An effin big chopper, and BTN on TV.....

[Shaggy Sheep Driver]

Called in a Barton today, and saw that we had an unusual visitor - the Navy's latest helicopter, the Merlin. It is effin big! 3 turbine engines, and four massive rotor blades each as big as a wing from a big sailplane - bigger at the tips where they form a sort of 'spade' shape. What a beast, but not yet cleared for landing on grass, so it had to put down on the apron - after clearing everything else well away first, of course (and closing all hangar doors)! It came in to do a Navy publicity thing, usually done at Old Trafford cricket ground - but no grass landing capability meant it came to us instead.

Also, Barton was on local TV at lunchtime and again tonight, featuring the lovely red Chippy, SL, among others. The reason? The original terminal building at Barton is the oldest in the world, and has been 'listed' (the tower, also the first in the world, is already listed). Hopefully it will help in the fight to keep Barton open as a working airfield.

SSD

[poetpilot]

I caught the radio article this morning on the way to work. Good on the guys at Barton for putting in the work to get the buildings listed.

Of course the Tower is also list-ing as well as listed. Just go up on the balcony floor and check the movement guagues on the wall. Popular rumour has it that if we have a very dry summer followed by a very wet winter, it will list more and more....

the leaning tower of Barton! That should get the tourists in!

[camaro]

Well travelled Chippie, that 'SL...............paid us a visit at Netherthorpe this afternoon.

[Speedbird252]

Merlin

5 Blades Shaggy, 5 Blades!!

The blade value, Im told is 75 thousand pounds each, but they do come in a nice hard case.

3 Turbomeca RTM322 engines, sounds and looks luuuuurvly.

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/251972/M/

Credits to Joeri Sarens for the photo.

Just love `em.

Speedy