Friday is the official end of the Norwegian Armed Forces’ P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft. They are to be replaced by the P-8 Poseidon. The Norwegian Air Force marks this with an open day at Andøya air station. Present are both Chief of Defense Eirik Kristoffersen and Chief of the Air Force, Rolf Folland. The day will be extra special for Major Leif Otterholm (62). He has worked on board Orion for 38 years, and has extended his retirement age several times to be able to take part in the aircraft type’s very last flight on Friday. That amounts to over 11,400 hours in the air, according to the Norwegian Armed Forces, which mentioned his story first. A mark on the uniform showing that Leif Otterholm has flown over 10,000 hours in the P-3 Orion. Photo: Mariann Beausire / Luftforsvaret – We have participated in search and rescue where we have found people and directed forces in so that people have survived. It has been very rewarding. – It will be hard to say goodbye He also highlights a special incident in 2000: – We could see the Russian submarine Kursk on the surface, so I took a picture of it. Two days later they met with an accident. There was an explosion on board and they sank, and 118 people died. – It has left a mark on me at least, he says. P-8 Poseidon and P-3 Orion. Photo: Liz Goettee / Liz Goettee He says it has been inspiring to be at work and that he has enjoyed every day. – It will be hard to say goodbye. For 38 years I have been continuously flying on board, so it will be sad and difficult, says Otterholm. He adds that he is nevertheless very happy that the Norwegian Armed Forces have chosen to pass on the capacity that Orion has to a new aircraft stationed at Evenes: the P-8 Poseidon. Expert: – A very important aircraft Senior advisor at Nord University, Per Erik Solli, believes that Orion has been very important for the Norwegian Armed Forces, but also other agencies and sectors. Senior adviser Per Erik Solli at Nord University is impressed by the Orion aircraft. Photo: NUPI – Orion had a particularly significant role in the last decades of the Cold War, when it was important to have an overview of what was going on during a time of enormous Soviet military activity outside Norway, he says – Orion has also been important to be able to have an overview of which vessels fish in the Norwegian economic zone. According to Solli, Norwegian sea areas are six times larger than land areas. He also believes that the fact that the 333 squadron on Andøya has flown the Orion since 1969 shows great respect, without any aircraft or personnel being lost under sometimes difficult and demanding conditions. Photo: Torbjørn Kjosvold Photo: Torbjørn Kjosvold / Defense Photo: Nils P. Skipnes / Defense Photo: Archive / Torbjørn Kjosvold / Defense – P-3 Orion has not had a single serious aircraft accident. If you look at the statistics of the Air Force, there have been high accident statistics, where 199 people from the Air Force died in 161 accidents from 1950–1989. – The end of an era Chief of the Air Force’s department at Andøya air station, Lasse Berg, says that many people have formed close ties to Orion and to the mission carried out from Andøya. – How does it feel as a boss to witness such a love of honor? – First and foremost, you are proud to work with such talented and honorable colleagues. You also feel proud when you see what the department has succeeded in solving for assignments. Especially in view of the war in Ukraine and the worsening of the security policy situation, says Berg. Head of station group Andøya and location authority, Lasse Berg Photo: The Norwegian Armed Forces He adds that it will be special to receive the crew when they land on Andøya after their last operational tour on Friday. – It marks the end of an era out here on Andøya. – There are many who are happy and proud of what we have achieved, but many, including myself, are dreading it, because it means that we have to say goodbye to many colleagues with whom we have worked closely. Then we have come to the end of the road, says Berg. – We have several and many talented colleagues who have contributed, and it is particularly nice that Leif Otterholm is on the last operational tour next Friday. In this way, a worthy end is put to a long operational career in the Air Force.
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Major Leif Otterholm retires together with P-3 Orion after 54 years in operational operation – news Nordland
