Leonardo (Yeovil Westland) Sightings 2024

[Judwin71]

Slight change in heading, we are not expecting much activity this year.
Best Wishes
Keith

[Judwin71]

Sorry this is an error. I meant to delete the 2023 heading off the 2023 sightings.
Keith

[Judwin71]

Flying this morning as WHE02 Merlin HM1 ZH842.

[jetranger2015]

Slight change in heading, we are not expecting much activity this year.
Best Wishes
Keith

Morning,
Out of interest to the above about activity, does anyone know ( and can say) what orders there are on the books at Yeovil for the next few years?
Many thanks in advance for any info.

[Professor_M]

Slight change in heading, we are not expecting much activity this year.
Best Wishes
Keith

Morning,
Out of interest to the above about activity, does anyone know ( and can say) what orders there are on the books at Yeovil for the next few years?
Many thanks in advance for any info.

Something I was pondering recently too, from a few articles online,

3x Wildcat for unnamed North African customer, that has seen the AW159 production restarted...

In March 2023 Leonardo acknowledged it had secured an order for three AW159 helicopters at the end of 2022 from a North African customer. While the client has not been identified, it is widely thought to be Algeria.

https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news ... helicopter

Mid-life upgrade support for Canadian Cormorants (with one new build), this also mentions MLU work for another customer (with potential new-builds) and discussions for Italian Navy AW101 MLU...
https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopter ... 34.article

Possible 22-strong AW101 order for Polish Land forces, future life-extension work for British Merlins, interest in AW159s...
https://www.flightglobal.com/helicopter ... 70.article

Are there still Portuguese Lynx being upgraded? There's also an Algerian currently at Yeovil too, isn't there?

Someone else will probably know far more, but that's hopefully a start.

And then there's the AW149 competing in the NMH contest.

[Freeman Lowell]

JR,

To add a little to Professor M's excellent reply,

There are a number of Lynx delivered to site from both the Brazilian navy and the Portuguese navy that await an upgrade. These may still be present, awaiting funding?

The LEONARDO PRESS RELEASE | MAY 31, 2023 offers an updated position to Flight Global's earlier report:

"The Contract includes the upgrade of Canada’s existing fleet of 13 AW101/CH-149 “Cormorant” SAR (Search and Rescue) helicopters together with the augmentation of a further 3 helicopters.

...the majority of the CMLU helicopters will be upgraded in Canada by Canadian industry.”

Freeman

[WIGGIP]

WHE04 has just done an ILS at Exeter. It has a Hex of 567800 and looked like a Wildcat. Does anyone have an idea what it is?

[WIGGIP]

It was read off as ZZ513.

[Professor_M]

Does anyone know how the Portuguese & Brazilian Lynx upgrades are doing at Yeovil? Are there any nearing flight testing?

[Malcolm]

1st May 2024 09:00
Very slow start to the year. First thing I've seen out of the lockdown bedroom window so far this year at 08:30 this morning was...

ZK001/AF Merlin HC4A grey c/s

Not very exciting I know.
Cheers
Malcolm

[100arw]

Your reports have been missed.
P.

[Freeman Lowell]

O.K... it's not a sighting as such, but anything from Yeovil is worth a mention these days:

Mode-s hex code 0A4045 was showing on some VR sites this afternoon out of Yeovil.

It would equate to 7T-WVD which arrived late last year and hasn't gone home yet, perhaps?

Freeman

[puma2]

The following were noted on a visit 28/05/24

EH101 MK642 7T-WVD air test in the afternoon
Wildcat HMA2 ZZ535 air test in the morning
In flight test hangar
Wildcat HMA2s ZZ379, ZZ375, ZZ513
Lynx MK95A 19201 Portuguese Navy on upgrade
EH101 MK612 ZZ100 (to be 0262- reg taped over) Norwegian AF

[timb]

Looks as though 7T-WVD has departed for home, showing on tracking sites near the channel is. headed south at 0835..

[Freeman Lowell]

Tuesday 18th June 1100hrs

Keen to report something happening at the only airfield in the country that has more tractor mower movements down the runway than aircraft, I called in on the way to the garage:

G-SKNG Sea King HAR3 as XZ597 multiple circuits .

Freeman

[Judwin71]

Flying today at 1700, AW101 ZZ100 as WHE06.

[Malcolm]

23rd July 2024 09:00
Seen out of the lockdown bedroom window this morning was...

ZZ100 Merlin for Norway

First time I've seen it in ages. Now fully painted in white/orange, with Noggie serials taped over.
Cheers
Malcolm

[Freeman Lowell]

23rd July 2024 09:00
Seen out of the lockdown bedroom window this morning was...

Cheers
Malcolm

Hi Malcolm,
Has no-one told you that lockdown has finished?
Freeman

[Judwin71]

AW149 CSX82167 departed Westland at 0955.

[eyesinthesky]

Hi,

Reported on 02Jun was….
Lynx MK95A 19201 Portuguese Navy on upgrade

Have any of you locals seen this again since? Hoping to catch this before it upgrade complete. Not seen it plot at all, so presume had no flights.

Any info on it would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Andy