Swiss Air Force EC635 Makes First Flight

A Eurocopter EC635 bound for the Swiss Air Force made its maiden flight on May 23. The program, which is to provide 18 aircraft for transport and training missions as well as two EC135s for the Swiss Federal Air Transport Services, is on schedule. The EC635s and EC135s are to replace the service's  Alouette 3s. Deliveries  are  to begin in March or April 2008 and run through  the end of 2009. The first four aircraft will be delivered from  Eurocopter's facility in Donauworth, Germany. The remaining aircraft will be assembled and delivered by RUAG Aerospace in Alpnach, Switzerland. RUAG will also be responsible for industry-level maintenance of the EC635s and EC135s throughout their service life. The EC635 is the military version of the light, twin-engine EC135. For related news