Yeovil 6-7-2012
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EH-101 Mk.510 G-17-510 Agusta Westland
Wildcat AH.1 ZZ403,ZZ405,ZZ407 +1 in hangar without rotor Agusta Westland
Merlin HC.3 ZJ136/U 28(AC)sqn
Hercules C.4 o/s at Yeovilton
AW101-641 ZR338 +1 other in primer Agusta Westland for India marked IND01 in primer
A second AW101 in primer was visible through the open doors. Also in the second door opening a Wildcat without rotors could be seen (grey/grey c/s). Also in the back in the most right part of the hangar was another Merlin/EH101 in dark c/s. The wildcats all were taken and put back ik the left part of the hangar (1st and 2nd doors). ZR338 was taken from the 3rd door where also the second primer one was. The G-17-510 was taken from the most right door.
ZR338 was flying in the afternoon (2PM) while it was earlier taken outside (8AM) but was put back in again when we arrived (around 9:30AM). In the morning ZZ404 departed to Farnborough before we arrived, outside were ZZ403 and ZZ405 around 9:30. When we returned in the afternoon ZZ407 was added to the above and two were flying.
ZR338 IND01 AW101-641 primer for the Indian AF engine run
ZR339 IND02 AW101-641 primer for the Indian AF ground checks,hangared 19.00 hours
(ZW4304)? AW101-641 grey colours,rotorless,towed from production hangar to engine installation bay.Helicopter behind mound and impossible to read.
ZZ401 Wildcat
ZK001 AF Merlin HC.3 28/78 Sqns engine run
The weather was predominatly rain and none of the above flew.
Surprise news fron here is the return of the previously delivered Turkmenistan government AW101 delivered in June to here.MoD serial for this was ZR337.This helicopter(and ZR336) are probably civil rether than military.
The third Indian AW101,ZR340 returned from Newquay airport last week,suggesting the first training course for Indian AF personnel is complete.
Serials for the Indian AW101s should be ZW4301 to ZW4312(MoD serials ZR338 to ZR349).
The first three have been seen flying in primer colours,while the fourth example,is painted in a grey colous scheme.The fourth AW101 has yet to fly.