eyespied,
you're quite correct, the C-17 loadie did have a bit of "finger trouble" and yes he did cause a teeny weeny bit of damage to the tail section of said Merlin. The aircraft isn't Cat 5'd, infact, the tail has been fixed.
It is in Belize to support the Battle Group currently on Ex. Tropical Storm...
..Or at least it would be if they hadn't found that the internal workings of the main rotor gearbox are corroded!
I'm led to believe that the aircraft they sent over here had spent a considerable amount of time in the hangar. As the rotating parts within the gearbox had not rotated for some time, they lacked that certain protection that oh, say, oil might have given them against any nasty bits of moisture getting in there.
It has flown (once). And the boys (and girls) have been all over it trying to sort things out. I hope their efforts will not be in vain. I fear the Army may try and nick the TV screens out of the front if it sits around much longer
. Regards
RotP