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CHF - Merlin Mk 4

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CHF - Merlin Mk 4

Old 20th Dec 2013, 13:38
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AgustaWestland close to Merlin HC3 upgrade deal with UK

AgustaWestland is believed to be close to signing a deal with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to convert and upgrade a total of 25 AW101 Merlin helicopters currently operated by the Royal Air Force for use by the Royal Navy. Insiders say the formal signing of the contract is due in the coming days or in early 2014.

Worth a total of £330 million ($540 million), the deal covers the upgrade of the HC3/3A transports to HC4/4A standard for operation by the Royal Navy's Commando Helicopter Force. The modernised helicopters will replace the service's Westland Sea King HC4/4+ aircraft, which are due to retire in 2016.

To be performed at the manufacturer's Yeovil, UK site, the modification work under the Merlin Life Sustainment Programme will include the addition of a folding tail and rotor blades, as well an upgrade of its avionics and cockpit to a new standard already used on the navy's enhanced Merlin HM2s.

The marinisation of the helicopters is believed to be a relatively straightforward process and will draw on the design work already performed for the HM2s and the AW101s operated by the Italian navy.

At present, 27 Merlin HC3/3As are listed in the RAF's inventory. It is thought that the MoD is still debating what to do with the two airframes not covered by the MLSP.

If confirmed, the contract will be a second major boost for Yeovil in recent weeks, with the confirmation on 19 December of an order from Norway for 16 search and rescue-configured AW101s.
AgustaWestland close to Merlin HC3 upgrade deal with UK
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Old 20th Dec 2013, 17:16
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Smile

I was lucky to attend the final 'Wings Parade' of 848 Naval Air Squadron at Yeovilton yesterday.
Rear Admiral Russ Harding was guest of honour and during his address to the service personnel and guests he stated that the day before (Wednesday) the contract to marinise the Merlin HC 3/3A had finally been signed.


846NAS is already at RAF Benson and when they return to Yeovilton 845 will move to Benson to fully convert to Merlin. This will leave 848, who will 'Stand up' after 'Standing down' yesterday, as the sole Junglie Sea King operator until it retires from service.


Chatting to some people I know at the ceremony, they did say that they did not think all the Merlins would move to Yeovilton as there is not enough room!


To be honest I find this hard to believe as there is nowhere near as many airframes based at Yeovilton as there used to be back in the 80's; Sea Harrier, Hunter, Canberra, Sea King, Wessex, Lynx (Navy and Marine) plus station flight Sea Heron and Heron as well as the aircraft of the RNHF!
According to my records there was a point in the early/mid 80's when around 160-170 aircraft were home based there.
Today there is around 25 Lynx HMA8 of 702 and 815, around 16 Sea King HC IV, 4 Grob Tutor of 727NAS and when they come back from Culdrose 2 to 4 Hawks of 736NAS. There is also the growing number of AAC and RN AgustaWestland Wildcats which will reach a total number of 62 airframes.
So, in the future there will be around 95 aircraft based at Yeovilton.


Sorry for that ramble...
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Old 20th Dec 2013, 19:21
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Is it not to do with rotor head clearance in the hangar itself?
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Old 21st Dec 2013, 05:53
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Some may recall that I believe that we tried this 'line of attack' a couple of years ago in attempting to keep Merlin light blue at Benson, or at least barter for a joint force.

Apparently the RN, FAA and Yeovilton have it all sorted and all within budget that has apparently been scrutinised by all 3 Services

If not, then we all know that as we head towards SDSR 15 that both we and the interested defence contractors at Benson will be all over it showing senior officers and ministers alike why the green Merlin and CHF should remain at Benson under an RAF Station Commander, using infrastructure already established.

Of course we may need a little bit of extra resourcing to ensure our 'expanding' woke fleet is adequately housed and operated, but who knows what we can pull out of the hat (modify Odiham's plans?) if it means we keep Merlin at Benson with a light blue blue influence retained.

Proof will be in the RN's pudding.
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Old 21st Dec 2013, 07:50
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MM4 - bitter much? Why does there need to be a "Light Blue" influence? More to the point, why are you pushing so hard for Light Blue ADMINCON?
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Old 21st Dec 2013, 09:20
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The way it is contracting all of the Fleet Air Arm could be happily installed at either Yeovilton or Culdrose within a few years.
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Old 21st Dec 2013, 13:13
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My understanding is that as soon as the RN get hold of the training they will cut 6 months off the course they have had to follow with the RAF. If this is the case someone needs to ask why the RAF take so long to train their aircrew.
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Old 21st Dec 2013, 17:36
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Bismarck, your 'understanding' is flawed; if the course was shortened by 6 months then it would take exactly 1 month to train a Merlin pilot. What the RN instructors will do when they take control of the OCF on 6th January is to produce a more comprehensive training package within the time they have allocated, thereby reducing the need to conduct endless LCR to CR training...
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Old 21st Dec 2013, 20:22
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Is'nt that what I implied?! I didn't restrict my comment to the basic conversion to pilot. "Endless......." Says it all.
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Old 22nd Dec 2013, 09:08
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Alfred,

I am certainly not bitter, and with the exception of many good mates that have recognised that there isnt a proper valued, worthwhile (professionally and financially) career ahead, it doesn't really affect me.

I have only a few years to do, and depending on what NEM and the new pension eventually throws out, it might be much sooner.

My point was a simple one in that unusually the whole of the Fisheads, not just the FAA rallied behind the transfer of Merlin. It was then promptly followed by a team of what appeared to be the RN's most experienced aircrew, gingers and trainers that soon unravelled our system that allegedly had many imperfections, notably it appears the 'end to end' operational output and not just the conversion to type/re-roles.

But, in this whole programme training is one relatively small element, and with a Defence Review just around the corner then renewed scrutiny will take place across the whole project and if (but one example) hangar space/size (infrastructure) or any other area that cannot be delivered within resources by the RN then many will scope options in retaining the Merlin force at Benson.

As to light blue influence, if you look at the majority of my posts you will see that I actually buy into the environmental concept, so Fisheads are best placed to deliver Air Power from the sea, and the Pongos the same in the Land environment. I actually believe that if we really are going towards a contingent military contingent capability, with a dial 999 for immediate global reaction then the 2 new carriers appear logical......but after quite a few trips on the O Boat and the other carriers it is not for me.

The influence I was referring to is not on the scale of the historical poisonous and damaging Joint Force Harrier, but I personally believe (and I have no knowledge on what goes on within Air Command) that we within the light blue have also to ensure that our career structures, organisation and just like the other 2 Services our critical mass is preserved in the rotary world to prevent it being potentially lost. If Merlin does remain at Benson, then I am sure that we will welcome it and ensure that we will provide enough corporate knowledge and support at station level, while concurrently delivering efficient force elements for the Fisheads to play with their toys when not being used by Army. We will certainly be able to put the RN's Merlin in the hangars, even if a bit of juggling needs to be done with our Wokka plans.

I do not see the next SDSR (or anytime soon) and a Govt/MoD quite making the bold political step of an environmental models based upon capabilities like 101st Airborne (Land) and USMC (Maritime/Amphibious).
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Old 22nd Dec 2013, 15:27
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MM4,

I suspect there is no shortage of space at Yeovilton. The hangars on the south side of the airfield could take most of the Merlin Force with ease (and with plenty of headroom). It may just be that the proposed lay down of space on the north side of the airfield makes it appear tight. Anyway for the next few years the aircraft will be going through the Mk4 upgrade so space will hardly be an issue.
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Old 22nd Dec 2013, 16:46
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All this talk of hangar space is quite amusing in a way. How big do you think a hangar on a ship is? And the RN still manage to conduct normal and deep maintenance there, while the deck is moving for one. I don't think that the Junglies will have too many issues parking a Merlin in the CHF hangars…
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Old 22nd Dec 2013, 20:24
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Lofty,
The reason people bang on about hangarage at Heron is that it was (supposedly) a major issue against moving the CH47 force there a decade ago; the recently vacated SHar hangars were apparently too short to accommodate a CH47 during a Xmsn change. A Merlin is taller than a CH47....that it fitted into the hangar deck of a CVS is irrelevant.

If the RAF get a further CH47 buy in the next decade then palming off the Merlin will seem like good business by giving them the correct Large/Medium mix (with Puma) rather than the Large size/cost and medium performance of the Merlin - a situation that will not improve by adding a whole load of marinisation weight in.

I do look forward to seeing the first graduates of Bismark's 4 week OCU!

Banter aside, we should applaud the efforts of all at Benson (RAF/CHF) who've behaved with dignity throughout all of the uncertainty and are delivering Transition earlier than forecast whilst still delivering Op output in Herrick until quite recently.
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Old 22nd Dec 2013, 23:03
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To be fair I think Bismark was talking about conversion to type or as the light blue call it a "re-role". The latter simply takes far too long for crews already trained in role albeit on a different aircraft type (which makes the term re-role sound wrong anyway)?
Ab initios would obviously need a longer course than someone who has already conducted an OCF on SH already.
The Merlin present at the 848 wings parade looked like it fitted ok in the hangar! Certainly well enough not to turn off the move in the next SDSR
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Old 22nd Dec 2013, 23:23
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Ev8r,

I definitely don't know as much as you about any CH47 - VL idea (as I had no clue about it until you posted). I am still willing the bet a Christmas sherry or two that the reason was more like:
Someone e.g. SDSR analyst bloke/blokess: "if we close Odiham could we relocate the Chinny's to VL to save cash?"
RAF VSO: "That's a very good idea, Wing Cdr xxx look into it will you?"
…later that day…
RAF VSO: "Awfully sorry old chap/chapess but funny old thing i turns out that the Chinny's don't fit in the hangars at Yeovilton where our dear friends the RN live, so we'll have to stay here I'm afraid".

(tongue less in cheek) Ships' hangar height is not entirely irrelevant if you can change a head/gearbox at sea. (firmly back in cheek) Further to that I think that CHF would rather change a gearbox outside using a crane in the snow than relocate to Benson!
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Old 23rd Dec 2013, 07:05
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Lofty,
I'd wager your sherries are safe! I imagine the Odiham community viewed a move to Somerset in the same way CHF would view a permanent move to Benson...There was an extended flying det at Yeovilton with CH47s and there was, supposedly, a big increase in noise complaints - probably a classic case of not being the noise you're used to. I actually quite like it down here!!

WRT CTR of CHF to Merlin, IMHO (whoa, acronym warning...) the move from an obsolete round dial aircraft with several legacy systems to a glass cockpit computer driven aircraft is not as simple as 'just use Junglie cunning'. In these highly scrutinised times due diligence needs to be seen to be observed...

I'd like to see the whole JHC adopt the CTT/CTR concept, with QHIs doing the former and AvWOs/QHTIs/WTIs doing the latter, as it's done in the FJ and AH worlds. The post-HERRICK contingent rebuild will require a re-learning of several atrophied tactical and environmental skills.
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Old 23rd Dec 2013, 22:04
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I'd like to see the whole JHC adopt the CTT/CTR concept
Er, which part of JHC doesn't do this? The RN does, but they may not give it the same name - AFT/OFT.
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Old 23rd Dec 2013, 23:10
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Bismark,
The RAF still does a traditional OCU post 60 Sqn. CHF, in the past, has traditionally skipped 60 Sqn and done 'the crew thing' on 848. The increased costs and complexity of the Merlin may well force them to do 60 Sqn (as I believe RN pingers have done for a while...). 848, in effect, have acted as a AFT for CHF - a situation that might be unaffordable in the future.

AFT is just that, I take OFT is CTR to LCR standard after which further training is required to achieve a CoC (CHF) or CR (RAF) - or have I got this wrong?

My point is that Trimmers/Beefers/QHIs have traditionally done the whole course in the RAF - a CTT/CTR split would permit the tactical experts to preach the gospel according to the tactics manual rather than 'thrapping to equality' over the vector diagram....
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Old 25th Dec 2013, 19:45
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High Spirits

You are talking as if CR and Cofc are the same thing? They are not.

I was Aircraft Captain of a helicopter in a warry place 12 months before I was CofC.
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Old 25th Dec 2013, 19:52
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CHF - Merlin Mk 4

I understood that the FAA now use CTT/CTR vice ACP/OCP in much the same way that the CHF do.
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