Yeovil Residents December 2021

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Here goes, I thought I would try something new here to keep track of what’s with Leonardo, this will be updated with sightings when I can...

Royal Navy;
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Upgrade from HM2 – HM2 (AEW)

ZH864 Merlin HM2 (AEW) TRIALS Arrived SEP/OCT 2019 Last Noted 10/12/21

Upgrade from HC3i – HC4

ZJ130/O Merlin HC4 Arrived 19/05/2021
ZJ132/Q Merlin HC4 Arrived 27/07/2021
ZJ135/T Merlin HC4 Arrived 02/03/2021
ZJ136/U Merlin HC4 Arrived OCT 2020 Last Noted 09/10/20

Upgrade from HC4 – HC4a

ZJ995/AD Merlin HC4a Last Noted 10/12/21
ZJ998/AE Merlin HC4a Last Noted 08/12/21

Leonardo Test Cabs;
==============
ZZ378 Wildcat HMA2 - Leonardo Test Cab Arrived FEB 2020 Last Noted 30/11/21
ZZ415 Wildcat HMA2 - Leonardo Test Cab, fitted with extras (carrying an orange sea venom on the side) Last Noted 05/11/21
ZZ513 Wildcat HMA2 – Leonardo Test Cab, fitted with extras (orange probe, and martlets on the side) Here since at least AUG 16 Last Noted 03/12/21

Mods;
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ZZ381 Wildcat HMA2 Arrived MAR 2021 Last Noted 25/10/21
ZZ413 Wildcat HMA2 Arrived 08/04/21 Last Noted 16/11/21
ZZ528 Wildcat HMA2 Arrived AUG 2021 Last Noted 12/10/21
ZZ534 Wildcat HMA2 Arrived JUL 2021

Army;
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ZZ406 Wildcat AH1 Arrived NOV/DEC 2021
ZZ512 Wildcat AH1 Arrived SEP 2021

New Aircraft Builds;
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NORWAY – New build Merlin Mk.612

ZZ100 [0262] Merlin Mk.612 – In primer, the first for Norway. First Noted 11/03/16 Last Noted 03/12/19? *NOTED ARRIVING LIMZ 20/11/2018 - SINCE RETURNED?
ZZ102 [0265] Merlin Mk.612 – Fully kitted, painted and flying First Noted 13/02/17 Last Noted 10/12/21
ZZ114 [0283] Merlin Mk.612 – In build *POSSIBLY NOTED 17/05/2021 IN PRIMER
ZZ115 [0284] Merlin Mk.612 – In build

POLAND – New build Merlin Mk.614 -
4 X Merlins Ordered 2019

ZR285 [6201] Merlin Mk.614 – In primer First Noted 12/07/21 Last Noted 14/09/21
ZR286 6202 Merlin Mk.614 – Fully kitted, painted and flying [Polish serial now covered] First Noted 07/09/20 Last Noted 09/12/21
ZR287 [6203] Merlin Mk.614 – In build
ZR288 [6204] Merlin Mk.614 – In build

Upgrade Lynxs;
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PORTUGAL - Super Lynx Mk95 – Mk95a

ZH580 19201 Super Lynx Mk95
ZH581 19202 Super Lynx Mk95
ZH582 19203 Super Lynx Mk95
ZH584 19205 Super Lynx Mk95 First Noted 09/02/21 Last Noted 02/12/21

BRAZIL - Super Lynx Mk21a – Mk21b

ZH967 N-4006 Super Lynx Mk21b
ZH970 N-4009 Super Lynx Mk21b
ZH961 N-4010 Super Lynx Mk21b
ZH972 N-4012 Super Lynx Mk21b

Couple of Civil bits for completion;
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G-EDWA A109 First Noted 05/02/21 Last Noted 07/04/21
I-RAIU AW189 - Arrived 17/03/21 Last Noted 10/12/21 - Arrived on a low-loader from Italy covered up - Destined for Gulf Helicopters

Stored Aircraft on-site;
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ZR342 [ZW-4305] Merlin Mk.641 – Fully built from the cancelled Indian order
ZR346 [ZW-4309] Merlin Mk.641 – Fully built from the cancelled Indian order
ZR347 [4K-Ai010] Merlin Mk.641 – From the cancelled Indian order then scheduled for delivery to Azerbaijan and cancelled?– no reference to it arriving
ZR348 Merlin Mk.641 – Built but not test flown from the cancelled Indian order
ZR349 Merlin Mk.641 – Built but not test flown from the cancelled Indian order

[ZR334] HMH-1 Merlin Mk.640 - Ex Saudi AirForce VIP, returned by road 18/11/2021
[ZR335] HMH-2 Merlin Mk.640 - Ex Saudi AirForce VIP, returned by road 18/11/2021

The two bagged Merlins are likely to be ZR342 and ZR347 [4K-Ai010], however confirmation of this is required. Report suggested that the two actually arrived by road, which would make this untrue.

AW101 [G-17-510] AW101 – Production prototype
ZD560 Lynx AH7 - Ex Raspberry Ripple, now in a camo with titles of helicopter record holder for speed, destined for display on-site. First Noted 4/12/20 NOW DISPLAYED BY OCT 2021
ZH822 Merlin HM1 Arrived 23/07/19 Last Noted 26/10/21
ZH825 Merlin HM1 Arrived 19/11/19
ZJ202 Apache AH1 Arrived SEP 20 *CONFIRMATION REQUIRED....

DELIVERIES;
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ZH964 N-4003 Super Lynx Mk21b - TO BRAZIL BY ROAD 14.12.2020
ZZ405 Wildcat AH1 - TO YEOVILTON STORAGE EARLY 2021
ZZ518 Wildcat HMA2 - TO YEOVILTON CIRCA FEB 2021
ZZ515 Wildcat HMA2 - TO YEOVILTON EARLY MARCH 2021
ZZ519 Wildcat HMA2 , ex Leonardo Test Cab - TO YEOVILTON EARLY MARCH 2021
ZZ111 [0280] Merlin Mk.612 - TO NORWAY AS 'WHE07' 04.03.2021
G-HITB ex I-PTFO/36 [C/N 22736] AW109 Trekker - TO ELSTREE 17.03.2021
ZH843 Merlin HM2 (AEW) - TO CULDROSE AS 'WHE07' 23.03.2021
G-RBHF AW139 - Starspeed LTD - TO FAIROAKS 23.03.2021
ZH583 [19204] Super Lynx Mk95a – TO PORTUGAL BY ROAD 25.03.2021 - TBC
ZZ110 [0279] Merlin Mk.612 - TO NORWAY AS 'WHE01' 08.04.2021
ZZ514 Wildcat HMA2 - TO YEOVILTON APRIL 2021
ZZ394 Wildcat AH1 - TO YEOVILTON AS 'WHE 05' 20.04.2021
ZK001/AF Merlin HC4a - TO YEOVILTON STORAGE
ZJ992/AB Merlin HC4a - TO YEOVILTON AS 'WHE 05' 26.05.2021
ZZ517 Wildcat HMA2 - TO YEOVILTON MAY/JUNE 2021
ZZ396 Wildcat HMA2 - TO YEOVILTON AS 'WHE 06' 17/06/2021
ZJ126/K Merlin HC4 - TO YEOVILTON BY JULY 2021
ZZ510 Wildcat AH1 - TO YEOVILTON BY AUG 2021
ZH833 Merlin HM2 (AEW) - TO BOSCOMBE DOWN BY SEP 2021 AS TRIALS HELICOPTER
ZH829 Merlin HM2 (AEW) TRIALS - TO BOSCOMBE DOWN BY SEP 2021 FOR FLIGHT TRIALS
ZH831 Merlin HM2 (AEW) TRIALS - TO LIMZ ITALY FOR TRIALS & RETURNED TO BOSCOMBE DOWN BY 15/10/2021 FOR FLIGHT TRIALS
ZJ994/AC Merlin HC4a - TO YEOVILTON BY OCT 2021
[ZZ112] 0281 Merlin Mk.612 - TO NORWAY AS 'NOW101D' 07.10.2021
ZJ137/W Merlin HC4 - TO YEOVILTON BY NOV 2021
[ZZ113] 0282 Merlin Mk.612 - TO NORWAY AS 'NOW101A' 10.12.2021

Any amendments and additions most welcome,

Regards
Ben

CREDITS; FREEMAN LOWELL, PHIL ADKIN, JUDWIN 71, MALCOM, MJC MERLIN, PAULK, RIDGEMISTER, WOLVERHAMPTON AVIATION GROUP,
[/quote]ER, WOLVERHAMPTON AVIATION GROUP,

[Tom_J]

That’s a fantastic list, well done!

Re the HC4As, I think ZK001 is “AF”.

“AD” is ZJ995 which was flying whilst I was there on 23.10.2020 but might have now been delivered.

[david14]

Agree, great list - hadn't realised there were that many helicopters at Yeovil

[Widget 01]

That’s a fantastic list, well done!

Re the HC4As, I think ZK001 is “AF”.

“AD” is ZJ995 which was flying whilst I was there on 23.10.2020 but might have now been delivered.

Correct ZK001 is coded AF mistake on my end. The other Merlin has indeed been delivered.

[Malcolm]

Stored Aircraft on-site;
=============
ZR342 [ZW-4305] Merlin Mk.641 – Fully built from the cancelled Indian order
ZR346 [ZW-4309] Merlin Mk.641 – Fully built from the cancelled Indian order
ZR347 [4K-Ai010] Merlin Mk.641 – From the cancelled Indian order then scheduled for delivery to Azerbaijan – no reference to it arriving
ZR348 Merlin Mk.641 – Not fully built from the cancelled Indian order
ZR349 Merlin Mk.641 – Not fully built from the cancelled Indian order

ZR348/349 being marked as "not fully built" is perhaps a little misleading. I had 2 trips around the factory back when the order had just being cancelled, and saw all the non-delivered airframes. The undelivered airframes were all complete, fully assembled and standing on their own wheels at that time. They were several months from being flown - can't remember if they had been fitted out. I do remember that some of the later ones had already been painted up in Indian colours whereas some of the earlier ones were still in primer. Obviously no photos allowed, and I'll struggle to find any notes, and reporting serials from these trips was verboten at the time.

Suppose it depends how you define "Not fully built", but it doesn't mean a kit of parts waiting to be nailed together.

[Widget 01]

Updated 11/02/2021

[Widget 01]

Updated 04/03/2021

[Andy Marden]

Can I humbly suggest that this is made a stickie and retitled "Yeovil Residents"

[Widget 01]

Update May 2021

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Updated Dec 2021

[Merlin131]

Merlin MK4A ZJ998 is also flying from Leonardos as recently as 8th December