NAWSARH AW101 launch last week
 

I attended the rollout / launch of the RNoAF NAWSARH or Norwegian All Weather SAR Helo last week at Yeovil. Quite good ceremony so here are my photos,

cheers

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And the first NAWSARH prototype put on a display for us

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Good phots them chopper, incredibly simple that I am but I like to see stuff made in Britain and sold abroad.

Would the unit badge represent Morse characters SOS?

UK HM Coastguard
 

Having read several reports of the Norwegian requirements and what this aircraft is allegedly capable of, its a great shame ( in my view) that UK plc didn't decide to pay out the large sum of UK taxpayers cash that the Coastguard PFI is costing on buying British. This version of the Merlin appears to be the perfect successor to the SAR Sea King or have I got my rose tinted spectacles on again?

Do you have any numbers on the comparison of downwash between it and the Seaking? How does it vary with height?

Having been rotors turning on a CVS deck in a Chinook and had a heavy Mk 1 Merlin lift from the spot in front I can assure you it has a mean downwash!

163627,
The PFI money is "turn key" for a service provision to include the helicopters, flight time and personnel. The theory is that it enabled the bidders to go to the market for both the finance and the aircraft, thereby securing the best deal for the taxpayer. Buying 20+ Merlins might seem a good idea now that AW/Leonardo are looking at a rapidly drying up order book but we would've have paid top dollar for them and be responsible for paying for aircrew and through life support from AW. Would have been, I guess, a lot more money than the PFI. However, some things are more important than the price tag.......

Thanks High Spirits, I'm familiar with certain aspects of the platform but not the particular, and often discussed, downwash characteristics, and the implication on SOPs. The 101 clearly is successful as a SAR platform, there have been numerous positive contributions on this forum by users as such. I'm interested to see how operations have been adapted, such as you say selection of a different height, and what other features of the aircraft have helped mitigate or even improve the overall SAR capability.

Edited to say -
To the OP, nice pictures

Did the Canucks not have downwash issues with their SAR EH101s?

Any idea where the Norwegians will undertake training on their new acquisition ?

I cannot remember the numbers but when Denmark where looking at Sea King replacements for SAR, it was mentioned the EH-101 would have to hover at double the altitude of the Sea King. On the other hand I haven't heard any complaints about it being an issue operationally.

When Seakings (and Chinooks) were introduced there was also a kerfuffle about some Mighty downdrafts when compared to Whirwinds and Wessex, but someone somehow managed to hover higher and overcame the issues. These aren't Seakings, so what's new?

Yes, when we introduced the Sea King into winching trials at 700S IFTU, the hover height was raised from the Wessex 30' to 40'. As the night winch dummy in a one man dingy in Falmouth Bay, 30' produced enough down wash to just about drown me!

Having spent time under a AW101 whilst doing wet winching, the rotor wash is greater than a Sea King however, in calm conditions the Sea King rotor wash was considerable. Surely by reviewing SOPs for 'standard' height of operating over water, this will elevate any difficulties.
The Norwegian's are carrying out 'conversion' training at the Leonardo Flying Training Centre at Newquay Cornwall