Crab
How much experience have you got in the Merlin?
Before I left the Royal Flying Club I garnered a couple of hundred hours on the aircraft including a small amount of winching (on the switch and t'other end), albeit just on an airfield and winching to the old tower. Flying pilot was an experienced ex Lossie pilot. No problems with downwash at all, on the end of the wire it just felt the same as the Sea King. Only problem was the position of the winch and having to swap hands from the tradional practise with the winch at the front. However Wastelands say they can put the winch anywhere yhe customer wants it.
The Merlin has been operated in the Highlands (that is the lumpy bits were real SAR crews work - DUCK!!) on a couple of detatchments quite successfully. In fact I believe the aforementioned pilot moved some MRT onto Ben Nevis with no complaints or problems.
So take the CFS badge of and return to reality.
