UK RAF launches Afghan work-up with Merlin helicopters
Thread Starter
UK RAF launches Afghan work-up with Merlin helicopters
Well, the "RAF Merlins crews unwilling to go to Afghanistan?" was closed, so for all you Merlin supporters, Flight International has just published an update on preparations/training for deployment (maybe old hat to some of you).
and
Full Article
The UK Royal Air Force has launched a four-month series of environmental training exercises in the USA intended to prepare crews of its AgustaWestland Merlin HC3/3A (AW101) transport helicopters for deployment to Afghanistan
RAF Merlins arrived at the US Navy's El Centro training facility near San Diego, California in late August to participate in Exercise Merlin Vortex. The aircraft were flown to the site using RAF Boeing C-17 strategic transports.
The 15t-class Merlins will be flown initially by crews from the three flights that form the RAF's 78 Sqn, with their training to be focused on "hot and high" operations, dust landings and in honing self-defence procedures, the service says.
The 15t-class Merlins will be flown initially by crews from the three flights that form the RAF's 78 Sqn, with their training to be focused on "hot and high" operations, dust landings and in honing self-defence procedures, the service says.
Where do you start?
Brandnew will chip in with some carefully phrased implication that the ‘junior branch’ of the RAF’s SH component – the immature ‘juvenile’ Merlin force (comprised as it is of SH force rejects and obese 17 stone crewmen) who showed indecent haste in running from Basra, and who exaggerated their minimal contribution in Iraq, are not a patch on the Chinook force, for whom he has a colossal hard on, and he will insist that Merlin force standards need to be dragged up to the level of the Chinook Force….
He differs from Evalu8or, in that he thinks the Merlin is great and it’s the operators who are merely ‘adequate’ air centric shirkers who don’t give a toss about the air land picture. Said Evalu8or will harp on about how the RAF were forced to buy the inadequate and unjustifiable Merlin, and should get rid of it forthwith, that it isn’t a patch on Chinook, that Puma is more useful, etc.
Junglies various will jump on the ‘slag the light blue Merlin bandwagon….’
Nigegilb will continue his ‘Merlin protection is inadequate’ crusade, harping on and on about the operational failings of Britmil FW/RW air presumably in the hope that it will further enhance his political career, and his parasite Chugalug will ra ra noisily. He may or may not start beadwindowing others for repeating stuff that’s already in the public domain.
The Wizard, CompressorStall and Strobin’Purple will mount a restrained and mature defence, but won’t match the willy waving excess of the green (with envy?) Junglie boys, Chinook Primadonnas and Army Air Corps wannabes – none of whom are representative of their commun ities, most of whom can see that the professionalism of the Merlin force matches their own, and appreciate the qualities that Merlin brings to the party.
Seldomfitforpurpose may blaze away with a little more lead in his pencil…..
MGD will be firm but fair, or piss-taking, depending on his mood....
A mod will intervene and close the thread.
Brandnew will chip in with some carefully phrased implication that the ‘junior branch’ of the RAF’s SH component – the immature ‘juvenile’ Merlin force (comprised as it is of SH force rejects and obese 17 stone crewmen) who showed indecent haste in running from Basra, and who exaggerated their minimal contribution in Iraq, are not a patch on the Chinook force, for whom he has a colossal hard on, and he will insist that Merlin force standards need to be dragged up to the level of the Chinook Force….
He differs from Evalu8or, in that he thinks the Merlin is great and it’s the operators who are merely ‘adequate’ air centric shirkers who don’t give a toss about the air land picture. Said Evalu8or will harp on about how the RAF were forced to buy the inadequate and unjustifiable Merlin, and should get rid of it forthwith, that it isn’t a patch on Chinook, that Puma is more useful, etc.
Junglies various will jump on the ‘slag the light blue Merlin bandwagon….’
Nigegilb will continue his ‘Merlin protection is inadequate’ crusade, harping on and on about the operational failings of Britmil FW/RW air presumably in the hope that it will further enhance his political career, and his parasite Chugalug will ra ra noisily. He may or may not start beadwindowing others for repeating stuff that’s already in the public domain.
The Wizard, CompressorStall and Strobin’Purple will mount a restrained and mature defence, but won’t match the willy waving excess of the green (with envy?) Junglie boys, Chinook Primadonnas and Army Air Corps wannabes – none of whom are representative of their commun ities, most of whom can see that the professionalism of the Merlin force matches their own, and appreciate the qualities that Merlin brings to the party.
Seldomfitforpurpose may blaze away with a little more lead in his pencil…..
MGD will be firm but fair, or piss-taking, depending on his mood....
A mod will intervene and close the thread.
I don't own this space under my name. I should have leased it while I still could
San Diego, California
four-month series of environmental training exercises
Kandahar, February weather, min 11 deg max 18 deg, average 15 deg.
Must say I am surprised but looks like they may be right.
According to Wiki, El Centro is 50' below sea level.........so minus 50' at plus 19 degrees C......hmmmmmmm not quite the hot and high environmental training I was expecting!! Maybe it's really, really dusty - yes that must be why they didn't go to North Africa instead
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Jackonicko
"You've been here before"
*
*Your (possibly accurate, but definitely funny) post reminded me of the scene from the film 'liar liar' where Jim Carey picks up his car from the car pound, and he describes his intentions to the car pound worker, who just replies "You've been here before"
One of the funnier thread predictions I've read in a long while.
**Your (possibly accurate, but definitely funny) post reminded me of the scene from the film 'liar liar' where Jim Carey picks up his car from the car pound, and he describes his intentions to the car pound worker, who just replies "You've been here before"
One of the funnier thread predictions I've read in a long while.
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It's a good R&R spot!
And they can pop over to that great holiday spot Big Bear Lake every day, well five days a week!
England’s Royal Air Force Training to Include Stops in Big Bear Through November
July 30, 2009 by Catherine Sandstrom
If you have seen a giant green helicopter flying over Big Bear Lake this week, that craft is a Merlin, one of 30 in England’s Royal Air Force. The crew of the Merlin has spent the last five years in Iraq and, this month, is stationed in El Centro, California for flight training in preparation of a tour in Afghanistan at year’s end. As FL Lieutenant Sam Fletcher tells KBHR, “It is good crew training with the mountains, the desert, and dust, which is similar to Afghanistan because, in Iraq, it is really flat.” The Royal Air Force crew has been flying from El Centro to Twentynine Palms and, Fletcher adds, “We’re simulating mountains in Twentynine Palms, and are here in Big Bear to refuel.” As the entire fleet of Merlins will be taking part in this training, the flight lieutenant says, “You can expect to see a helicopter up here every week, five days a week, into mid-November.” After being in Iraq and, most recently El Centro, Fletcher raves, “It’s pretty beautiful here, and we’re enjoying cooling off in Big Bear. It looks good from the sky as well—the lake is beautiful. It’s a good R&R spot!”
July 30, 2009 by Catherine Sandstrom
If you have seen a giant green helicopter flying over Big Bear Lake this week, that craft is a Merlin, one of 30 in England’s Royal Air Force. The crew of the Merlin has spent the last five years in Iraq and, this month, is stationed in El Centro, California for flight training in preparation of a tour in Afghanistan at year’s end. As FL Lieutenant Sam Fletcher tells KBHR, “It is good crew training with the mountains, the desert, and dust, which is similar to Afghanistan because, in Iraq, it is really flat.” The Royal Air Force crew has been flying from El Centro to Twentynine Palms and, Fletcher adds, “We’re simulating mountains in Twentynine Palms, and are here in Big Bear to refuel.” As the entire fleet of Merlins will be taking part in this training, the flight lieutenant says, “You can expect to see a helicopter up here every week, five days a week, into mid-November.” After being in Iraq and, most recently El Centro, Fletcher raves, “It’s pretty beautiful here, and we’re enjoying cooling off in Big Bear. It looks good from the sky as well—the lake is beautiful. It’s a good R&R spot!”
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And they can pop over to that great holiday spot Big Bear Lake every day, well five days a week!
The Royal Air Force crew has been flying from El Centro to Twentynine Palms and, Fletcher adds, “We’re simulating mountains in Twentynine Palms, and are here in Big Bear to refuel.
The Royal Air Force crew has been flying from El Centro to Twentynine Palms and, Fletcher adds, “We’re simulating mountains in Twentynine Palms, and are here in Big Bear to refuel.
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The base is currently home to the largest military training area in the nation (and the largest US base in the world), and consequently, the largest training program. The program known as Mojave Viper has become the model of pre-Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment training. The majority of units in the Marine Corps will undergo a month at Mojave Viper before deploying to Iraq or a mixed training venue using the Mountain Warfare Training Center for Afghanistan. Live fire exercises, artillery, tank, and close air support training are used for training, in addition to the sprawling "Combat Town," a 2-acre (8,100 m2) fabricated Middle Eastern village, complete with a mosque, native role-players, an "IED Alley," and other immersive touches.
The terrain is consistent with steeply-sloped mountains and flat valleys running northwest-southeast, with elevations ranging from 1,800 to 4,500 feet (1,400 m) above sea level. The training area is also characterized with ancient lava flows, as well as dry lake beds and arroyos (or wadis) that fill quickly during rain, presenting the danger of powerful floods and washouts that can move armored vehicles. Many abandoned mines dot the terrain, as well as unexploded ordnance and shrapnel, making unauthorized travel in the training areas dangerous.
The climate is described best as arid and upland desert. Summer temperatures can peak at 120° (F) and bottom at 15° in the winter, with an annual average of 67°. Precipitation averages to four inches (102 mm) annually, most often in the fall and winter months.
Twentynine Palms has a reputation within the Marine Corps for its relative desolation and isolation, due to the harsh desert climate and the remote nature of the base.
The terrain is consistent with steeply-sloped mountains and flat valleys running northwest-southeast, with elevations ranging from 1,800 to 4,500 feet (1,400 m) above sea level. The training area is also characterized with ancient lava flows, as well as dry lake beds and arroyos (or wadis) that fill quickly during rain, presenting the danger of powerful floods and washouts that can move armored vehicles. Many abandoned mines dot the terrain, as well as unexploded ordnance and shrapnel, making unauthorized travel in the training areas dangerous.
The climate is described best as arid and upland desert. Summer temperatures can peak at 120° (F) and bottom at 15° in the winter, with an annual average of 67°. Precipitation averages to four inches (102 mm) annually, most often in the fall and winter months.
Twentynine Palms has a reputation within the Marine Corps for its relative desolation and isolation, due to the harsh desert climate and the remote nature of the base.
Last edited by TheWizard; 27th Aug 2009 at 21:34.
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though slightly cowardly to use a pen name Journo
Are you that cleaner?
England’s Royal Air Force
UK Royal Air Force
"At least it is better than being some wannabe aircrew person, scumbag journo who thinks he knows everything"
Wannabe? Too old. Aircrew person? Not professionally. Journo? Yes. Scumbag? Quite possibly.
But I am also a pilot (amateur), I grew up in an RAF family, I am ex-UAS, and I do have stick time in a range of helos, and I have flown or flown in helicopters from R-22 to Mi-26, (or military from Gazelle to Mi-24) and with air forces from the US to Poland.
None of which means that I know everything, of course, nor have I ever made that claim. But that, coupled with knowing a 'cleaner' or two, does give me an opinion, and I hope that I have the humility to know the limitations of that opinion.
Wannabe? Too old. Aircrew person? Not professionally. Journo? Yes. Scumbag? Quite possibly.
But I am also a pilot (amateur), I grew up in an RAF family, I am ex-UAS, and I do have stick time in a range of helos, and I have flown or flown in helicopters from R-22 to Mi-26, (or military from Gazelle to Mi-24) and with air forces from the US to Poland.
None of which means that I know everything, of course, nor have I ever made that claim. But that, coupled with knowing a 'cleaner' or two, does give me an opinion, and I hope that I have the humility to know the limitations of that opinion.
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England’s Royal Air Force Training to Include Stops in Big Bear Through November
July 30, 2009 by Catherine Sandstrom
If you have seen a giant green helicopter flying over Big Bear Lake this week, that craft is a Merlin, one of 30 in England’s Royal Air Force.
July 30, 2009 by Catherine Sandstrom
If you have seen a giant green helicopter flying over Big Bear Lake this week, that craft is a Merlin, one of 30 in England’s Royal Air Force.
Interesting, so how many does the Scottish and Welsh Royal Air Force Have??
And before you say it we know Wales has an RAF Chinook as his family hack
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With respect Jacko, and I mean that - you do seem to know your stuff, however you do come across as awfully biased agianst FAA/AAC. Although in this particular case, the Merlin crews seem to have made a good choice - i'm sure they did a good job in Iraq, and deserve a decent training ex - Wizard's extract does seem to point to the fact it is a massivly important training area for US forces about to Afghanistan - ALTHOUGH I will make the point that it seems more built around training for the ground elements more than the air elements of the Marine Forces - of all the facilities listed there, it's hard to see what there is specifically for helicopter training they couldn't have got elsewhere... hmm
Fingers crossed that this thread doesn't turn into the utter debacle that the last one was, with caution thrown to the four winds and dirty laundry aired for anyone to see by people who should know better.
Also, as a Welshman, I resent that damn remark in the extract. As if the English don't act overly superior enough as it is
Fingers crossed that this thread doesn't turn into the utter debacle that the last one was, with caution thrown to the four winds and dirty laundry aired for anyone to see by people who should know better.
Also, as a Welshman, I resent that damn remark in the extract. As if the English don't act overly superior enough as it is
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FACT: it is F**in Hot in Sthn Cal right now - and equally as hot in and around the training areas within a few hours. The Terrain there is also Bl**dy High. There is also a lot of Sand, dust, haze - and hugh tracks of training air and ground space.....You also might get a US ATC to talk to and even US Forces to play with....You might even get to integrate with other UK asset there. Sounds a lot like the Stan to me.
I Don't seem to recall much of that in the UK -all at once.
I Don't seem to recall much of that in the UK -all at once.
Yeoman D,
Thanks for that.
I hope that it's clear that I recognise that the RN, RAF and AAC folk I criticise are the exception, not the rule, and that they are NOT:
"representative of their communities, most of whom can see that the professionalism of the Merlin force matches their own, and appreciate the qualities that Merlin brings to the party."
It was also intended as banter.............
Thanks for that.
I hope that it's clear that I recognise that the RN, RAF and AAC folk I criticise are the exception, not the rule, and that they are NOT:
"representative of their communities, most of whom can see that the professionalism of the Merlin force matches their own, and appreciate the qualities that Merlin brings to the party."
It was also intended as banter.............
Thread Starter
I put the Flight International article on here just to highlight the latest information on the Merlin's fleet preparation for deployent to AFG. Shortly afterwards I leave for dinner at a friends and come back (admitably not too sober) to find a whole raft of posts that do not necessarily do justice to the situation.
For once, can we not have a reasoned discussion on a subject that does not sink to the level of (for example) the previous closed thread?
Ah well, time for bed.
For once, can we not have a reasoned discussion on a subject that does not sink to the level of (for example) the previous closed thread?
Ah well, time for bed.
Jacko,
At the risk of biting...
You are entirely correct in saying that I continue to remind people of the politically motivated decision to buy the Merlin in 1995. IMHO, such a decision, which forced the MoD to spend more money on less capable helicopters should not just be swept under the carpet.
However, I have been consistant in praising the efforts of the crews (and indeed the platform) in both Bosnia and Iraq. The Merlin has done well in both theatres (to the surprise on many), but it (nor its' crews) have been exposed to the rigours of HERRICK. That's why they are in the US. The Merlin will supplement the force structure in AFG; but ask the Theatre Commander if he'd want 6-8 Merlins or 6-8 extra Chinooks it is obvious what the answer would be. Which brings us neatly back to that decision in 1995....
At the risk of biting...
You are entirely correct in saying that I continue to remind people of the politically motivated decision to buy the Merlin in 1995. IMHO, such a decision, which forced the MoD to spend more money on less capable helicopters should not just be swept under the carpet.
However, I have been consistant in praising the efforts of the crews (and indeed the platform) in both Bosnia and Iraq. The Merlin has done well in both theatres (to the surprise on many), but it (nor its' crews) have been exposed to the rigours of HERRICK. That's why they are in the US. The Merlin will supplement the force structure in AFG; but ask the Theatre Commander if he'd want 6-8 Merlins or 6-8 extra Chinooks it is obvious what the answer would be. Which brings us neatly back to that decision in 1995....
I suspect that there are circumstances in which a Merlin is a better 'fit' for a given task, and others (probably more of them) where a Chinook is preferable.
It's the contention that a Chinook is always better that strikes me as being silly.
It's the contention that a Chinook is always better that strikes me as being silly.