal route, which went from Stockholm to Gällnö, Skälvik, Ingmarsö, Stavsudda, Möja, Harö, Sandhamn, Runmarö, Nämdö, Ornö and Utö, prior to returning to Stockholm.

Ostermans Aero broke history by performing the first mail service by helicopter in Europe when the first airmail was transported from Dalarö to the lighthouse keeper at Huvudskär on 21 February 1947.

A few letters had actually been up in a helicopter the day before, as the Swedish Post Office's Senior Administrative Director Linnäs joined the very first public helicopter display and brought three letters with him, thereby becoming the first helicopter mail man in the country.


Sources:
Ostermans Aero AB (ISBN 91-631-0364-8) by Göran Wallert
Flygminnen 1 (ISBN 91-85305-20-0) by Göran Wallert
Bromma Flygplats (ISBN 91-85496-87-1) by Michael Sanz

Ostermans Aero's SE-HAC is preparing to take off from Lindarängen's Seaplane Base near the Stockholm City Centre for the very first scheduled postal flight in Europe.

For many decades helicopters ensured that the post reached its recipients when the islands where isolated by ice during the harsh winter months in Stockholm's archipelago.

The helicopters flew a scheduled postal route, which went from Stockholm to Gällnö, Skälvik, Ingmarsö, Stavsudda, Möja, Harö, Sandhamn, Runmarö, Nämdö, Ornö and Utö, prior to returning to Stockholm.

Ostermans Aero actually broke history by performing the first mail service by helicopter in Europe when the first airmail was transported from Dalarö to the lighthouse keeper at Huvudskär on 21 February 1947.

A few letters had actually been up in a helicopter the day before, as the Swedish Post Office's Senior Administrative Director Linnäs joined the very first public helicopter display and brought three letters with him, thereby becoming the first helicopter mail man in the country.


Sources:
Ostermans Aero AB (ISBN 91-631-0364-8) by Göran Wallert
Flygminnen 1 (ISBN 91-85305-20-0) by Göran Wallert
Bromma Flygplats (ISBN 91-85496-87-1) by Michael Sanz

Ostermans Aero worked closely with the Swedish Postal Service on the regular postal flights in Stockholm's archipelago during the harsh winter months. The scheduled postal flights went on for many decades.

Specially adapted for crop dusting.

The crop-duster SE-HAC.