September 12, 2011 Tony Osborne, SHEPARD GROUP
The Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing has marked the first 100 flight hours flown by its NH90s.
The aircraft, which is known as the HKP 14 under Swedish nomenclature, was formally delivered to the Swedish Armed Forces in April and is currently undertaking operational evaluation activities.
The wing says it is taking the aircraft through an intensive period of activity taking the NH90s through various flight profiles with the aim of getting the aircraft ready for international deployment by April 2016.
The aircraft have been involved in their first exercises at Hagshult, south of Jonkoping in May. The exercise saw both crews and personnel from aircraft maintenance company, Patria, which is tasked with working on the NH90. Officials from the wing said that 'it proved to be a very educational exercise'.
The helicopter wing flies three HKP 14s, K43, K44 and K45. The fourth aircraft, K42 is expected to arrive at the end of the year. Work is being undertaken by Patria as the wing said there is a shortage in the number of technicians in the wing squadrons.
The 100th flight hour was flown on 8 September.
Claes Berlin, director of special production, said: 'This is extremely positive and a milestone worthy of mention in the introduction of the Helicopter 14 system.'