NHI is proud to announce the first flight of the first NH90 Tactical Transport Helicopter ordered by the Belgian armed forces. For this first flight performed on sept 18th from Marignane, the crew tested all the main systems of this new generation aircraft such as the engines and the flight controls. After landing, the crew expressed its satisfaction with the behaviour of the helicopter. The Belgian armed forces ordered eight NH90s, four TTHs for tactical transport operations and four NFHs for naval operations.

The Belgian NH90 TTH is a Full Operational Capability standard helicopter. This aircraft is very close to the french NH90 Caiman TTH for which deliveries started in the end of 2011 in Full Operational Capability Standard.  This commonality brings to the Belgian customer all the return of experience collected during the development of the french NH90 TTH.

“This first flight is an important milestone for NHI since  it marks the arrival of a  new comer in the NH90 users community, we are all impressed by the degree of maturity demonstrated by this helicopter”  declared Xavier poupardindelegated managing director of NHI.

The NH90 TTH (Tactical Transport Helicopter) variant is a helicopter of 11 ton class primarily configured to perform tactical transport missions in all environments by day and night. The NH90 TTH flexibility allows its users to perform additional missions such as internal/external load transport, Heliborne Operations, Special Operations, Search and Rescue, Casualties Evacuation and Training missions.

Source and photo: NHI