I nt heBegi nni ng On9Oct ober1987t heEH101t ookt ot heai rf ort hef i r s t t i me.T went yf i ve year sl at er ,ast he Agus t aWes t l and AW101Mer l i n,t hepl at f or mi swel l es t abl i s hed asone oft he mos ts ucces s f ul ,and oper at i onal l y pr oven, medi uml i f thel i copt er si nt he wor l d,wi t h a hos tof oper at or sacr os st hegl obe. EH101wasor i gi nal l yconcei vedast her es ul tofa1977 UK Mi ni s t r y of Def ence r equi r ement f or an ant i s ubmar i ne war f ar e ( AS W) hel i copt er . T hi s r equi r ement s ought t o r epl ace t he RoyalNavy' s Wes t l and S ea Ki ngs whi ch, even t hen, wer e cons i der ed i ncr eas i ngl y i nadequat e as S ovi et s ubmar i net echnol ogyadvanced. UKcompanyWes t l and Hel i copt er sr es ponded t ot he pr opos alwi t hi t sWG. 34-a t hr eeengi ned hel i copt er , s i mi l ari nf oot pr i ntt ot he S ea Ki ng butf eat ur i ng t he i nt r oduct i on ofmor e aut omat ed cont r ol l abi l i t y and i ncr eas edr angeoveri t sal r eadyagei ngpr edeces s or . Meanwhi l e,t heMar i naMi l i t ar e( I t al i anNavy)hadal s o r eached s i mi l arconcl us i onsast he UK r egar di ng i t s own f l eetofS ea Ki ngs ,bui l tunderl i cence by t he I t al i an company Agus t a,and was cons i der i ng i t s opt i onst or epl acet hem.Asacons equenceoft hos e cons i der at i ons ,Wes t l and and Agus t a ent er ed i nt o di s cus s i ons r egar di ng j oi nt devel opment of a s ucces s orand,havi ngf i nal i s edanagr eementt owor k on t he pr oj ectasa t eam,f or med a j oi nt l yowned company-EH I ndus t r i esL i mi t ed ( EHI )-t o pur s ue t he devel opmentandmar ket i ngoft henew hel i copt er . T he UK gover nmentconf i r med i t sbacki ng f ort he pr oj ecti n 1981,al l ocat i ng an i ni t i albudgetofÂŁ20 mi l l i on t o devel op pr epr oduct i on ex ampl es ,and a maj ormi l es t one,whi ch s aw f undi ng s ecur ed f ort he maj or i t yoft heEH101' sdevel opmentpr ogr am, wast he agr eements i gned by bot ht he Br i t i s h and I t al i an gover nment si n1984.F i r s ts i ght i ng oft he new des i gn came i n 1985 att he Par i sAi rS how,wher e Agus t a r eveal ed a mockup ofa ut i l i t yver s i on,t he concept bei ng t hatt hi swoul dl ead t o a mor es t andar di s ed des i gn, al bei t one t hat coul d be s i gni f i cant l y cus t omi s ed t o meett he needsofvar i ouscus t omer s , bet heyf r om mi l i t ar yorci vi l i anmar ket s .J us tt woyear s l at ert heEH101t ookt ot heai rf ort hef i r s tt i me.
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Att hi ss t age no or der shad act ual l y beenpl aced f ort heEH101byei t her t he UK orI t al i an gover nment s ,but f l i ghtt es t i ngcont i nuedr egar dl es s .
I ni t i alOr der s F i nal l y,i nS ept ember1991,t he UK MoD pl aced an or derf or66ai r cr af t f ort heRoyal Navy. T het henCons er vat i vel edCanadi an gover nmentor der ed50EH101si nJ ul y 1992 as t hey wer es een as i deal r epl acement sf ort heS i kor s kyCH124 S ea Ki ng and Boei ng Ver t olCH113 L abr ador pl at f or ms t hat had s een Canada t hr ought he Col d War ,wi t h t he new hel i copt er bei ng chos en i ns t ead ofan upgr ade pr ogr amme f ort heaf or ement i onedt ypes . Butwi t ht he Col d Wart hawi ng,and ast heper cei vedt hr eatt oCanada’ s nat i onal s ecur i t y was r educed, debat e r aged on as t o t he cos t ef f ect i venes s and neces s i t y of t hepr ocur ement ,and t heor derwas event ual l y cancel l ed by t he new L i ber algover nmenti n1993,wi t ht he i s s ue s een as a key f act ori nt he Cons er vat i ve’ sel ect i ondef eat . As econd UK or derwaspl aced i n F ebr uar y 1995 f or 22 pr oduct i on EH101sf ort heRoyal Ai rF or ce,wi t han I t al i an gover nment or der ,f or 16, f ol l owi ng i n Oct ober . Pr oduct i on model swoul devent ual l ybegi nr ol l i ng of ft hel i nei n1997,and t he10year s bet ween t hatt i me and t he EH101’ s f i r s tf l i ghtwoul ds eenol es st hanni ne pr ot ot ypesandt es t bedst aket ot he ai r ,i ncl udi ng one t ol ookatopt i ons f oraci vi l i anhel i l i nervar i ant .
T hi sRoyal NavyMer l i nHM. 1i ss eenl andi ngont hedecko ber t hedatGr eenwi chf ort heF l yNavy100cel ebr at i ons
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T es t F l yi ngI nci dent s T hatdecadeal s os aw t r agedyandar es ul t ant s i xmont ht es tf l yi nghi at us ,f ol l owi ngt hecr as h oft hes econd pr epr oduct i onai r cr af ti n1993. PP2( MMX600)cr as hednearCamer i i nI t al yon 21 J anuar y dur i ng noi s e meas ur ementt r i al s , af t eran uncommanded appl i cat i on oft he r ot orbr ake i nf l i ght .S adl y,al lf ourpeopl e on boar d,Raf f ael eL ongobar di ,Gi l ber t oT i nt or i , S t ef ano Novel l iand Mas s i mo Col ombo,wer e ki l l ed.Ai r f r amePP4( Z F 644)al s ocamet ogr i ef , nearChar di n Dor s et ,on 7Apr i l1995,butal l f ourcr ew member spar achut edt os af et y.
Pr oduct i onAi r cr af t T he f i r s tpr oduct i on RoyalNavy AS W ai r cr af t ( RN01)r ol l edouton6Mar ch1996andt hough i ts houl d have r emai ned atWes t l and f ort he i ns t al l at i on ofi t sf ul lmi s s i on equi pment ,was di ver t ed t ot he f l i ghtdevel opmentpr ogr am unt i lJ ul y 1998,f ol l owi ng a l andi ng acci dent s uf f er edbyPP7i nAugus t1996.PP7r ol l edover af t ert he t ai lr ot ordr i ve f ai l ed on l andi ng i n I t al y,but was r epai r ed and f l ew agai ni n J anuar y1999.T hef i r s tMer l i nHC. 3f ort heRAF , meanwhi l e,( RAF 01/Z J 117) ,emer gedatYeovi l on25November1998,maki ngi t sf i r s tf l i ghton Chr i s t masEve. As i de f r om UK mi l i t ar y us age, whi ch we' l l ex ami nei nmuchmor edet ai l i namoment ,t he AW101 ( as i twas r ebr anded f ol l owi ng t he mer gerbet ween Agus t a and Wes t l and)has al s o enj oyed gr eat ex por ts ucces s , and cont i nuest o do s o,f ul f i l l i ng a wi de var i et yof r ol esi ncl udi ngS uppor tHel i copt er( S H) ,S ear ch And Res cue ( S AR) ,AS W and VI Pt r ans por t . Var i ant s ar e now i n us e wi t h, or wi l lbe del i ver edt o,t hel i kesofCanada,i r oni cal l y,as aS ARpl at f or m namedt heCH149Cor mor ant , Por t ugal , Al ger i a, J apan, Denmar k, S audi Ar abi a,T ur kmeni s t an,I ndi aandofcour s eI t al y. L ef t-A RAF Mer l i n HC. 3t ax i esoutatRAF Bens onf oras or t i e( Kar lDr age)
T he ai r cr af twas al s os l at ed f orus e as t he Mar i ne One ai r cr af ti nt he US pr es i dent i al t r ans por tf l eet ,butt he US 101 /VH71 Kes t r el pr ogr ammewascancel l edi n2009f ol l owi nga change ofgover nmentand t he ni ne VH71s al r eady del i ver ed wer e s ubs equent l y pur chas ed byCanada f ors par es ,f ori t sS AR f l eetofCH149s . T he RoyalNavy’ sf i nalor derwasf or44 AS W var i ant s ,equi pped wi t hs t at eof t hear ts onar buoysand S t i ng Rayt or pedoes .T hes eai r cr af t wer eor i gi nal l ydes i gnat edMer l i nHAS . 1,butt hi s waschanged t oMer l i nHM. 1wi t ht hef i r s tf ul l y oper at i onalMer l i n del i ver ed on 17May1997, ent er i ngoper at i onal s er vi ceon2J une2000.Al l ai r cr af twer edel i ver edbyt heendof2002,and ar eoper at ed byf ourF l eetAi rAr ms quadr ons : 814NAS ,820NAS ,824NASand 829NAS ,al l bas ed at RNAS Cul dr os e i n Cor nwal l . Addi t i onal l y,700 NASoper at ed ast he Mer l i n Oper at i onal Eval uat i onUni tf r om 2000t o2008. T heMer l i nHM. 1i scl ear edt ooper at ef r om t he RoyalNavy' samphi bi ousas s aul ts hi ps ,T ype23 f r i gat esand a numberofRoyalF l eetAux i l i ar y ves s el s .T he HM. 1 can al s o equi pt he newes t T ype 45 des t r oyer sand a £750 mi l l i on Mer l i n Capabi l i t yS us t ai nmentPr ogr amme ( MCS P)i s cur r ent l yi n pl ace t o upgr ade 30 ai r cr af tt o Mer l i nHM. 2s t andar d,t hi si ncl udi nganent i r el y new mi s s i ons ys t em and di gi t alcockpi t .Royal NavyMer l i nshave s een oper at i onalact i on i n t he Car i bbean, on count er nar cot i cs and hur r i canes uppor tdut i es ,aswel l asonmar i t i me s ecur i t y dut i eswhi l s tdepl oyed i nt he Per s i an Gul f .Mer l i nHM. 1sal s os aw act i vedut yi nI r aq, pr ovi di ngs uppor tt oBr i t i s handcoal i t i onf or ces bas edi nt her egi on. T he RAF or der ed a t ot al of 22 ai r f r ames des i gnat ed Mer l i n HC. 3, t he f i r s t of whi ch ent er ed s er vi ce i nJ anuar y 2001 wi t h 28( AC) S quadr on atRAF Bens on i n Ox f or ds hi r e.T he t ype can be f i t t ed wi t h a Rober t s on ex t endedr angef uel t ank( ERT )andi scapabl e ofai r t oai rr ef uel l i ng,t hough t hi shasnever beenut i l i s edoper at i onal l y,andt heai r cr af tar e notr out i nel yf i t t ed wi t hr ef uel l i ng pr obes .T he
Above - T he J apanes e Mar i t i me S el f Def ens eF o s uppor toft henat i on’ swor ki nAnt ar ct i ca ( Agus t a
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F or ce us est he CH101( asi thasbeendubbed)i n t aWes t l and)
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RAF Mer l i ni smos tcommonl y us ed f ort r oop t r ans por t dut i es and CAS EVAC, t he t r ans por t at i onofequi pment ,ei t heri nt er nal l yor under s l ung,i ncl udi ngvehi cl esandar t i l l er y,and compl ement st he bi gl i f t i ng Chi nooks and s mal l erPumasoft he RAF ’ sS uppor tHel i copt er F or ce.
A pai rofMer l i nst ake on f ueldur i ng an Op HERRI CKmi s s i onr ehear s al ex er ci s e( Kar lDr age)
T heMer l i n' sf i r s toper at i onaldepl oymentwast o t heBal kansr egi oni n2003and t heai r cr af twas al s odepl oyedt oI r aqaspar tofOper at i onT EL I C wher ei tf r equent l y oper at ed f r om Bas r ah Ai r S t at i onunt i l t heBr i t i s hwi t hdr awal i nJ une2009.
T he1419F l tMer l i nembl em s i t st ot hel ef toft he 28( AC)S qnbadgeont hi sHC. 3( Kar lDr age)
T oover comeas hor t f al li noper at i onalhel i copt er s ,andt oal l ow Mer l i nst obe depl oyedi nAf ghani s t ani ns uppor tofOper at i onHERRI CK,t heMoDacqui r ed s i xaddi t i onalAW101sf r om Denmar ki n2007.T hes ewer eas s i gnedt ot heRAF wi t ht hedes i gnat i onMer l i nHC. 3Aand,asar es ul t ,as econdMer l i ns quadr on, 78 S quadr on,was f or med at Bens on.RAF Mer l i ns r emai n depl oyed i n Af ghani s t anaswes peak,al t houghpl anst ot r ans f ert heai r cr af tacr os st ot he RoyalNavy’ sCommandoHel i copt erF or ce( CHF )t or epl acei t s‘ J ungl y’S ea Ki ngHC. 4s ,ar enow wel l advanced.T hi ss houl doccurby2016andwi l l s eet he ai r cr af tmodi f i edt oMk. 4s t andar d,mor eofwhi chl at er .
Gor geouscol our sast hi sHC. 3Af l i esovert hes eawhi l epr epar i ngt ol andat Dawl i s hf ort heannual ai r s how ( Kar lDr age)
Mer l i nHC. 3A Mai n-T her ampatRAFBens onast woHC. 3sandt woHC. 3Asr es t( Kar lDr age)
Pi l ot ’ sPer s pect i ve Ri char dL uckj oi nedt heChi nookF or ceatRAF Odi ham i n1989and bet weent henand 2000 s er ved on 7,18( B)and 27( R)S quadr onsi n var i ouscapaci t i es .I nt ot alhe f l ew over3500 hour son t he Chi nook HC. 1 and HC. 2,wi t h oper at i onaldepl oyment st o Nor t her nI r el and, t he F al kl and I s l ands ,Bos ni aHer z egovi na and f ort he1992Kur di s hr el i efef f or ti nNor t her nI r aq. T r ai ni ng depl oyment s i ncl uded Canada, Mor occo, Kenya and Nor way, and he qual i f i ed asan A2 Qual i f i ed F l yi ng I ns t r uct or andaQual i f i edHel i copt erT act i csI ns t r uct or .
i ni t i al l ys peci al i s ed ast heMar ketDevel opment L ead f or Mi l i t ar y Capabi l i t y( Hel i copt er and UAV)and i st hemi l i t ar yavi at i ons ubj ectmat t er ex per t .I n Apr i l2012he wasappoi nt ed ast he Head ofAW609 T i l t Rot orMar ket i ng,bas ed i n Cas ci na Cos t a,I t al y,i n whi ch capaci t y he i s r es pons i bl ef oral lmar ket i ng r el at ed act i vi t yf or t hepr ogr amme.
“Iwasabs ol ut el y del i ght ed t o be gi ven t he honour of commandi ng 28( AC) S quadr on, whi ch att hatt i me wasby f art he l ar ges tS H s quadr on i nt he RoyalAi rF or ce, ”Ri char dt el l s mewhenwes i tdownt ot al kMer l i n.“I twas ver yex ci t i ngandwasatat i mewhent he s quadr onwasr eal l yr ampi ngup.Iwas I n 2000 he waspos t ed t ot he Rot ar y Wi ng t het hi r dOC af t erMer l i n' sent r yi nt o Oper at i onal Eval uat i on and T r ai ni ng Uni t RAFs er vi ceandes s ent i al l y ( RWOET U)asf l i ghtcommanderoft heChi nook beddedi ti nt oan &S ea Ki ng F l i ghtand wasr es pons i bl ef or , oper at i onal amongs t ot her t hi ngs ,t he devel opment , pos t ur e. t r i al l i ng and del i ver y oft he RAF ’ s Chi nook Ni ght Enhancement Package. F ol l owi ng pr omot i ont ot her ankofWi ngCommanderhe compl et edat ouratt heUKMi ni s t r yofDef ence i nt he Di r ect or at e ofAi rS t af fast he Rot ar y Wi ng advi s ort ot he As s i s t antChi efoft he Ai r S t af fand wast he s t af fof f i cerr es pons i bl ef or UpperAi r s paceManagementandUnmanned Ai rVehi cl es . F ol l owi ng Advanced Command and S t af f t r ai ni ng,Ri char dt ook command of28( AC) S quadr oni nMar ch2006,f l yi ngt heMer l i nHC. 3 ands er vedi nt hatcapaci t yunt i l 28November 2008. Dur i ng t hi st our he under t ook s i x depl oyment st o Bas r ah,I r aq,i ncl udi ng f our mont hs as Commander of t he UK’ sJ oi nt Hel i copt erF or ce( I r aq) ,accumul at i ngover300 hour sondes er toper at i ons .Res pons i bl ef ort he t r ai ni ng of al l Mer l i n cr ews , he was i ns t r ument al ,i n conj unct i on wi t ht he Mk. 3A F i el di ngT eam,i ni nt r oduci ngt heMer l i nHC. 3A i nt os er vi ce and s uppor t ed t he f or mat i on of t heMer l i nF or ce’ ss econdMer l i ns quadr on.He f l ew over550hour sonbot hvar i ant sofMer l i n. Ri char dr et i r ed f r om t he RAFi n 2009af t er23 year s ofs er vi ce and j oi ned t he Mar ket i ng Depar t ment of Agus t aWes t l and wher e he
“W e had al l22 ai r cr af ton ourbooks , t houghonewasgi venover t o AW as a devel opment vehi cl e,and wenton t oi nt r oduce t he Mk. 3A,whi ch made a f l eetof28 ai r cr af t .I twasdeci dedt hatt hes quadr onwas
I mage-PaulDunn
now f art oo bi gf orone per s on t o command,whi chIwhol l yagr eed wi t h,s o 78 S quadr on s t ood up and we s i mpl ys pl i t t he per s onnelup acr os s t he t wo,wi t h the
capabi l i t i es ,t o my mi nd, s er ve l i t t l e pur pos e: i t ’ sl i ke compar i ng chal k and chees e.T hepl at f or msar ecompl ement ar y. “AChi nookpi l otcannotr es i s ts ayi ngt oaMer l i n pi l ot ,‘ We can l i f tmor et han you’ ,t o whi ch I al waysans wer ed,‘ Andyourpoi nti s ?’ “But ,t r ut hbet ol d,comi ngt ot heMer l i nf r om t he Chi nookIhadt hatver yt houghtatt hebackof myownmi nd,butt heMer l i ni mpr es s edmef r om dayone.Iver yqui ckl yf el li nl ove wi t hi t ,and whenwegott heHC. 3Ast hatj us tmade l i f eevenmor eex ci t i ng. “F or a s t ar t ,t hi s was my f i r s t encount erwi t ha gl as scockpi t– t hatwasl i ke s t eppi ng i nt ot he S t ar s hi p Ent er pr i s e! T her e’ s not hi ng a pi l ot l i kes mor e t han l oadsofs cr eensand but t ons t o pl ay wi t h. I t ’ s i nf or mat i on r i ch,whi ch r eal l y hel ps wi t h s i t uat i onal awar enes s andi ncr eas escr ew pr oduct i vi t yand s af et y.
aircraft goi ng i nt o a common pool , r at her l i ke t he Her cul es f l eet cons t r uct . ” And,asa pi l otwi t h vas tChi nook ex per i ence, what of hi s f i r s t i mpr es s i onsoft heMer l i n? “I t hi nk t he f i r s tt hi ng t o emphas i s ei st hat t her ei s ,abs ol ut el y,a r ol ef or hel i copt er s of di f f er ents i z eswi t hi nami x edS Hf or ce.Anydi r ect compar i s ons bet ween t hos e pl at f or ms ’
“Whi l e Is us pectt hatt he new Chi nook cockpi t s have caughtup orex ceeded what you can s ee i nt oday’ s Mer l i n HC. 3 and HC. 3A cockpi t s ,t hos e Mer l i ncockpi t sar enotr epr es ent at i veofwhat t he RoyalNavyi sget t i ng wi t hMCS Pand nor ar et heyr epr es ent at i ve ofwhatnew AW101 cus t omer sar eget t i ng–t hati sagener at i onal l eapi ni t s el f . “I nmanyr es pect st he Mer l i ni sver ys i mi l art o t heChi nook–i thast her ampatt heback,t he s eat i ngl ayouti ss i mi l ar ,t hecabi ni shugeand t he f our cr ew s ys t em i st he s ame.S oi tdi dn’ t r eal l yf eelver y di f f er ent f r om oper at i ng a Chi nook–i twasj us tmor eupt odat eandwe di dn’ t have a t r i pl e hook - but I di dn’ t par t i cul ar l ymi s st hat ! “I twasal s o a much mor e pl eas antwor ki ng envi r onment .T heMer l i ni ss i gni f i cant l yqui et er , s omuchs ot hatyoucoul d act ual l yt akeyour
hel metof fandt al kt oeachot herwi t hno di f f i cul t yatal l ,s omet hi ng you cer t ai nl y coul dn’ t do i n a Chi nook! Vi br at i on l evel s ?Nocompar i s onatal l ,t heChi nook vi br at ess i gni f i cant l y,es peci al l yats peed, butMer l i ni sut t er l ys moot h.Ir emember one gener alof f i cert el l i ng me whenwe wer et aki ng hi m t o Baghdad t hathe l oved f l yi ng i nt he Mer l i n becaus e he coul dr ead hi spaper s ,s i gn t hem and peopl e coul dt el lt hati twasact ual l yhi s s i gnat ur e! “T hatgi vesyous omei deaoft hes moot h r i de,and i twast he s ame acr os st he s peed r ange t oo. At ni ght ,i t was s omet i mesdi f f i cul tt o act ual l yt el lhow f as tyouwer e goi ng,and i tf el tasi fyou had s l owed r i ghtdown.I nt he Chi nook, af t er3500 hour s Icoul d pr et t y much j udgeours peedbyt hel evel ofvi br at i on, butIneededt okeepcr os s checki ngt he i ns t r ument si nt heMer l i n!T hes moot hnes s oft he Mer l i n meansl es sf at i gue f ort he cr ew and,i nmyopi ni on,t hatmakesf ora s af ercr ew.Wewoul df l yal l ni ghti nMer l i n i nI r aq-s evenhours t r et chesf orex ampl e -andI al waysf el tt hatI coul dj us tgoand doi tagai naf t erabr eakf oracupoft ea! T he r educed noi s e and vi br at i on al s o ens ur ed t r oopswer e del i ver ed i nt ot he f i el di nabet t ers t at eand,per hapsmor e i mpor t ant l y, t he oppos i t i on f r equent l y di dn’ thearuscomi ngunt i l i twast ool at e. “T he l evelofaut opi l ots ophi s t i cat i on i n t heHC. 3wasal s oofanal t oget herhi gher or dert han t hati n anyt hi ng Ihad f l own bef or e.Ascr ewswe us ed t hatt o our advant age t o make l i f e eas i erwi t ht he aut ot r ans i t i onsandt heabi l i t yt ol i nkt he aut opi l ott ot hef l i ght pl an. “T heai r cr af t ’ sagi l i t y,s ur pr i s i ngf ori t ss i z e, i s al s o an i mpor t ant f act or ,f or bot h t act i calf l yi ng and t hr eat avoi dance. Cont r olaut hor i t yi sex cel l entand gi ves youa l otofconf i denceasa pi l ot ,whi l e
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HC. 3A,ar r i vi ngatanot herDawl i s hai r s how ( Kar lDr age)
whi l e vi s i bi l i t yi sal s o ver ygood,whi ch makes a r ealdi f f er ence,es peci al l y whenf l yi ngatni ght . ” Ri char d al s o ci t es t he ai r cr af t ’ s endur ance, s peed and al l r ound t oughnes s as ot her key at t r i but es whi ch have made t he Mer l i n t he s ucces st hati ti s .Oper at i onsi nBos ni a, I r aqandAf ghani s t anhaves er vedonl y t obackt hatup. “T he ai r f r ame i sver yr obus t ,t hathas been pr oven yearaf t eryear ,and I havenodoubtt hatMer l i nwi l l goont o doanex cel l entj ob f ort heCHFi nt he year st ocome.I ti sgoi ngt obes ucha l eap f or war di noper at i onalcapabi l i t y f or t hem; t hey ar e goi ng t o be abs ol ut el ydel i ght edwi t hi t . “T heCHFes s ent i al l yoper at esasanS H F or ce and has been pr et t y much ever ywher et heS HF or cehas ,butwi t h s i gni f i cantpl at f or ml i mi t at i ons ,bear i ng i n mi nd t hey' ve been us i ng t he S ea Ki ng.Buti t ' sdoneal l t hatwi t ht hes ame ener gy,gus t o and cour age as any ot herf or ce,and t hey' l ldoex act l yt he s ame wi t ht he Mer l i n,i ncl udi ng f r om t hel i t t or al ,t hati s ,oper at i ngonboar d s hi p.T hey ar e act ual l y goi ng t o be demons t r at i ng t hatt he ai r cr af thasa f arwi dercapabi l i t yt han i scur r ent l y bei ng demons t r at ed asa l andbas ed S H pl at f or m,and It hi nk t hati s an ex cel l entt hi ng f ort he f ut ur e oft he AW101. ” Ri char dconf i r mst hatanAW f eas i bi l i t y s t udyi nt owhati sr equi r edt oadaptt he HC. 3 and HC. 3Asf ort he CHFwi l lbe del i ver edt ot heMoD i nMar ch2013.I t wi l l of f eraf i r m,f i x edpr i cepr opos al f or s hi p opt i mi s at i onoft he ai r cr af ti nt he l i t t or al r ol easanS Hhel i copt er .
Pr i ort odepl oyi ngt oAf ghani s t an,t heMer l i nF or ces pentt i meatNAFElCent r ot og oper at i ngi ncondi t i onss i mi l art ot hos et heywoul df i ndi nt heat r e( PaulDunn)
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T hecockpi tofaMer l i nHC. 3A ( Kar lDr age)
“T hi sas s es s mentphas ei sf unded and,f r om Apr i lonwar ds ,a deci s i on on s hi popt i mi s at i onwi l l bemade.I twi l l l ookataf ol di nghead,f ol di ngut i l i t yt ai l , anew l as hi ngs ys t em f ors hi poper at i onsand,pot ent i al l y,new r at i ngsf ort he Rol l sRoyce engi nes .I twi l lal s o addr es sobs ol es cence,es peci al l yi nt he cockpi t ,andmyunder s t andi ngi st hatwewi l l beof f er i nganupgr adei nt hat ar ea,bas ed on t he HM. 2 /MCS P cockpi t ,butadapt ed f orCommando us age. �
A Mer l i n MK3on t he di s per s ali n Af ghani s t an asvi ewed t hr ough a NVG monocl e( Gar et hAt t r i dge)
Amaz i ngcondi t i Upcl os eandper s onal wi t ht he2010Royal NavyMer l i nHM. 1di s pl ay ( Kar lDr age)
S o,wi t h25 anever gr gr eats ucc mor ehap “Ican' tco f l ownal on wor l d' sb doubt .As onoper at j ob.S ol di e hel i copt er
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i t i onsast hi sHC. 3appr oachest heF or war dRef uel l i ngPoi ntdur i ngEx er ci s ePas ht unEagl e( Kar lDr age)
25year sofhi s t or yunderi t sbel tal r eady,and gr owi ngl i s tofcus t omer s ,t heMer l i nl ooksl i kea cces ss t or yt hatwi l l s ur el ybecel ebr at i ngmany ppyanni ver s ar i es . commentonoper at i ng t he HM. 1,butIhave ongs i det hem,andyouknow what ,t hati st he bes t ant i s ubmar i ne hel i copt er , wi t hout a sf ort heHC. 3,i thascons i s t ent l ypr oveni t s el f at i ons .I tt ur nsup and i tdoesanout s t andi ng i er sl i kef l yi ngi ni tandt hati st es t amentt ot he erandt hecr ews .
mei fI pr ef er r edMer l i norChi nook,ast heyal waysdo,I t hi nkIhave t os ayMer l i n.I t ' sa t ough one,al lt hi ngs cons i der ed,and al t houghwedi dl i f tmor ei nChi nook and i n mor e conf i gur at i ons ,t he AW101 was a s i gni f i cant l ybet t erai r cr af tt of l y. “I t hi nkt heAW101hasgotaver yex ci t i ngf ut ur eahead ofi t . ” At t he t i me of goi ng t o pr es s ,i t had j us t been announced t hat Nor t hr op Gr umman and Agus t aWes t l and had s i gned a compr ehens i ve t eami ngagr eementt ocompet ef ort hepr opos edU. S . Navy’ sMar i neOnepr es i dent i al hel i copt er .
agr eatj obasaS ARas s eti nPor t ugal ,Denmar k nada and i sal s o doi ng ver y wel li nt he VI P wi t hI ndi a havi ng or der ed a f l eetof12 VI P AW101i sat r emendouspl at f or m andyouget Gar et h St r i ngerwoul dl i ke t ot hank Ri char d yourmoney,ex cel l i ngi nal l t her ol esi ti sas ked L uckandGeof fRus s el lf ort hei ras s i s t ancewi t h r m.Pi l ot sand cr ewsl i ke goi ng t o wor ki ni t , t hi sar t i cl e. yex per i enceasapi l ot ,andwhenpeopl eas k