78 Sqn RAF Official Stand Up Ceremony
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78 Sqn RAF Official Stand Up Ceremony
Finally feeling up to typing something legible. Yesterday was a big success and at least now according to the article the pressure on the SH fleet has now been given a 'substantial boost'!
The article does the explaining
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/De...opterForce.htm
The article does the explaining
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/De...opterForce.htm
Hallelujah! We are saved! Thank you 78 Sqn!
I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't come to our rescue. We'd probably have had to 'just get on with it' like we have done up to now and like we we will do when the Army realises that more Merlins may look good to Daily Mail readers, but translates into nothing at 50 C and 10000 feet when Kajaki needs 10 troops and 3 tonnes of food/water/fuel/ammo.
Nice thought though!
I don't know what we would have done if you hadn't come to our rescue. We'd probably have had to 'just get on with it' like we have done up to now and like we we will do when the Army realises that more Merlins may look good to Daily Mail readers, but translates into nothing at 50 C and 10000 feet when Kajaki needs 10 troops and 3 tonnes of food/water/fuel/ammo.
Nice thought though!
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Well, well, how predictable that the broken record from Odiham is spun again.
It is true what your guys say about you. No-one can come to your rescue mate, you are well past your sell by date.
It is true what your guys say about you. No-one can come to your rescue mate, you are well past your sell by date.
Just beating the air into submission!
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Hurrah, the Cavalry appear over the hill just in the nick of time.
Minigundiplomat, correct on the DA side of things, but +50 deg C at 10K -not really.
Minigundiplomat, correct on the DA side of things, but +50 deg C at 10K -not really.
Last edited by HeliAviator; 26th Jan 2008 at 05:54.
Champagne anyone...?
expected to be in service at Benson later this year once they have been brought up to RAF specifications by UK manufacturer Agusta/Westland.
....once they have been brought down to RAF specifications...
Just wondering.......
I read the Bul...Blurb from MOD and came up with this:
So what are the remainder of the FI's former 78 Sqn called now?
And whatever happened to 78's Griffin? (i.e. Griffin Way) - Has Merlin managed to turn a Griffin into a Tiger?
So what are the remainder of the FI's former 78 Sqn called now?
And whatever happened to 78's Griffin? (i.e. Griffin Way) - Has Merlin managed to turn a Griffin into a Tiger?
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minigundiplomat
Well if you are referring to what I think you are referring that was certainly minigun diplomacy. Whilst i guess it was meant as a bit of banter I actually think its teetering on the red card mate, and should the person it is aimed at frequent this site (very possible) I can only imagine the deep personal hurt it will cause.
And whatever, at least your not Freaks!
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Rigga
1564 Flight
Never has been a Griffin in the crest! I guess someone got their mythical beasts muddled up 
From the Heraldic website
GasFitter
Yes, as is 28 Sqn. The 'groundcrew' are part of their own big club now called Merlin Force. Bit like Odiham and Lyneham have done.
So what are the remainder of the FI's former 78 Sqn called now?
And whatever happened to 78's Griffin? (i.e. Griffin Way) - Has Merlin managed to turn a Griffin into a Tiger?
From the Heraldic website
A heraldic tiger rampant and double queued - approved by King George VI in November 1939. The theme of the badge was based on the Squadron's aircraft at the time, the Whitley, which had Tiger engines and twin tails.
Btw, is the reformed 78 Sqn an 'aircrew only' club?
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The 'groundcrew' are part of their own big club now called Merlin Force. Bit like Odiham and Lyneham have done.
Well if you are referring to what I think you are referring that was certainly minigun diplomacy. Whilst i guess it was meant as a bit of banter I actually think its teetering on the red card mate, and should the person it is aimed at frequent this site (very possible) I can only imagine the deep personal hurt it will cause
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....once they have been brought down to RAF specifications..
The RDanAF litterally went overboard with every imaginable system on their new SAR (and troop transport) helo. (Can't blame them. It was 1965 when they last got 8, then state of the art, Sikorsky S-61A's. And another 40 - 50 years before the next one?). Very fairly (?) they then said: We won't accept it, till it works! Some years later it worked, was delivered, and - oops. 14 EH101's! Can't utilise them. Result: Of the 3 SAR stations, 1 is EH101 and 2 S-61A. (Sea King to be kept for another two years!). And in the last defence agreement the Danish Navy got 4 "Merlin types". Added to their 8 Lynx. When will they be allowed to "get their act together"?
So Denmark very graciously parted with their troop transport EH101's - for a couple of years - 
Unlike the Pumas, I don't think the Merlin HC3As are being totally "dumbed down" . Whereas some of the gucci toys will not be supported in service, they will, I believe, be getting BERP IV blades and some other UK specific kit.
It will be interesting to see the performance figures, but let's not fall into the hackneyed trap of comparing a Merlin to a Chinook. It isn't the same, live with it. More relevant is to compare the Merlin HC3A to the Sea King 4+, which by all reports is making a meaningful contribution in the Stan.
Anything that offloads the Chinook fleet to allow it to concentrate on core duties is important, so we should welcome 78 Sqn to the party.
We wanted more Chinooks, none were available, this was the next best thing.
It will be interesting to see the performance figures, but let's not fall into the hackneyed trap of comparing a Merlin to a Chinook. It isn't the same, live with it. More relevant is to compare the Merlin HC3A to the Sea King 4+, which by all reports is making a meaningful contribution in the Stan.
Anything that offloads the Chinook fleet to allow it to concentrate on core duties is important, so we should welcome 78 Sqn to the party.
We wanted more Chinooks, none were available, this was the next best thing.
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none were available
But how many times in all three services have we been lumbered with kit that the users have not wanted?
Pilot Pacifier, whilst you are correct with regard to the spitefully political 1995 purchase of 22 Merlin HC3 and 14 Mk2A/3 Chinooks, the UOR procurement of the Danish Merlins was a direct consequence of no Chinooks being available in the same timeframe. Boeing could not deliver CH47Fs with a UK Release until 2011/2012, the US Army could not release CHAPS aircraft until 2010 due to their overstretch and nobody else was selling s/h D models to buy. Maybe could of got the dregs of the Agusta C models in Libya, but the UAE got the pick of the "best ones".
So, sorry, the Danish Merlins were available (The Portugese ones weren't), we needed some headlines and extra SH (in that order....) so the HC3As were bought and Mk3 Fix to Field was shelved in favour of Mk3 Reversion.
Bet they wish they'd bought the Portugese Pumas as well now...
So, sorry, the Danish Merlins were available (The Portugese ones weren't), we needed some headlines and extra SH (in that order....) so the HC3As were bought and Mk3 Fix to Field was shelved in favour of Mk3 Reversion.
Bet they wish they'd bought the Portugese Pumas as well now...