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HelicoptersIn production
Utility / transport
MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 is a utility / transport originating in West Germany / Japan. It was built by Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB)/ Kawasaki Heavy Industries. Reported operators include DRF ADAC.
West Germany / JapanMBB/Kawasaki BK 117
Photographer: Arcturus · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Resized · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Source ↗ · ModifiedUtility / transport
West Germany / Japan
Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm (MBB)/ Kawasaki Heavy Industries
In production
DRF ADAC
1979–present
9 December 1982
13 June 1979
Eurocopter EC145
1
up to 10 passengers
9.91 m (32 ft 6 in) (fuselage length)
3.85 m (12 ft 8 in) (rotors turning)
1,727 kg (3,807 lb)
3,350 kg (7,385 lb)
697 L (183 US Gallons, 153 Imp Gallons) internal fuel
2 × Textron Lycoming LTS 101-750B-1 turboshaft , 442 kW (593 hp) each
11.00 m (36 ft 1 in)
250 km/h (160 mph, 130 kn) at sea level
541 km (336 mi, 292 nmi)
4,575 m (15,010 ft) (max certified altitude)
11.00 m/s (2,165 ft/min)
95.03 m 2 (1,022.9 sq ft)
278 km/h (173 mph, 150 kn)
3,565 m (11,700 ft) (in ground effect)
Reference text from Wikipedia contributors, used under CC BY-SA 4.0.
True scale
Sourced dimensions beside a 1.75 m human reference.
Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| 28 Sept 2026 | 9.91 m | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| 28 Sept 2026 | 9.91 m | Wikipedia contributors | superseded |
MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 equipment records. Variants, orders and quantities are shown as reported in each inventory source; coverage is incomplete.
ColombiaNumber column of the Wikipedia list table under "Rotary Wing". The list's own wording applies; it is a compiled secondary source, not an official census.
GreeceReported count for MBB/Kawasaki BK 117 · BK-117 3M. Service scope: Hellenic Air Force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Excludes retired/reserve/on-order rows. Count column(s): in service: 3. Origin: Germany / Japan. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. The components do not establish one inventory census date; the stored date is the retrieved source snapshot.
JapanReported count for MBB/Kawasaki BK 117. Country-wide list; no individual service specified. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Excludes retired/reserve/on-order rows. Count column(s): total: 112. Origin: Japan. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. The components do not establish one inventory census date; the stored date is the retrieved source snapshot.
MadagascarReported count for BK117. Service scope: Air force; does not replace a national total. 1 distinct count cell(s) from the same source list; shared rowspan cells counted once. Retired, wholly reserve and on-order rows are excluded; the reported count retains any explicitly mixed stock scope in the quoted row. Count column(s): quantity: 1. Origin: West Germany / Japan. The listed variants/roles are the scope, not an immediately deployable count. The components do not establish one inventory census date; the stored date is the retrieved source snapshot.
South AfricaDated directory active-fleet estimate for BK117, grouped under MBB/Kawasaki BK 117. Only the explicitly listed service/role Active cells are included. Ordered, stored and upgrade aircraft are excluded. This is the directory coverage of these source types, not a national total, complete owned-fleet census or readiness count.