Merlin Update

[Bigtop]

Any one got news when the Mighty Merlin will take to the skies again?:sad:

[fuel2noise]

See the strand on the Rotorhead forum. Sky still Merlin free over this bit of the Duchy.

[jingly]

i thought it was already out here delivering the load further, faster.

[Flypro]

Jingly - that would be the good old Sea King!!!!
:ok:

[fuel2noise]

Strange how all the Merlin boys are as silent as their machines. Has there been a ministry gagging order on the situation I wonder?

[Neil Porter]

Can't remember where i heard it but was told up to 8 months out of service?? Surely cannot be that long can it????
Ressurection of the Wessex then??????????

[RoD Flow]

....Merlin boys are as silent as their machines. Has there been a ministry gagging order...

F2N - No gagging order, just apathy towards the rumour mill now, although "8 months out of service" is one of the best ones I've heard so far.

[Cyclic Hotline]

So is it grounded, or what is the official terminology for the current status?

Maybe this is a vote of confidence in the project?


UK's GKN sidesteps helicopter stake sale talk
Reuters, 05.13.04, 6:53 AM ET

LONDON, May 13 (Reuters) - British engineering firm GKN <GKN.L> on Thursday declined to comment on renewed talk it could sell its stake in its helicopter joint venture AgustaWestland, after a major bank said it believed a deal was near.

"We believe GKN could be close to selling its stake in AgustaWestland," analysts at Goldman Sachs said in a research note, saying the disposal could be announced "sooner than the market expects".

But GKN said speculation that it would sell its 50 percent stake in AgustaWestland (AW) has lingered since it formed the joint-venture with Italy's Finmeccanica SpA <SIFI.MI> three years ago. Finmeccanica is considered a potential buyer.

"There has been speculation like this since the joint venture was formed, and we never commented on it then and we have no intention of commenting on it now," said Peter Baillie, director of communications at GKN.

Goldman analysts said a sale of the stake would mark a major change in GKN's structure and direction. "But a strategic shift carries risks, and a disposal of AW would not necessarily be a positive," the bank added.

"If GKN were to announce the sale of its AW stake, we would expect investors to demand immediate details about how the cash proceeds will be utilised," Goldman said.

It said it believed GKN would want to remain at or above its current size and would not want to become a takeover target. "As a result, we think that it is unlikely to sit on cash and that a subsequent acquisition would be the most likely use of any proceeds."

Goldman upgraded its rating on GKN's shares to "in-line" from "underperform" after recent weakness in its shares.

By 1050 GMT GKN shares were up 2.3 percent at 220-1/4 pence, down 20 percent from their level before it reported results on March 1, valuing the company at 1.6 billion pounds ($2.8 billion).

Copyright 2004, Reuters News Service

[Neil Porter]

RodFlow - "8 months out of service" - thought it was a good rumour to add to the rumour mill !!!!
Seriously hope all Merlin flyers fly again soon...:ok:

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Had a presentation at the SARF conference at St Mawgan today by boss of Cormorant Sqn at Greenwood Nova Scotia - they are not grounded and have inspected all their TR hubs and found no cracks! This despite the fact their 101s have more hours on them than ours - work that one out.

[The Nr Fairy]

Maybe the Canuk ones have round holes on the tail rotor tie-bar thingies, or am I completely off target ?

[Green Flash]

From a SLF point of view I was most impressed. The heaters work, it doesn't shake your fillings loose and you can just about hold a conversation (and everyone has got a magic hat if you can't). Some cloggy collegues in Bos were also impressed especially by the way it could sneak up on the FARP before they knew it was there. Mad Eric and the other Cougar drivers could be heard approaching from miles off (which explains their somewhat 'spirited' arrivals technique) but the Merlin would be on them in a flash.:ok:

[Flypro]

That would be 'FLASH.......BANG.......WALLOP!' would it?:eek:

[Cyclic Hotline]

Merlin was a wizard - maybe he just made them disappear?

Or maybe they are the latest in Stealth technology? They are certainly quiet, they are certainly invisible and they are certainly so secret that no-one even acknowledges their existence?

[jingly]

are there any plans to send the Merlin out to the magic kingdom, if so, what time frame are we talking. In addition to the Merlin rumour mill, do you anticipate any problems with high temperature affecting bonded materials/avionics? It would certainly be nice to see our latest machine out here and im sure a hitch free detachment would go a long way towards boosting its sales potential.