FighterControl

What a wonderful sight and sound at Portland, Dorset as the 5 Merlin helicopters from 845NAS prepared to fly home to RNAS Yeovilton, Somerset after a long deployment of 6 months with the Carrier Strike Group CSG21 led by HMS Queen Elizabeth.

1: Merlin Mk4 by Robin Morrison, on Flickr

2: Merlin Mk4 by Robin Morrison, on Flickr

3: Merlin Mk4 by Robin Morrison, on Flickr

4: Merlin Mk4 by Robin Morrison, on Flickr

5: Merlin Mk4 by Robin Morrison, on Flickr

6: Merlin Mk4 by Robin Morrison, on Flickr

7: Merlin Mk4 by Robin Morrison, on Flickr

Yes. that is two RAF Chinooks dropping in behind the Merlins!

8: Merlin Mk4 by Robin Morrison, on Flickr

9: Merlin Mk4 by Robin Morrison, on Flickr

10: Merlin Mk4 by Robin Morrison, on Flickr

Enjoy ......

Certainly did enjoy those, Robin

Thanks for posting

Paddyboy

Belting photos Robin. Im not a heli fan tbh but I do love a merlin.. Excellent

Daz

Excellent set, Robin.

Well worth the trip down.

Thank you all for your comments. Will aim to post a few of the Chinooks over the weekend.

Great set, thanks for sharing

Very nice pics but one question. Why did they land at Portland and then fly 'up the road' to Yeovilton?

Impressive pics of those powerful beasts.
I think the two Chinooks must have been the same ones that thumped at very low level along the Torbay coastline that afternoon.
Thanks for sharing your great pics

Stratocruiser wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 10, 2021 10:24 pm

Impressive pics of those powerful beasts.
I think the two Chinooks must have been the same ones that thumped at very low level along the Torbay coastline that afternoon.
Thanks for sharing your great pics

They certainly headed off low level in your direction that afternoon using Ultimate callsign. One hopefully I'll catch them along that coastline, Robin.

Stratocruiser wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 10, 2021 10:24 pm

Impressive pics of those powerful beasts.
I think the two Chinooks must have been the same ones that thumped at very low level along the Torbay coastline that afternoon.
Thanks for sharing your great pics

I don't know the exact reason, but I think that they arrived from different ships at slightly different times and then flew as a formation for a coordinated arrival at RNAS Yeovilton. I have seen a number of photographs of the 5 in formation flying over the South West. One might have been also been refuelled.

IMarsh wrote: ↑

Fri Dec 10, 2021 8:40 am

Great set, thanks for sharing

Thank you, Robin

Fantastic set, thanks !

Brilliant photo's, thanks for posting. Phil

Superb set well caught, thanks for sharing..