Yeovil - Wed 11th November 2009

A visit to the Agustawestland airfield at Yeovil today found some new helicopters on the flight line.

G-17-610 Merlin being towed to the western apron - this is the first of six AW-101 Merlins for the Algerian Navy - the "G-17-...." Type B registration prefix is used by Westlands. The "610" may refer to EH-101 sub model 610. I understand this helicopter first flew last week. Note radome underneath the forward cabin.




At the opposite end of the delivery pipeline is EH-101 Merlin ZK165 - this is the last of six purchased by the MOD on behalf of Denmark to replace the six Danish Merlins supplied in haste to the RAF in 2007. This aircraft should become M-520 upon delivery.


Also outside today was the first AW-159 Lynx Wildcat painted in an olive drab colour scheme and wearing Army titles, serial ZZ400 - this was ground running. Flight Global suggest that the first flight of this new type is due on 13.11.09

XZ697 Royal Navy Lynx HMA 8 visits Wells Somerset 25.2.09

I often work from home and my morning peace and quiet was interrupted by the sound and welcome sight of a RN Lynx passing very low over my house in the descent.

A quick dash upstairs allowed me to follow the Lynx as it descended towards the Wells Cathedral School grounds.

The Lynx was on a visit the the schools student Combined Cadet Force ( CCF ). I managed to get down to the school in time to have a quick look at the Lynx before it departed back to its home base at RNAS Yeovilton.

The Lynx was serial XZ697 coded "641" of the training unit 702 NAS. It has been modified to HMA 8 standard. This Lynx was built by Westlands at Yeovil as construction number WA 145 and first fly back in January 1980 - so it's now 29 years old.

It appeared in the static park at the Farnborough aviation trade show in September 1988 as a mark HAS 3 coded "602" of 829 NAS. By 1998 it had been converted to HMA 8 standard and was seen operating with 815 NAS coded "308"

This original Lynx will be replaced by the new "Future Lynx" in the next few years.

The crew allowed the school students the opportunity to climb aboard and ask plenty of questions - good PR for the Royal Navy and a good opportunity for the students to learn too.

With thanks to Wells Cathedral School and Royal Navy 702 NAS.