In the morning of April 12 the very first NH90 took off as a HKP 14 of the Swedish Armed Forces Helicopter Wing. This was the first time the helicopter type flew in service with the Helicopter Wing, following years of extensive trials by the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV).

The Materiel Administration has delivered the first batch of HKP 14s to the Swedish Armed Forces, consisting of four NH90s out of 18 helicopters ordered. K-45 became the first aircraft to fly in the Helicopter Wing as it took off from the Malmen base in Linköping. The premiere flight, which is an important milestone in the military helicopter organization, is a result of several years of intensive work by many different parties.

“It feels very good that we have finally got started with the flights,” said Magnus Westerlund, chief of the Helicopter Wing.

The official handover ceremony will take place in early-May.

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Reproduced from Nordic Rotors with permission. Copyright and full responsibility for the content of this article remains with Nordic Rotors

Photo research by HeliHub.com