Republic Seabees in Sweden

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Sweden have had, and still has, the largest number of Seabees in any country outside USA and Canada.  When studying the geography of Sweden, this should come as no surprise.   Sweden is a country with a very long coast line, thousands of islands and thousands of lakes - and a very low density of population.  The Seabee therefore quickly became one of the most popular bush airplanes in Sweden from 1947, together with Norseman and Cessna seaplanes.

In Northern Sweden the Seabees would be the perfect transportation to remote Lapp populations.  On the coast the Seabees would fly people, mail, supplies, etc. to inhabitated islands.  From inland lakes and rivers, the Seabees would fly delicious fish to the town markets.  In remote areas the Seabees would be the life saving ambulance transportation for emergencies.

Seabees SE-AXU and SE-BXA on a foggy summer day!
Sweden
25 June 1950
Photo: © courtesy Gösta Rengefors

The success of the Republic Seabee amphibians in Sweden was closely connected the company AB Hans Osterman, then a well known distributor of American automobiles and trucks in Sweden.  During WW2 Osterman turned their attention to aviation  business.  Late fall 1945 president of company, Mr. Lennart Osterman, and two of Osterman's senior executives; Mr. Olof Sefeldt and Mr. K. H. Björngård, visited the USA to see several aircraft manufacturers, including Republic Aviation and Bell Helicopters in New York.  In November 1945 Republic announced that AB Hans Ostermans had been appointed Seabee distributor for all Sweden.  The first Seabee destined for Sweden, s/n 109, was officially delivered from Republic Aviation on 7 November 1946 and shipped from New York by ship in January 1947.

SE-AXA - first Seabee to Sweden.
Photo: © Ostermans Aero AB (via Dan Akerman)

After WW2, the aviation branch of Osterman was called AB Aero Service.  In addition to Republic Seabee, the company also became the Swedish sales representative for a number of other aircraft manufacturers, including Cessna Aircraft and Bell Helicopters.  Actually, Ostermans became the sole European distributor for Bell helicopters, and imported some of the first Bell helicopters to Europe in 1946. In August 1946 AB Aero Service changed name to Ostermans Aero AB.

Advert by AB Aero Service
"Flyg" Magazine, 08/1946
Photo: © courtesy  http://lae.blogg.se/

Ostermans would also become one of the largest aircraft operators in Sweden, flying air taxi and ambulances with helicopters and Seabee amphibians.  

SE-AXY (s/n 830)
Photo: © Ostermans Aero AB

Most Seabees in Sweden were originally operated by small commercial 'bushplane' operators.  Some of the Seabee operators included Eskiltunaflyg, Fiskflyg, Jämtlands Aero, Lapplandsflyg and Ostermans Aero.  These operations were formed by, or fostered, legendary 'busplane' pilots like Gunnar 'Spökis' Andersson, Sten Grahn, Arne Gundersen, Gösta Göras, Knut Hedström, Bertil Johansson, Martin Lundkvist, Sten Lundkvist, Sören Lundkvist, Björn Thunborg and many more.

SE-AXT (s/n 724)
Photo: © via Heikki Sten

 

	Seabee SE-AXY operated by Ostermans Aero AB, Sweden. Photo: © Ostermans Aero AB (via Dan Akerman)
	Hans Osterman AB, later Ostermans Aero AB, was the Swedish distributor for Republic Seabee.  They also operated several Seabees.
	The last commercial operator of Seabees in Sweden, Fiskflyg AB, quit using Seabees in 2000.  All their magnificent Seabees were sold on to private owners.
	SE-BXB is reported to be in commercial operation by Mr. Per-Åke Hedlund, of AirTour Lapland.

SE-AXB (s/n 268)
Porjus, Sweden
20 July 1999
Photo: © Steinar Saevdal

It is believed that there currently are 3 Seabees under rebuild and restoration in Sweden; SE-AXG, SE-AXM and SE-KRR.  All these Seabee will be rebuilt under Swedish 'Experimental' category.  In June 2004 beautiful Seabee SE-IIO (top) was back in the air after a long-time restoration by owners Mr. Björn Ek and Mr. Åke Jansson!

In July 2004, Mr. David Pajus reported that his Seabee SE-AXR (s/n 270 ex LN-IKK) was almost finished after a restoration and repaint!  Mr. Pajus purchased s/n 270 from Norway in July 2003.  LN-IKK was cancelled from Norwegian Register on 17 September 2004 and was officially registered SE-AXR on 11 November 2004.  On 6 December 2004 Mr. Pajus made the first test flight of SE-AXR after the restoration.  The Seabee is based at Malmslätt AFB outside Linköping, where Mr. Pajus lives.

SE-AXR (s/n 270)
Photo: © Stefan Sjögren

Summer 2004 an 'Experimental' building permit has also been issued to Mr. Sten Karlsson by EAA Chapter 222 for the restoration and rebuild of Seabee s/n 592.  S/n 592 was stored at Fiskflyg AB, Porjus, for several years, after being purchased from Germany for spares in the 1970s.  The Seabee was operated as D-ELPO in Germany from 1961 to 1971, when she was damaged in a water landing accident.  When the restoration is finished, s/n 592 will be registered SE-AXF.  Mr. Sten Karlsson is also the owner of beautiful SE-AXY.

SE-AXF (s/n 592) ex D-ELPO
Porjus 
20 July 1999
Photo: © Steinar Saevdal

Thank you very much for your kind help; Dan Akerman, Ostermans Aero AB, Björn Ek, Ulf Engström, Minette Eriksson (Fiskflyg AB), Kay Hagby, Benny G. Karlsson, Sten Karlsson, Fredric Lagerquist, Peter Liander, Lars E. Lundin, David Pajus, Gösta Rengefors, Len-Eric Åslund, Heikki Sten, Vidar Blom, Paul R. Compton, Andreas Viklund!

Special thanks to Swedish Seabee expert Benny G. Karlsson and Paul R. Compton, who kindly have shared their most detailed information on Swedish Seabees!!!  Thank you so much, Benny and Paul!

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