MikeO Site Admin
Number of posts : 3840 Age : 75 Location : Seaham, Co Durham, UK Points : 9728 Registration date : 2009-06-29
| Subject: Spur Of The Moment Thu Jun 11, 2015 6:57 am | |
| Had a jolly 125-mile round trip to the open evening at RNAS Merryfield, near Ilminster yesterday, having been alerted to it on Tuesday evening by a flying-fanatic scootering friend.
It was a lovely afternoon/evening for a ride and the trip back was virtually traffic-free.
The event was well-attended and there were several helicopters on display and in the air, including a couple of Merlins, a Lynx or two and a smaller Augusta-Westland aw109 in civilian livery.
One of the Merlins was displaying, pretending to have a malfunction so demonstrating an emergency landing. To the delight of the station fire-brigade, it really did have a minor emergency, so they were able to dash about in their rather fine fire-tenders instead of just sitting watching. That put paid to any more 'Merlin' flying, though.
Merryfield is a sort-of satellite airfield where the RNAS pilots practise flying. The main base is not far away at Yeovilton where there is also a museum as well as being the home of the Royal Navy Historic Flight.
Glad I went.
Key: Roads - A36, A303, A358, + country lanes. Ilminster - in the SW part of the SW UK County of Somerset RNAS - Royal Naval Air Station RNHF - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Navy_Historic_Flight
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"Hi Yo" Silver Wing Guru
Number of posts : 2940 Age : 75 Location : Winnsboro, Texas, U.S.A. Points : 8577 Registration date : 2010-02-17
| Subject: Re: Spur Of The Moment Thu Jun 11, 2015 8:05 am | |
| MikeO, In a time when hero and superstar are bandied about, it is good to remember. Thanks for the reminder. To those real heroes: :not worthy: :not worthy: :not worthy: |
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MikeO Site Admin
Number of posts : 3840 Age : 75 Location : Seaham, Co Durham, UK Points : 9728 Registration date : 2009-06-29
| Subject: Re: Spur Of The Moment Fri Jun 12, 2015 12:54 pm | |
| Indeed!
It was good to see an 'old faithful' Sea King helicopter there (Sikorsky S-61), still in service.
The Merlins are lovely, though, and are a fitting replacement:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AgustaWestland_AW101
You chaps have a variant, the Lockheed Martin VH-71 Kestrel:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Martin_VH-71_Kestrel
I couldn't believe the size of the rotor-blades - they'd make good wings for a light aeroplane! |
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Winger61 Silver Wing Rider
Number of posts : 452 Age : 75 Location : Louth, Lincolnshire, UK Points : 5653 Registration date : 2010-10-15
| Subject: Re: Spur Of The Moment Fri Jun 12, 2015 3:56 pm | |
| Spent five years as aircrew on 'junglies' (Sea Kings to you civilian mortals!!) after three years on Wessex 3's. I keep saying I will go back to Yeovil one day to have a look round the FAA museum. Hopefully they will have forgotten about the kipper we left hidden in the Officers Mess piano when we embarked back to sea!! |
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