<p>c/n 76
Built 1922
An indigenous trainer type, an initial batch of ten Kaje I was built for the Norwegian Army Air Service. Four Kaje II and Five Kaje III were built later.
Unsurprisingly the sole survivor, ‘33’ was written off on 15th June 1931 when it struck the water at Rødmosjøen lake, Leksdalen. The remains were raised in 2006 and the beautifully restored aeroplane is now on display in the Military Aircraft Hall of the Norsk Luftfartsmuseum (Norwegian Aviation Museum).
Bodø, Northern Norway
24th May 2019
</p><p>The following information is from the Museum website:-
</p><p>“The F.F.9 Kaje was the last of a line of Norwegian-built aircraft in wood and canvas at the Army’s Aircraft Factory at Kjeller. The aircraft replaced older training aircraft and became a robust and reliable machine with good flying qualities. The hull was designed by the aircraft factory and adapted to a specially purchased German engine. The wing profile, “Gøttingen”, was also German and was built under licence. The prototype was ready for test flying in November 1921. Until June 1924 the designation of the aircraft type was F.F.9. It was then decided that the aircraft should be known as the “Kaje”. Nineteen Kaje Type I’s were built altogether. Three versions of the aircraft type were produced – Kaje I, II and III. They were in service with the Army Air Force from 1922 until 1935.
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The Royal Norwegian Air Force Museum’s Kaje was works number 76 from the aircraft factory and was given the registration number ’33’. This was aircraft number two in the first batch of 10 aircraft. The aircraft was taken over by the Flying School in June 1922. In 1925, ’33’ collided with another aircraft while landing and was seriously damaged. The aircraft was repaired and in 1927 it was transferred to the Nordenfjeldske Army Aviation Unit at Værnes. On Wednesday 15 June 1931 the aircraft took off from Værnes for the last time. The task was for the crew to acquaint themselves with the artillery range at the Rødmosjøen lake in Leksdalen. In the south-west part of Rødmosjøen the aircraft struck the surface of the water. The pilot reached land and lived, but the passenger died. After 75 years at the bottom of the lake, Kaje ’33’ was raised and later restored. The aircraft now provides a unique record of Norway’s aviation technical level at the beginning of the 1920s.”
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/people/65001151@N03">Alan Wilson</a> from Peterborough, Cambs, UK
<a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ajw1970/49240021077/">Kjeller F.F.9 Kaje I ‘33’</a>