The "Mino", Kawasaki-Vertol KV-107 II - Kawasaki's gigantic bird
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| Kawasaki-Vertol KV-107 II, JA9555 "Mino" (C)JAPAN a while ago |
In 1962, Kawasaki Aircraft Industries, one of the predecessor of Kawasaki Heavy Industry, started license production of Vertol V-107 II for Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Subsequently, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force and Japan air Self-Defense Force followed. And in 1967, Boeing Vertol, the licensor, handed over production of civil type V-107 to Kawasaki. From then, KV-107 became one of the best seller helicopter for the aerospace industry in Japan. Around the same time, a KV-107 appeared on the screen in "You Only Live Twice". Finally, to 1989, Kawasaki produced 160 units such as commuter type for Kanki airlines, Helitack type for Ministry of Interior of Saudi Arabia, VIP type for the government of Thailand, and combi helicopter type for Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Aviation unite.
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| The cockpit in KV-107 II "Mino" (C)JAPAN a while ago |
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| The passenger sheets of KV-107 II "Mino" (C)JAPAN a while ago |
The former Kawasaki's company helicopter "Mino", associated with old province name where Kawasaki aircraft factory are, is one of civil type of KV-107. This Kawasaki KV-107 II has over 20 sheets for Kawasaki member's commuting and business trip. Some time, she acted in heliborne heavy materials for construction in mountain and relief goods for the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. Today, she is resting at Kawasaki's company museum "Kawasaki Good Times World" in Kobe, the hometown of Kawasaki.
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| Kawasaki's Kobe head office (C)JAPAN a while ago |
