FighterControl

Does anyone know the long-term plan for the eight Merlin HM.1's currently stored at Boscombe Down? If I recall correctly, they were at one stage to be converted to HM.2 standard.

ZH833 was out on 2 long test flights on 23rd September and another day last week with a bag attached to the left side

seaxp924vixen wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 07, 2021 4:12 pm

ZH833 was out on 2 long test flights on 23rd September and another day last week with a bag attached to the left side

ZH833 isn't one of the stored ones BackStreetCrawler is talking about. It's an HM2 which is/was one of the AEW trials fleet that operated from Westlands (ZH829/831/833/843/846/864)

The stored ones are HM1's which were never upgraded to HM2 standard. ZH838/848/849/855/858/863. Last I asked(admitedly 3 years ago) the reply was that they were so far behind in modification standard that it was unlikely they would ever be upgraded, and would most likey be stripped for spares.

When I was at BD on 2nd June and the hangar on left side of the main runway was open and I read the codes on the noses of 2 of them which were 17 (ZH858) and 80(ZH863 ) but on 7th July 3 Basic merlins were towed across the runway towards the main buildings, what happened to them I don't know roaded out? or in hangar to be converted? I was surprised to see ZH 833 which has been converted to carry the bag, was that done at Yeovil or Boscombe - it landed at that hangar on the left side after a test flight

Thank you Malcolm and seaxp924vixen. I can't find any reference anywhere regarding funding for conversion to HM.2 or a commitment by the RN to grow the fleet . Sadly, I think roaded out for scrap (?) may be the likely option. I hope not.

Malcolm wrote: ↑

Thu Oct 07, 2021 5:20 pm

The stored ones are HM1's which were never upgraded to HM2 standard. ZH838/848/849/855/858/863

ZH830 and ZH852 too.

All still there and I, too, haven’t heard anything of their futures. I’m almost certain they won’t be upgraded to Mk2.

seaxp924vixen wrote: ↑ I was surprised to see ZH 833 which has been converted to carry the bag, was that done at Yeovil or Boscombe - it landed at that hangar on the left side after a test flight

Modification done at Yeovil. Flight trials currently at Boscombe.

Passing Boscombe yesterday I saw a Merlin whatlooked like being broken down. It had a large crane next to it. the tail was separated. Sorry could not identify the number.

was it a grey Merlin or a green one?

TIA

Snoop55 wrote: ↑

Thu Jan 27, 2022 8:40 am

Sorry could not identify the number.

It was ZH858.

This (858) seems to have arrived on a low loader at HMS Sultan today