# 83012 (c/n P66/61) at Barkarby 1973-06-13. Fitted with long radome for testing the radar system of SAAB 32 Lansen.  Wfu 1973-06-29. Later scrapped.

This VIP-painted Pembroke (SE-BKH) belongs to Flygexpo and is exhibited at Västerås Flygmuseum. It is one of the two airworthy Pembrokes in the world. It was used for VIP-transports in the RAF and has thus never served in the Swedish Air Force. It has carried the RAF number XK884. C/n is 661045. It is painted and marked as the Swedish Pembroke 83017 of Wing F 8 at Barkarby.

A Swedish daily newspaper wrote about the first “Pembroke” in December 1954 (illustration above):

"The first of the silver shining “pack-horses" arrived on Sunday to the Air Force Wing of Västmanland near Västerås. They are built in England and will replace the obsolete B 3:s as handymen in various duties: ambulance, flying freight and as a flying classroom. The veteran B 3 (Ju-86), obsolete as a bomber even before WWII, and its successor “Pembroke” met in the clear air over lake Mälaren, just when the recent acquisition prepared to land at Wing F 1 after the journey from England.

The Air Force did not want a fast “pack-horse". It is good for 350 km/h. Cargo capacity, durability, short take-off and simplicity to fly are the most important factors. It is very capable: it takes 10 passengers in comfortable seats, it can be arranged as a flying hospital, it is able to transport a jet engine of type “Avon” (used in “Lansen” and “Hawker Hunter”) and it can easily be changed into a flying classroom for radar operators and navigators. The last thing is not the least important when the crews for the all-weather fighting Air Force Wings are to be trained to become teams. This first one of the new “pack-horses” will be followed by more.

The Parliament has secured 18 million for the purchases. But how many new aircraft will be procured – it is a secret!"

© Lars Henriksson

Updated 2010-03-19