Why is the Merlin so good
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goffered again - I think Occasional Aviator was meaning that the Mk3 can turn on the spot, so to speak, even with twin mains. 'castor' is the switch position to get the nosewheel to turn to the 90 deg position to allow a spot turn, normally the steering is restricted to 45 deg either way. It seemed to confuse the poor marshaller the first time we took one for a visit (can't remember if it was Benson or Odiham or wherever), he wasn't used to stuff that could turn on the spot. The spot around which it turns is where the Deck-lock is on the RN aircraft, so you can spin around with the deck-lock engaged. As always my memory is about 4 years out of date.
I can't see why the RN ones couldn't have twin wheels, I seem to remember the oleos and sponson where the same anyway, and I can't sea how deck handling would have been made more difficult.
If I was bobbing around some nice cold bit of sea, anything would look good to me, even a RAN Seapsrite, which looks pretty ugly in any other situation.
I can't see why the RN ones couldn't have twin wheels, I seem to remember the oleos and sponson where the same anyway, and I can't sea how deck handling would have been made more difficult.
If I was bobbing around some nice cold bit of sea, anything would look good to me, even a RAN Seapsrite, which looks pretty ugly in any other situation.
Is the Merlin still 'good enough' for Marine One?
Mr Sikorsky will doubtless be expending considerable resources to try and 'prove otherwise', but that doesn't mean he'll succeed.
Even with the accidents, the EH101 is clearly better and safer than the S.70. And the S.92 is a stretched, enlarged S.70, taking many of the S.70's most vulnerable systems and components.
And the insular and inward looking Americans may not associate the EHI EH101 Merlin as closely as we do with the Lockheed Martin US101.
Mr Sikorsky will doubtless be expending considerable resources to try and 'prove otherwise', but that doesn't mean he'll succeed.
Even with the accidents, the EH101 is clearly better and safer than the S.70. And the S.92 is a stretched, enlarged S.70, taking many of the S.70's most vulnerable systems and components.
And the insular and inward looking Americans may not associate the EHI EH101 Merlin as closely as we do with the Lockheed Martin US101.
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Jacko
Maybe they could order the US101, then cancel it the morning after the Presidential election, then order a completely different aircraft called the US Cormorant. None none of the electorate will ever notice.
Worked for the Canucks!
Maybe they could order the US101, then cancel it the morning after the Presidential election, then order a completely different aircraft called the US Cormorant. None none of the electorate will ever notice.
Worked for the Canucks!
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And the insular and inward looking Americans may not associate the EHI EH101 Merlin as closely as we do with the Lockheed Martin US101.
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Mk 1 Twin Wheels!
[QUOTE] Easily answered because there was only one reason at the end of the day; yeah, you guessed it.......................cost!
T O'G ..................yes you are absolutely right - in fact most of the cost lies in redesigning and rebuilding the Scott McTaggart PRISM deck handling system to take twin wheels!
T O'G ..................yes you are absolutely right - in fact most of the cost lies in redesigning and rebuilding the Scott McTaggart PRISM deck handling system to take twin wheels!
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There was a thread about the Presidential Bid on Rotorheads a short while ago that had some good links/points.
For anyone who hasn't seen it, its here: Presidential Bid
For anyone who hasn't seen it, its here: Presidential Bid
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Merlin ???
Youre all missing the point guys. The Grey Merlin is an awful awful aircraft.
Good points - Fast, furious, far, smooth
Bad points - Its based in the back of beyond. Its miles away from any sort of civilisation. Who in their right minds wants to fly an aircraft based in never,never land.
Move it somewhere closer to reality and you will win a lot more fans
Good points - Fast, furious, far, smooth
Bad points - Its based in the back of beyond. Its miles away from any sort of civilisation. Who in their right minds wants to fly an aircraft based in never,never land.
Move it somewhere closer to reality and you will win a lot more fans
Join Date: May 2004
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Merlin Superiority
For the sceptics:
Flying backwards in a Merlin is not a major problem! Yes facing forwards would have some advantages and make life a little more comfortable with its high nose up attitude on occassion.
Twin wheels - was a cost/weight saver to go to a single wheel. No signficant problems in deck handlingwith twin wheels, not even with the deck handling as the main shuttles are a guide not the engine of PRISM.
Way ahead - yes the cause of the accident has been identifed and a plan to get them airborne again is in hand but wait for the BOI report for the detail.
Despite the teething problems in introducing this aircraft it is immensely capable and an excellent force asset to the afloat commander. DAS/weapons etc would all enhance the aircraft so rather than throw stones lets concentrate on making a good platform better.
As for the sceptics from the other communities - I hope you have learnt the lessons exposed by Merlin when you bring your replacements on-line!!!!
Flying backwards in a Merlin is not a major problem! Yes facing forwards would have some advantages and make life a little more comfortable with its high nose up attitude on occassion.
Twin wheels - was a cost/weight saver to go to a single wheel. No signficant problems in deck handlingwith twin wheels, not even with the deck handling as the main shuttles are a guide not the engine of PRISM.
Way ahead - yes the cause of the accident has been identifed and a plan to get them airborne again is in hand but wait for the BOI report for the detail.
Despite the teething problems in introducing this aircraft it is immensely capable and an excellent force asset to the afloat commander. DAS/weapons etc would all enhance the aircraft so rather than throw stones lets concentrate on making a good platform better.
As for the sceptics from the other communities - I hope you have learnt the lessons exposed by Merlin when you bring your replacements on-line!!!!
Just spent 45 minutes writing a reply as to why the Merlin HM1 is the greatest thing since sliced bread, only to be told I wasn't logged in.
So I'll just say this.........Merlin HM1 replaces Sea King HAS6. Contrast and compare them, particularly in terms of sensor capability.
Merlin
Sea King
All the senors are hugely more capable. The area of sea that can be sanitised by a Merlin is several times larger than that of a Sea King.
So I'll just say this.........Merlin HM1 replaces Sea King HAS6. Contrast and compare them, particularly in terms of sensor capability.
Merlin
Sea King
All the senors are hugely more capable. The area of sea that can be sanitised by a Merlin is several times larger than that of a Sea King.
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WEBF - any amount of capability is useless if it is grounded (even for a 'brief period'). Merlin build up has been far slower than anyone expected; the current problem will doubtless cause even greater headaches with training throughput, operational programmes, etc, etc. How much longer can the RN wait to have the ASW and ASUW capability provided by Merlin restored. What is the cost v output equation?
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From what I heard during sea trials the launch cycle of the Merlin takes so long that it is incompatable with the launch cycle of the Harrier.
This means that the Merlin and Harrier cannot both operate off a CVS!
As a result the decision has been taken that the merlin will operate off of RFA's in Convoy with the CVS!!!!!!!!
Can you believe this stuff?
This means that the Merlin and Harrier cannot both operate off a CVS!
As a result the decision has been taken that the merlin will operate off of RFA's in Convoy with the CVS!!!!!!!!
Can you believe this stuff?
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From what I heard during sea trials the launch cycle of the Merlin takes so long that it is incompatable with the launch cycle of the Harrier.
There has always been issues with operating fixed and rotary assets off the same deck. Any U/S helo stuck on the spot (for example unable to fold the rotors) is going to screw up the FW programme.
Plus the RFA's are a lot nicer to live on !!
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I can't stop myself from replying to the 'sh@%e' above invented by those whose sea time can only be measured in ferry crossings.
I have done Ship Helicopter Limit Trials (SHOLs) in both the Sea King and Merlin.
Which is more capable - THE MERLIN
Which scared me the most - THE SEA KING
What is better at night in the pitch black with 4 metres of swell and 30ft of dec movement - THE MERLIN
The Merlin is second only to the Lynx in terms of ship compatibility and manoeuvreability.
The point made above about CVS and aircraft types hits it on the head. Prior to Merlin introduction to service as soon as the GR7s came on board the HAS 6 Sea Kings were kicked off to the RFA. Actually the RFA (both Wave Class and Fort Class) are better platforms and are better in nearly all respects than a CVS for a unit to operate from.
On a totally different note a colleague of mine recently serving with the Army in Bosnia told me how much they liked the Merlin on real ops in comparison to the Puma. He's not a pilot and drives ships for a living.
Merlin will carry on and beat the world whatever those who like to shoot crap at it form the ignorant outside may like to say.
I have done Ship Helicopter Limit Trials (SHOLs) in both the Sea King and Merlin.
Which is more capable - THE MERLIN
Which scared me the most - THE SEA KING
What is better at night in the pitch black with 4 metres of swell and 30ft of dec movement - THE MERLIN
The Merlin is second only to the Lynx in terms of ship compatibility and manoeuvreability.
The point made above about CVS and aircraft types hits it on the head. Prior to Merlin introduction to service as soon as the GR7s came on board the HAS 6 Sea Kings were kicked off to the RFA. Actually the RFA (both Wave Class and Fort Class) are better platforms and are better in nearly all respects than a CVS for a unit to operate from.
On a totally different note a colleague of mine recently serving with the Army in Bosnia told me how much they liked the Merlin on real ops in comparison to the Puma. He's not a pilot and drives ships for a living.
Merlin will carry on and beat the world whatever those who like to shoot crap at it form the ignorant outside may like to say.
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Army in Bosnia told me how much they liked the Merlin on real ops in comparison to the Puma
What's this real ops **** anyway?
Merlin beat the world - only because the politicians say so - not its ability!