another urban myth
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I've heard the one about the EHI 01 typo... I also heard another one that said it was supposed to be called the MARLIN, after a great sea-bird (to reflect its Royal Navy connections perhaps?)
Another typo maybe?
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Not another typo, another urban myth.
When the beast was being designed and a name required, the high and mighty of WHL decided that a competition be held among the employees for suggestions ( a bit like on Blue Peter when they get another puppy!)
The winner of that competition was "Merlin" for the RN aircraft and it was intended that when the utility variant came along (now the Merlin Mk3) it would be called "Griffin" (it might have been Griffon - can't remember exactly). Of course when it did come along, politics dictated that it was called the Merlin Mk3 rather than Griffin Mk.1 - either that or RR objected to the pinching of their best names.