Eurocopter France has carried out the maiden flight of the second prototype NH Industries NH90 multi-national transport helicopter.
It is the first of the five planned prototypes to be fitted with a fly-by-wire flight-control system - although that was inhibited on the initial flight, to ensure that other systems were functioning normally.
NH Industries says that it has almost completed selection of equipment for the helicopter, and at the end of April will submit its offer for industrialisation and production of the first batch of helicopters to its customer, the NATO Helicopter Management Agency. Up to 647 machines are required by partners France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
Source: Flight International
