Utva 66

UTVA-66
UTVA-66
	UTVA-66 on display in the Museum of Aviation
General information
Type	STOL light utility and liaison aircraft
National origin	Yugoslavia
Manufacturer	UTVA
Designer	UTVA
Status	Retired
Primary user	Yugoslav Air Force
Number built	About 130
History
First flight	1966
Developed from	UTVA-56
Variants	UTVA-66AM, UTVA-66H, UTVA-66V

The UTVA-66 is a STOL light utility and liaison aircraft produced in the former Yugoslavia. 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 was derived from the UTVA-56, featuring fixed leading-edge slats and a larger tail.

The aircraft was designed to operate from unprepared fields. Its STOL characteristics include fixed leading-edge slats, flaps and drooping ailerons. The cockpit is equipped with dual flight controls. In the ambulance version, the front right seat and rear seats 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 also be exchanged for skis or wheels.

Operational usage

About 130 UTVA-66 aircraft were manufactured.

During the Yugoslav Wars, some aircraft fell into Slovenian and Croatian hands. The last examples were withdrawn from military service in 1999.

A number of aircraft were exported or later appeared in civilian use outside the former Yugoslavia, including in Canada and the United States.

Variants

66AM – Air ambulance version.
66H – Floatplane version.
66V – Armed variant with provisions for underwing armament.

Former military operators

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Croatia

Croatian Air Force

North Macedonia

North Macedonia Air Brigade

Republika Srpska

Republika Srpska Air Force
- 92nd Light Multi-role Squadron

Slovenia

Slovenian Air Force

Yugoslavia

Yugoslav Air Force

Aircraft on display

Serbia

Museum of Aviation (Belgrade) in Belgrade – a number of UTVA-66 aircraft, including the UTVA-66H, are on display.

Specifications (UTVA-66)

Data from Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1971–72.

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Capacity:
- 3 passengers or
- 2 stretchers
Length: 8.38 m (27 ft 6 in)
Wingspan: 11.4 m (37 ft 5 in)
Height: 3.20 m (10 ft 6 in)
Wing area: 18.08 m² (194.6 sq ft)
Airfoil: NACA 4412 (modified)
Empty weight: 1,250 kg (2,756 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 1,814 kg (3,999 lb)
Fuel capacity: 250 L (55 imp gal; 66 US gal)
Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming GSO-480-B1J6 air-cooled flat-six engine, 200 kW (270 hp)

Performance

Maximum speed: 250 km/h (160 mph, 130 kn) at optimum height
Cruise speed: 230 km/h (140 mph, 120 kn) max cruise
Stall speed: 80 km/h (50 mph, 43 kn)
Never exceed speed: 320 km/h (200 mph, 170 kn)
Range: 750 km (470 mi, 400 nmi)
Service ceiling: 6,700 m (22,000 ft)
Rate of climb: 4.50 m/s (885 ft/min)
Takeoff run to 15 m (50 ft): 352 m (1,155 ft)

Landing run from 15 m (50 ft): 181 m (594 ft)

References

1 2 3 4 5 6 "About us". UTVA AVIO D.O.O. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rendall 1996, p. 215.
1 2 Taylor 1971, pp. 472–473
1 2 "UTVA-66 Short takeoff and landing aircraft". RedStar.gr. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
1 2 3 Ripley 2013, p. 81.
↑ "Muzej Ratnog Vazduhoplovstva". AviationMuseum.eu. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
↑ Fulton 1973, p. 104

Bibliography

Fulton, Ken (19 July 1973). "Piston Engine Survey". Flight International. Vol. 104, no. 3358. pp. 98–106.
Rendall, David Alexander, ed. (1996). Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide. Glasgow: HarperCollins. ISBN 978-0-00-470980-2.
Ripley, Tim (2013). Conflict in the Balkans 1991–2000 (PDF e-book ed.). Oxford, United Kingdom: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-748-1 – via Google Books.
Taylor, John W. R., ed. (1971). Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1971–72. London: Sampson Low. ISBN 0-354-00094-2.

External links

General characteristics for UTVA-66

[UTVA-history-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 "About us". UTVA AVIO D.O.O. Retrieved 1 June 2026.

[FOOTNOTERendall1996215-2] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Rendall 1996, p. 215.

[jawa71p472-3-3] 1 2 Taylor 1971, pp. 472–473

[RedStar-4] 1 2 "UTVA-66 Short takeoff and landing aircraft". RedStar.gr. Retrieved 1 June 2026.

[FOOTNOTERipley201381-5] 1 2 3 Ripley 2013, p. 81.

[6] "Muzej Ratnog Vazduhoplovstva". AviationMuseum.eu. Retrieved 1 June 2026.

[7] Fulton 1973, p. 104

v t e Post-1962 Yugoslav/Serbian Air Force and Air Defence aircraft designations
Lovac (Fighter)	L-10¹ L-11¹ L-12 L-13¹ L-14 L-15 L-16 L-17 L-18
Jurinik (Attack)	J-20 J-21 J-22
Helikopter (Helicopter)	H-40 H-41 H-42 H-43 H-44 H-45 H-46
Visenamenski (Utility)	V-50 V-51 V-52 V-53
Nastavni (Trainer)	N-60 N-61 N-62 N-63
Transportni (Transport)	T-70
¹ Unofficial