Merlins In The USA

[MolliG]

www.raf.mod.uk


Location: New York City and Florida
Title: Merlins in the USA
Date: Early 2004

A pair of Merlin support helicopters from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire have undertaken a sales tour in the United States in an effort to obtain sales for the aircraft from American sources. The two aircraft of No 28 Squadron are pictured during the trip over New York and Florida.

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/images/limage_merlinusa_01.jpg
Kicking up spray

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/images/limage_merlinusa_02.jpg
Merlin pair over New York

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/images/limage_merlinusa_03.jpg
With the Statue of Liberty I

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/images/limage_merlinusa_04.jpg
With the Statue of Liberty II

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/images/limage_merlinusa_05.jpg
With the Statue of Liberty III

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/images/limage_merlinusa_06.jpg
Manhattan skyline

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/images/limage_merlinusa_07.jpg
Over Central Park

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/images/limage_merlinusa_08.jpg
Passing over the city

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/images/limage_merlinusa_09.jpg
Sunset in the Florida Glades I

http://www.raf.mod.uk/news/images/limage_merlinusa_10.jpg
Sunset in the Florida Glades II

:D

[Uninen]

straight from Bosnia... white SFOR still writen in side door.. sloppy.. ;)

Nice pics and good helo btw. :)

[Pille1234]

whoow! Fantastic! I'm going to buy that heli! :D

[Uncle Sam]

Who exactly are they trying to sell them to, in the U.S.?

[Ian H]

Initially the new Marine One, and then the Coast Guard I believe is looking for a new helicopter, they also have hopes for the rest of the US military as well.

More info:
http://www.teamus101.com/

[deutschersoldat]

great images !!!

[BlackHawk]

Initially the new Marine One, and then the Coast Guard I believe is looking for a new helicopter, they also have hopes for the rest of the US military as well.

More info:
http://www.teamus101.com/

23 helicopters are required for Presidential Transport (Marine One). The Merlin (US-101) faces here competition from the Sikorsky S-92.
Also a replacement for the HH-60G Pave Hawk (USAF) is being sought: the Merlin (US-101) and the S-92 are possible candidates.
If fewer MV-22 or CV-22 Ospreys are bought (or if the Osprey is cancelled): both S-92 as the Merlin (US-101) are candidates to fill this gap.

[shrek]

Yes, I had heard also that the Navy and such was looking to replace the aging pavhawk and Sea Stallion birds.

What's the flight record of this helo. haven't heard much about it so it must be pretty good, no?

[tooms]

Awesome photos woot

[_Samez_]

Great pics!

[Ian H]

Yes, I had heard also that the Navy and such was looking to replace the aging pavhawk and Sea Stallion birds.

What's the flight record of this helo. haven't heard much about it so it must be pretty good, no?

Around 100 aircraft in service now, first in 1998, 50 or so more on order, around 50,000 flight hours, one of the RN's 44 aircraft lost a bit of its rotor tips after colliding with a guardrail in 2002, but I've not heard of any other accidents.

[gaz]

THre or four years ago I remember reading about one that had a part drop off it while flying over a crowded beach. I think it turned out an equipment panel hadn't been securely fastened and was ripped off by the drag, presumably that was human error rather than an actual design problem.

[BlackHawk]

On March 30th, 2004, another Royal Navy Merlin crashed:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/3604441.stm

[Royal]

Yes, I had heard also that the Navy and such was looking to replace the aging pavhawk and Sea Stallion birds.

What's the flight record of this helo. haven't heard much about it so it must be pretty good, no?

Around 100 aircraft in service now, first in 1998, 50 or so more on order, around 50,000 flight hours, one of the RN's 44 aircraft lost a bit of its rotor tips after colliding with a guardrail in 2002, but I've not heard of any other accidents.

I can remember at least 4 crashes - the two I'm aware of since it came into service were at RNAS Culdrose and in the Kyle of Lochalsh. There was also a crash in Italy when it was still on trails where all the crew were killed.

That said I can't think of any other military helicopters that don't have a similar history. They're nasty noisy dangerous things and personally I'd rather jump out of a C130 than fly rotary...

[Uncle Sam]

On March 30th, 2004, another Royal Navy Merlin crashed:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/3604441.stm

Royal answered my question...

[Mark_Aspen]

Can't buy the chopper, but I want to visit NYC again.

[Ian H]

I stand (well, slouch) corrected, thanks all.
Have the restrictions imposed after the 30/3 crash been lifted? Does the RN know what happened?

[SILENT SCOPE]

Funny I don't remember seeing those choppers around here. Then again we get military choppers flying over the Hudson all the time and everything that far away looks the same to me without my glasses :oops: