RNLAF NH90-NFH transported to the Dutch Caribbean

On 7 October 2020, C-17A serial 03 of NATO's Strategic Air Command (SAC), Heavy Airlift Wing (HAW) picked up NH90-NFH serial N-110 of the Koninklijke Luchtmacht (KLu, Royal Netherlands Air Force) for transport to the Caribbean.

The NH90 is the replacement helicopter for N-324 that sadly crashed, killing two crew, near Aruba on 19 July 2020. The replacement helicopter, assigned to 860 Squadron Arcens affligo of the Dutch Helicopter Command (DHC), was flown from home base Den Helder/De Kooy to Eindhoven air base (both the Netherlands) where it was prepared for transport.

The event marked the very first time a Dutch NH90 was transported by a Globemaster III. The N-110 will be assigned to the Royal Netherlands Navy station ship, HNLMS Groningen (P843).

The crashed NH90 was also stationed on the oceangoing patrol vessel (OPV) HNLMS Groningen (P843), which is temporary based in Curaçao as the station ship for the Dutch Caribbean. The Royal Netherlands Air Force still has nineteen NH90-NFHs on strength.

Photos: DHC Luchtmacht