Go Back  PPRuNe Forums > Aircrew Forums > Military Aviation
Reload this Page >

CHF - Merlin Mk 4

Military Aviation A forum for the professionals who fly military hardware. Also for the backroom boys and girls who support the flying and maintain the equipment, and without whom nothing would ever leave the ground. All armies, navies and air forces of the world equally welcome here.

CHF - Merlin Mk 4

Old 16th Sep 2011, 14:16
  #241 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Transfers been binned as Puma 2 is about to be canned! No duff, 12 clips and whatever the Army equivalent of good gen' is
Neartheend is offline  
Old 16th Sep 2011, 15:11
  #242 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Somewhere
Posts: 868
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Oh yes, so it has.....................................n't

DSEi 2011: Puma 2 makes quiet progress | Shephard Group

Must try harder or whatever the Navy equivalent is
TheWizard is offline  
Old 16th Sep 2011, 16:39
  #243 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Zummerset
Posts: 1,041
Received 13 Likes on 5 Posts
Wizard - all true but definitely an EC view of the world. Nimrod was flying and about to enter service and then was binned. The Puma has been a hot topic over the past few weeks - even more so since the 14 CH47s were contracted. As for it being the "preferred choice" for SF well, outside the urban environment that's a load of EC marketing spiel - even the extra tank and CAFTS isn't going to turn it into a long range insertion platform a la CH47/CV-22.

If I were in CHF, or a supporter of them, I'd be lobbying real hard for Puma 2; if the Puma is binned I can't see any way CAS will give up 2 Sqns of Merlins - I don't think a trite "he's been ordered" swings it. The original Transfer was predicated on 24 CH47s - if the RAF loses Puma as well as the 10 Chinooks it's not the same ballgame. IMHO it would be a transfer of Puma crews & numberplate to the new CH47 Sqn and probably the end of the road for CHF
Evalu8ter is offline  
Old 18th Sep 2011, 10:59
  #244 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 59
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Guided Weapons: Are you my son? He says 'whatever' whenever he starts to lose an argument. If you are him, please can you tidy your room it's a right tip!!
Neartheend is offline  
Old 30th Sep 2011, 23:25
  #245 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Times Article

Interesting article in the Times this week with Dr Fox announcing (quietly) that the number of Seakings in Afhgan would be reduced due to the improving situation, and also to allow the crews to train on 'more capable airframes' in preparation for the SK withdrawal in 2016. Merlins per chance?
On_Loan is offline  
Old 1st Oct 2011, 06:05
  #246 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 7 Posts
Just how long does it take for a qualified and combat ready member of rotary winged aircrew to convert to Merlin or even Wildcat?

I can understand that a cadre of experienced guys will set up and run the 700 series sqn which kicks off Merlin for the Navy but the essentials of operating the aircraft don't take four years, surely. The simulators at Benson, for example, provide type conversion and tactical instruction and one assumes there will be some secondment of crews to the RAF and vice versa.

I smell a political rat here! The rat in question could be nibbling in several different directions.

Old Duffer
Old-Duffer is offline  
Old 1st Oct 2011, 12:21
  #247 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: at home
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
O-D
Smell a rat if you want but you are missing one crucial fact. The Merlin is still on Ops with the RAF. Hence the timescale.
high spirits is offline  
Old 2nd Oct 2011, 11:19
  #248 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 7 Posts
High Spirits,

Whilst accepting the operational imperatives, I still don't buy the long timescales.

If the RN selects crews and begins to feed them into the conversion/training system; probably in lieu of RAF personnel, and if the RAF exchanges some personnel with the RN, it ought to be possible to declare at least one sqn operational in 18 months (set aside for a moment any navalisation required to the cabs themselves).

That sqn might perforce be based at Benson in the interim but there's no reason (as we've seen with Harrier) why a sqn manned by mixed crews cannot carry the 84? number plate and operate as such.

I'm not sure how many aircraft there are now (23 + 6 minus the one that was bent and a few out of the system for trials/upgrades etc).

My main concern hinges around the continued IMHO vulnerability of the Wildcat and Puma projects: let's hope I'm very wrong (Mrs O-D thinks I am most of the time).

O-D
Old-Duffer is offline  
Old 2nd Oct 2011, 15:51
  #249 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: at home
Posts: 412
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
O-D,
I suggest you go to Benson and talk to the boys and girls about how much resource is available at home; Aircrew , instructors and aircraft to train on. Add to that, support to Ops and you will quickly see how empty the pot is.

I have no doubt the transfer could take place on your timescale, but alas we live in austere times. I have said for some time that this will take a while due to resource shortage. I don't think I will be proved wrong.
high spirits is offline  
Old 2nd Oct 2011, 16:22
  #250 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 7 Posts
High Spirits,

Let's agree to disagree!

As an aside, I saw a letter in (I think) the Daily Torygraph t'other day which costed out the retention of Ark Royal - something like £115M to 2015. The writer then commented that Eric Pickles could find £250M to restore weekly bin collections.

Ipso facto, our armed forces can be left bare but at least the rubbish gets collected.

O-D
Old-Duffer is offline  
Old 2nd Oct 2011, 19:15
  #251 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Oxon
Age: 66
Posts: 1,942
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Currently we are coping quite nicely indeed without the Ark where as a whole swathe of the country are struggling with fortnightly bin collection so I see nothing wrong with Mr Pickles decision

Edited for accuracy

Last edited by Seldomfitforpurpose; 2nd Oct 2011 at 19:54.
Seldomfitforpurpose is offline  
Old 2nd Oct 2011, 19:29
  #252 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 7 Posts
SFFP,

Don't you mean fortnightly

O-D
Old-Duffer is offline  
Old 2nd Oct 2011, 19:56
  #253 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Oxon
Age: 66
Posts: 1,942
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Old-Duffer
SFFP,

Don't you mean fortnightly

O-D
Yes indeed I did, nice to see you see nothing else wrong with my post
Seldomfitforpurpose is offline  
Old 4th Oct 2011, 22:40
  #254 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Plymouth
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Further delays and costs in the transfer of the Merlin Mk3/MK3As may occur in marinising them ... folding tail, folding rotor head (new stronger design required if BERP 4 blades want to be used by CHF), otherwise like Chinook they will not get into hangar on Ocean / Illustrious.
bobbieh is offline  
Old 5th Oct 2011, 09:49
  #255 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Northamptonshire
Posts: 1,455
Likes: 0
Received 17 Likes on 7 Posts
SFFP,

My apologies, I've not the slightest idea why I posted that last bit of rubbish on this Thread.

Do as Mrs O-D does and just ignore me

O-D
Old-Duffer is offline  
Old 5th Oct 2011, 10:15
  #256 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Oxon
Age: 66
Posts: 1,942
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
OD,

No apologies needed as I never take offence in here, its all banter
Seldomfitforpurpose is offline  
Old 5th Oct 2011, 17:56
  #257 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Anywhere there's ships and aircraft available
Posts: 199
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I enjoy the friendly banter but I am afraid the plans remain in place, as a senior source told us today, whilst he berated the boys in light blue for hogging Joint posts.

That's if the MAA is really a Joint Organisation - it will be when the 3 star is deposed and made Head of Defence Safety or whatever!

Also glad to see today that TJB has made 3*
Si Clik is offline  
Old 5th Oct 2011, 19:30
  #258 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Buzz in the Swordfish Restaurant is that RN conversions start at the end of this year.

Si, when Timo goes off to be CinCAir/CAS (only one post from 2012) the test will be whether the RN get a shot at Dir MAA - no shortage of candidates this time. Of course with Timo at the top the battles will be fought in the open once again.

Interesting reportage of debate at Cranwell where Prof Eric was almost booed.
Pheasant is offline  
Old 5th Oct 2011, 19:47
  #259 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Swindonshire
Posts: 2,006
Received 16 Likes on 8 Posts
Which debate was that, Pheasant?
Archimedes is offline  
Old 6th Oct 2011, 09:11
  #260 (permalink)  
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Racedo blows goats
Posts: 677
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Was that at the same time as TB almost shot down an airliner, think I heard it in McD
engineer(retard) is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.