Merlin
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: I have a home where the Junglies roam.
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I think that the majority of job losses at Wastelands are in the rotable section. i.e. Transmissions and drive shafts.
HMX-1 is the US Marine Corps Sqn that flies Dubya around, and is the Test and Evaluation Sqn for the USMC. They are the one's who had a hand in the decision. VX-1 conducts similar testing and evaluation, but for the US Navy
ALMOST CORRECT EXCEPT THE NAVY DID CARRY OUT THE EVALUATION AT PAX RIVER NAS. I WAS THERE
ALMOST CORRECT EXCEPT THE NAVY DID CARRY OUT THE EVALUATION AT PAX RIVER NAS. I WAS THERE
And from 702 NAS
From this page:
The Lynx is due to be phased out of service from 2008 when a future Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft will replace it, operating from Frigates and Destroyers of the Royal Navy well into the 21st Century.
Less than four years to go? Might be time for placing orders....
The Lynx is due to be phased out of service from 2008 when a future Surface Combatant Maritime Rotorcraft will replace it, operating from Frigates and Destroyers of the Royal Navy well into the 21st Century.
Less than four years to go? Might be time for placing orders....
Join Date: Jun 2003
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And the rest of the factory do what????? yep...Rotables. Nugget
I think that the majority of job losses at Wastelands are in the rotable section. i.e. Transmissions and drive shafts.
What was the nugget comment about?
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Must be a relief for that 4000 to come in of a morning and find shiny new helos
As for the Lynx. I think you will find that the Lynx is due to be phased out STARTING from 2008. With over 60 airframes, the first one reaches lifex in 2008 and the remainder will go on for sometime...well beyond 2015. Still, that is no excuse for not starting the process to procure NH90...NOW!
A Nugget is a piece of gold
Join Date: May 2004
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From the coalface
There are some incredibly good facts amongst this 'rumour' mill with stats and figures!! Whilst Si Clik is right in what he says and it is a fantastic machine with a huge capability increase over its predecessor - it is still plagued with problems.
Although now detached from the TAS I believe morale is fairly low in the community with limited stores and therefore serviceability. This makes prioritisation a constant battle and training is currently taking a massive hit - any courses running at the mo?? The sim is no doubt doing a roaring trade!!
7 years downstream from the first delivery and I understand configuration issues still abound to boot. Were I Mr Hertz and this was my brand new fleet of Mondeo's I'd be mightily pissed off.
Good news though I hear there's cash to build some new helicopter force HQ's!!
Although now detached from the TAS I believe morale is fairly low in the community with limited stores and therefore serviceability. This makes prioritisation a constant battle and training is currently taking a massive hit - any courses running at the mo?? The sim is no doubt doing a roaring trade!!
7 years downstream from the first delivery and I understand configuration issues still abound to boot. Were I Mr Hertz and this was my brand new fleet of Mondeo's I'd be mightily pissed off.
Good news though I hear there's cash to build some new helicopter force HQ's!!
Join Date: Jan 2005
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There is no doubt that Merlin is a fine A/C, give it an EO device,a weapon, upgrade the software and provide a bunch of reliably available spares and you can forget replacement Lynx and NH 90 it's all there. Give Westlands the contract to build a few more Merlins to augment 829 and the flights and replace Lynx completely, the Lynx crews can all convert, as quite a few have already, the Observer shortage will be addressed to boot.
JOBS A GOODUN !!
JOBS A GOODUN !!
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There is no doubt that Merlin is a fine A/C, give it an EO device
a weapon
upgrade the software
Give Westlands the contract to build a few more Merlins to augment 829
the Lynx crews can all convert, as quite a few have already
the Observer shortage will be addressed to boot
Bit of a pipedream but I think what will really happen is that we will support just a handful of Merlin. That will be 5 or 6 maybe 7 at a stretch. This will mean a whole lot of Merlin aircrew will not have an aircraft to fly. They will be invited to convert to Lynx and that will create big problems as upto 40 Merlin crews are sent to Somerset. Now you move into the realsm of somerset not being able to support that many crews.
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Crossbow, you sound very learned and I speak as a shop floor layman.
I believe the EO device is on loan as a trial, the weapon we could do with is the skua or similar. The software is still good but becoming obsolete ( procurement error ). we have 42 but ditto previous procurement point. As for Observer shortage if we don't have a shortage why the retention insentives?
I believe the EO device is on loan as a trial, the weapon we could do with is the skua or similar. The software is still good but becoming obsolete ( procurement error ). we have 42 but ditto previous procurement point. As for Observer shortage if we don't have a shortage why the retention insentives?
Join Date: Jun 2000
Location: Anywhere there's ships and aircraft available
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Just to clear things up.
There is a big Observer shortage across the board.
The Merlin issue is short and not long term - in any case there are plenty of gapped Obs Merlin billets.
We have trouble recruiting observers.
Crossbow's Lynx to Merlin figures are a tad inaccurate.
There is a great deal of work going in to the right Lx/Merlin balance and the desire for a 2 aircraft type solution is very much alive.
ALL grey helicopter personnel should WORK TOGETHER to ensure it will work.
There is a big Observer shortage across the board.
The Merlin issue is short and not long term - in any case there are plenty of gapped Obs Merlin billets.
We have trouble recruiting observers.
Crossbow's Lynx to Merlin figures are a tad inaccurate.
There is a great deal of work going in to the right Lx/Merlin balance and the desire for a 2 aircraft type solution is very much alive.
ALL grey helicopter personnel should WORK TOGETHER to ensure it will work.
Join Date: Dec 2000
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There is a big Observer shortage across the board.
IMO, keeping an eye on the commercial aviation sector, the airlines are starting to recruit more people with low houred fATPLs - a prime job for a disillusioned Obs williing to spend his/her gratuity on a licence.
As I said, just sitting on the fence and sorry to hijack the thread.
Oggin
Suspicion breeds confidence
Not sure why you would need a Sea Skua - or something similar FTM ? Agree maybe snap a couple of Penguin or Hellfire would do the trick
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: USA
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Crossbow, you sound very learned
Its a brand new aircraft
and if the software isn't correct why accept it?
Take it you bought Windows XP and have not bothered with SP1, SP2 and all Critical Updates. After all if the software isn't correct why buy it? You obviously know nothing about software development and block release strategies. Merlin is now on its third in-service block release of mission software. These were separately funded enhancements due to new requirements. It's due more block releases but I'm not going into detail here.
Ever flown an aircraft with software in it? If you had you would understand that frequent upgrade releases of software are normal, even in the commercial world.
TOG
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Marlin, EHI 01
No Si. Disagree. Drop the political stuff; comes over all wrong.
2 a/c solution?
No dosh/need for one. See……
New(ish)Big one fast(er), talks to many at once, can find needle in haystack above and below the waves, can carry much stuff/peeps, now needs proper eyes to see in dark plus suitable weapons (see above posts).
Old small grey one slow, talks to self plus one other (but usually self), wheezes in hot weather, carries nowt. Can join in most stuff if pressed by thrusting CO but not much kop unless opposition in basic war canoe armed with sharp guava fruit. Perfect match for FF/DD. “ MO” to creep up on death mission with fingers and legs crossed and let rip (respect here – thank goodness not done much). Otherwise good fun for 1 tour eh chaps. Face it. It’s OVER.
Give all kit needed to new(ish) Big one and let small old one dribble on until drones replace. Keys to FAA strong box should be handed over NOW.
Look ahead. Small attack helo? Is a Hind small? Combat power? Don’t make me laugh.
2 a/c solution?
No dosh/need for one. See……
New(ish)Big one fast(er), talks to many at once, can find needle in haystack above and below the waves, can carry much stuff/peeps, now needs proper eyes to see in dark plus suitable weapons (see above posts).
Old small grey one slow, talks to self plus one other (but usually self), wheezes in hot weather, carries nowt. Can join in most stuff if pressed by thrusting CO but not much kop unless opposition in basic war canoe armed with sharp guava fruit. Perfect match for FF/DD. “ MO” to creep up on death mission with fingers and legs crossed and let rip (respect here – thank goodness not done much). Otherwise good fun for 1 tour eh chaps. Face it. It’s OVER.
Give all kit needed to new(ish) Big one and let small old one dribble on until drones replace. Keys to FAA strong box should be handed over NOW.
Look ahead. Small attack helo? Is a Hind small? Combat power? Don’t make me laugh.
