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Aircraft:11334 (Z-34)Photo date:Type:ca. 1995Operator:Photo views:Location:2466Photo by:A Lycksele EMS helicopter at the main base in Boden.Direct link: http://www.nordicrotors.com/11334/4892 -
Aircraft:11334 (Z-34)Photo date:Type:14 Mar, 2003Operator:Photo views:Location:2394Photo by:Z-34 has just been fitted with the EMS interior for a big military exercise in the Karlsborg region. The aircraft was unfortunately lost in a fatal accident during that same exercise, 11 days after this photo was taken. One of the crew members lost his life as the helicopter collided with the ice and sank while practicing an ice rescue operation.Direct link: http://www.nordicrotors.com/11334/2964 -
Aircraft:11334 (Z-34)Photo date:Type:ca. 1995Operator:Photo views:Location:954Photo by:This military EMS helicopter was photographed by the well-known Swedish aviation photographer Peter Liander in the mid-90s. The helicopter was frequently in service as EMS helicopter in Västerbotten County, based in Lycksele.Direct link: http://www.nordicrotors.com/11334/1518 -
Aircraft:11334 (Z-34)Photo date:Type:ca. 1995Operator:Photo views:Location:1576Photo by:Refuelling at the helicopter base in Boden.Direct link: http://www.nordicrotors.com/11334/4958
11334
Information about 11334
This aircraft started its career at the Agusta production plant near Milan, Italy, back in September of 1994. It was exported to the Swedish Army the same year and was given the military registration 11334. The machine, which was the fourth in the line of five AB 412s delivered, was attached to the AF1 helicopter base in Boden and got the callsign Z-34. It was named "Sophia" after the legendary Italian actress Sophia Loren.
As the five new AB 412s (designated "HKP 11") arrived they replaced three temporary AB 412s that had been leased from Agusta 1993-1994 (11337, 11338 and 11339).
INTENDED FOR EMS
Back in 1990 the Parliament of Sweden put a tag on SEK 75 million (approx USD 12,3 million back then) in order to use them for the reinforcement of the EMS helicopter coverage in Sweden. At about the same time the Army experienced an evident lack of medevac capacities in warfare, and that was highlighted several times. The two situations led to a deal that meant that the Army got the EMS millions if they agreed to pay an equal amount of money in the purchase of a new helicopter type. The AB 412 was chosen and five machines were bought.
The deal stated that the helicopters would be available as EMS capacities in the civil society in peace and that they would be used for military medevac purposes in war. However, the Army experienced difficulties in signing contracts with the County Councils (which are responsible for local EMS), and the five helicopters stood unemployed. The first, and only, contract was signed with Västerbotten County Council, and it was active between February 1995 and December 2002.
Z-34 - "SOPHIA"
Gina was operated at the Lycksele base as a regional civil EMS helicopter occasionally – switching places with her sister ships on a regular basis. When resting from the EMS service in Lycksele the helicopter type was used for transporting troops and operating other kind of tactical missions all around Sweden. It was, however, primarily an EMS resource.
As the Army Wing became a part of the joint Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing in 1999 two HKP 11s were moved to the Linköping base. The establishment of the Helicopter Wing, which merged the helicopter operations of all the three military branches together, had no further impact on the HKP 11s.
The EMS activity in Lycksele was closed in the autumn of 2002 and the civil operator Lufttransport took over - employing an AS 365 N2 Dauphin (LN-OLJ). Z-34 returned to be a utility helicopter at the AF1 Helicopter Base in Boden.
THE ACCIDENT
An exercise called "Våreld" was held in the area near Karlsborg in the spring of 2003. Z-34 participated together with a few helicopters from the Boden base. Z-34 had been equipped with the old EMS interior from the Lycksele period and its purpose was to serve as a local EMS helicopter during the exercise. The helicopter was involved in various operations but held an exercise of its own on 25th of March 2003, as its crew practiced an ice rescue technique at the nearby Lake Bottensjön. On approach the hole in the ice Z-34 entered vortex ring state, collided with the ice, turned over and begun to sink. Tree persons managed to get out of the wreck, but one person, a medical officer from the 1st Helicopter Squadron, lost his life in the accident. No patient was onboard at the time of the accident. Z-34 was written off.
2003-03-25 As the five new AB 412s (designated "HKP 11") arrived they replaced three temporary AB 412s that had been leased from Agusta 1993-1994 (11337, 11338 and 11339).
INTENDED FOR EMS
Back in 1990 the Parliament of Sweden put a tag on SEK 75 million (approx USD 12,3 million back then) in order to use them for the reinforcement of the EMS helicopter coverage in Sweden. At about the same time the Army experienced an evident lack of medevac capacities in warfare, and that was highlighted several times. The two situations led to a deal that meant that the Army got the EMS millions if they agreed to pay an equal amount of money in the purchase of a new helicopter type. The AB 412 was chosen and five machines were bought.
The deal stated that the helicopters would be available as EMS capacities in the civil society in peace and that they would be used for military medevac purposes in war. However, the Army experienced difficulties in signing contracts with the County Councils (which are responsible for local EMS), and the five helicopters stood unemployed. The first, and only, contract was signed with Västerbotten County Council, and it was active between February 1995 and December 2002.
Z-34 - "SOPHIA"
Gina was operated at the Lycksele base as a regional civil EMS helicopter occasionally – switching places with her sister ships on a regular basis. When resting from the EMS service in Lycksele the helicopter type was used for transporting troops and operating other kind of tactical missions all around Sweden. It was, however, primarily an EMS resource.
As the Army Wing became a part of the joint Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing in 1999 two HKP 11s were moved to the Linköping base. The establishment of the Helicopter Wing, which merged the helicopter operations of all the three military branches together, had no further impact on the HKP 11s.
The EMS activity in Lycksele was closed in the autumn of 2002 and the civil operator Lufttransport took over - employing an AS 365 N2 Dauphin (LN-OLJ). Z-34 returned to be a utility helicopter at the AF1 Helicopter Base in Boden.
THE ACCIDENT
An exercise called "Våreld" was held in the area near Karlsborg in the spring of 2003. Z-34 participated together with a few helicopters from the Boden base. Z-34 had been equipped with the old EMS interior from the Lycksele period and its purpose was to serve as a local EMS helicopter during the exercise. The helicopter was involved in various operations but held an exercise of its own on 25th of March 2003, as its crew practiced an ice rescue technique at the nearby Lake Bottensjön. On approach the hole in the ice Z-34 entered vortex ring state, collided with the ice, turned over and begun to sink. Tree persons managed to get out of the wreck, but one person, a medical officer from the 1st Helicopter Squadron, lost his life in the accident. No patient was onboard at the time of the accident. Z-34 was written off.
