I know they are prone to "breaking" alot, i seem to remember one that was 6 days old when it visited my 2001 Abingdon Fayre at Abingdon airfield, upon landing the tail rotor unit went u/s.
And ie: one would start up, for it to shut down, crew dismount & get into another!!
But despite the niggles i guess on new types, it is a bloody big Helicopter - & agile too.
Wouldn't it pay for the RAF to purchase a big wad of spares so would not have the problem of "robbing" other Helis for bits so to have more serviceable?
Q: Why does the Naval Merlin have one main wheel each side whereas the RAF examples have two on each side??
And i noticed the Naval Merlin has "mirrors" above the cabin - any reason??