The French Navy has completed its lease of a AS365N2 Dauphin – and returned it to Belgian operator NHV.  The helicopter was noted outside NHV’s base at Ostend on Saturday, covered over and with its main rotor blades removed.  It is expected to be repainted back from the grey/red French Navy scheme to the standard NHV yellow in the near future.

The aircraft concerned is serial 6540 – it flew with the French Navy as F-HCHN (yes, unusually a civil registration) and is expected to return to Belgian registration OO-NHC This follows the return of sister aircraft AS3465N3 (6610) F-GVHN, now restored to the NHV fleet as OO-NHV

Photo with thanks to Kristof Vandermoere

Jeremy Parkin – HeliHub.com