The UTVA-66, is a

STOL A short takeoff and landing (STOL) aircraft is a fixed-wing aircraft that can takeoff/land on short runways. Many STOL-designed aircraft can operate on airstrips with harsh conditions (such as high altitude or ice). STOL aircraft, including tho ...

light utility / liaison aircraft produced in the former

Yugoslavia , common_name = Yugoslavia , life_span = 1918–19921941–1945: World War II in Yugoslavia#Axis invasion and dismemberment of Yugoslavia, Axis occupation , p1 = Kingdom of SerbiaSerbia , flag_p ...

. A development of the UTVA-56, it first flew in 1966 and was intended largely for use by the Yugoslav military.

Description

The UTVA-66 derived from the UTVA-56, featuring fixed leading-edge slats and a larger tail. The aircraft was designed to operate from unprepared fields. Its

characteristics include leading edge fixed slats, flaps and drooping ailerons. The

cockpit A cockpit or flight deck is the area, on the front part of an aircraft, spacecraft, or submersible, from which a pilot controls the vehicle. The cockpit of an aircraft contains flight instruments on an instrument panel, and the controls th ...

is equipped with dual flight controls. The right front and rear seats in the older version of the aircraft could be removed to accommodate two stretchers. The 66H ("''Hidro''") variant replaced the fixed landing gear with pontoon floats for operation from bodies of water; these could be exchanged for snow skis.

Operational usage

130 UTVA-66 aircraft were manufactured. During the

Yugoslav Wars The Yugoslav Wars were a series of separate but related#Naimark, Naimark (2003), p. xvii. ethnic conflicts, wars of independence, and Insurgency, insurgencies that took place from 1991 to 2001 in what had been the Socialist Federal Republic of ...

some aircraft fell into

Slovenia Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia, is a country in Central Europe. It borders Italy to the west, Austria to the north, Hungary to the northeast, Croatia to the south and southeast, and a short (46.6 km) coastline within the Adriati ...

n and

Croatia Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

n hands. The last operational aircraft were withdrawn from military service in 1999. Subsequently, a number were sold to Canada and the United States of America where they were converted for civilian use as rugged utility aircraft.

Variants

* 66AM − Air ambulance version. * 66H −

Floatplane A floatplane is a type of seaplane with one or more slender floats mounted under the fuselage to provide buoyancy. By contrast, a flying boat uses its fuselage for buoyancy. Either type of seaplane may also have landing gear suitable for land, ...

version. * 66V − Armed variant with provisions for underwing armament.

Former military operators

; * Bosnian Air Force ; *

Croatian Air Force The Croatian Air Force ( or HRZ) is the aerial warfare branch of the Croatian Armed Forces. It is tasked primarily with safeguarding the sovereignty of Croatian airspace and providing aviation support to other branches during joint operations. ...

; *

North Macedonia Air Brigade The North Macedonia Air Brigade () is the Air force, air warfare and air defense force of the Army of the Republic of North Macedonia. History The development of the Macedonian Air Brigade began in 1992. The Utva 66, UTVA-66 and UTVA-75 were t ...

; * Republika Srpska Air Force ** 92nd Light Multi role Aircraft Squadron ; * Slovenian Air Force ; *

Yugoslav Air Force The Air Force and Air Defence ( sh-Cyrl-Latn, Ратно ваздухопловство и противваздушна одбрана, Ratno vazduhoplovstvo i protivvazdušna odbrana ; abbr. sh-Cyrl-Latn, label=none, separator=/, РВ и ПВ� ...

** 461st Light Combat Aviation Squadron (1977–1988) ** 462nd Light Combat Aviation Squadron (1977–1981) ** 252nd Fighter-Bomber Aviation Squadron (1981–1992) *

Letalski center Maribor Letalski center Maribor short LCM (English: Aviation center Maribor) is the oldest and the biggest Slovenian general aviation flying club, aero club operating at International airport, international Maribor Airport operating with 8 aircraft, 2 Ul ...

(Civil operator) (1989–2003)

Aircraft on display

;Serbia * Museum of Aviation (Belgrade) in

Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin, Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. T ...

A number of Utva 66 including Utva 66H are on display

Specifications (Utva 66)

References

Bibliography

* * *

External links

General characteristics for Utva-66
{{YAF aircraft 66 1960s Yugoslav military trainer aircraft Single-engined tractor aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1966 Glider tugs STOL aircraft High-wing aircraft