Page 14 - AirForces - Monthly (February 2020)

NEWS Continental Europe

Bosnia and Herzegovina Aero Vodochody

to receive four Huey IIs

Second L-39NG
trainer takes to the air

CZECH COMPANY Aero Centre). Once the wing
Vodochody has completed arrives, fatigue testing
a maiden flight of the should start early this
second L-39NG advanced year. The static prototype
jet trainer – the first of began evaluation last June
the pre-series aircraft. and this work should be
L-39NG c/n 7004 (serial completed in mid-2020.
0476) took to the air at The two flying aircraft
An Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina UH-1H takes o from Sarajevo-Rajlovac Heliport, a the company’s Prague – 7001 (serial 0475) and

facility on December 9,
7004 – are dedicated
possible future home base for the new UH-1H-II Huey II helicopters. Antonio Prlenda with Aero pilots Vladimír to flight tests, some of
THE MINISTRY of Defence government through the in zero-hour condition. Továrek and Vytautas which are also performed
of Bosnia and Herzegovina Foreign Military Sales The OSBiH’s current Požela at the controls; using the technology
signed a letter of offer and (FMS) and Foreign Military aviation assets form two it flew for 32 minutes. demonstrator – aircraft
acceptance with the US Funds (FMF) programmes. helicopter squadrons As the initial pre-series 2626, which is a former
government on December The TPA will include the of the Brigada zračnih aircraft, 7004 is the first L-39C trainer equipped
13 for the procurement delivery of four UH-1H- snaga i protuzračne built according to the with the new FJ44-4M
of four Bell Huey II utility II Huey II helicopters, pilot obrane (brZSiPZO, Air aircraft final specification. engine and avionics
helicopters for the Oružane and maintainer training at Force and Air Defence Aero has completed four from the L-39NG.
snage Bosne i Hercegovine the Bell Training Academy Brigade) and include L-39NGs – two dedicated After certification of the
(OSBiH, Armed Forces of in Fort Worth, Texas, and Mi-8T, Mi-8MTV, Gazelle to flight tests, one to static basic trainer configuration
Bosnia and Herzegovina). delivery of tools, ground and UH-1H helicopters, trials and one for fatigue planned for the third
The Total Package support equipment and initial all of which suffer from evaluation. The fatigue quarter of the year, 7001
Approach (TPA) deal is spare parts to cover four limited serviceability. The airframe was completed will then continue work
worth US$38.5m, of which helicopters operating 300 procurement of the four in December and its to certify the light attack
Bosnia and Herzegovina hours each per year for two Huey IIs is the largest fuselage was transported aircraft, which should
is providing US$4.36m. years. Scheduled for delivery investment project since to the VZLÚ (Czech be completed in the
The remaining funds in the next three years, the the OSBiH was established Aerospace Research second half of 2021.
are coming from the US helicopters will be provided in 2005. Antonio Prlenda
Swiss Air Force
Bulgarian Navy AS365N3 delivered Hermes 900 arrives

NEWLY ACQUIRED Aviation Base) at Varna- Vertoleti (Independent
Voennomorski sili na Tchaika on November 20, but Naval Helicopter armasuisse via Dave Allport
Republika Balgariya with the serial and roundel Squadron) at Varna,
(VMS, Bulgarian Navy) taped over and wearing joining two survivors of
AS365N3+ Dauphin II temporary ferry registration three AS565MB Panthers
serial 905, which was YR-AHX. The ten-year-old operated by the unit. It
formally handed over helicopter was acquired will replace AS565MB
on December 6. It had second-hand as an attrition serial 902, that crashed
arrived fully painted in its replacement, reportedly from in the Black Sea on
Bulgarian colours at the a private Norwegian owner. June 9, 2017, following
Otdelna Morska Aviacianna It will be operated by the a collision with the
Basa (Independent Naval Otdelna Morska Eskadrila Bulgarian frigate Drazki.

THE FIRST of six Elbit Switzerland on November
Systems Hermes 900 26 and delivery of the
medium-altitude, long- final drone is due in 2021.
endurance reconnaissance Due to a delay in Israeli
UAVs ordered for the Swiss certification, the Swiss
Air Force under the ADS examples are not expected
15 programme, during its to begin operations for
presentation to the media around another six months,
in a hangar at Emmen according to armasuisse
air base on December 9. officials. The Hermes 900
Although hidden by the replaces the RUAG/IAI
Bulgarian Navy wing in this view, the UAV Ranger ADS 95, which was
via Dave Allport carries serial number retired from Swiss service
D-11. It was delivered to at the end of November.

14 // February 2020 #383 www.Key.Aero

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