2015 to 2022

AgustaWestland Merlin HC.3i
in
united kingdom Fleet Air Arm








Fleet Air Arm Merlin HC.3i

While preparations continue for the transfer of the entire Merlin HC.3/3A fleet from the RAF to the Fleet Air Arm HC.4 in a fully marinised form, an agreement was reached with AgustaWestland to partially marinise 7 HC.3 airframes as the FAA Sea King HC.4 fleet was running down to withdrawal on 31 Mar 2016.

The interim HC.3 or iHC.3 will be fitted with an automatically folding rotor head, a strengthened undercarriage with longer travel for deck operations, steel deck-mooring points and an avionics upgrade to bring it closer to the HM.2 model already in FAA service.

The first iHC.3 flew from Yeovil in Apr 2015. The remaining 6 examples are due for delivery by 1 Apr 2016.



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  News


Merlin in Norway for Exercise Clockwork

Merlin in Norway for Exercise Clockwork

09-Mar-19 - Royal Navy’ 845 Naval Air Squadron Mk3A Merlin helicopters in Norway for Commando Helicopter Force annual winter training during arctic exercise Clockwork #WinterTraining
Royal Navy Merlin Deployed Aboard French Mistral

Royal Navy Merlin Deployed Aboard French Mistral

05-Apr-17 - For the first time, two Merlins helicopters from Royal Navy 845 NAS are assigned to the French assault ship Mistral throughout her six-month deployment to the Indian and Pacific Oceans
846 Squadron Female Pilot Named in Awards

846 Squadron Female Pilot Named in Awards

17-Jun-16 - Royal Navy 846 Naval Air Squadron Junglie Merlin pilot Lieutenant Natalie Grainger named one of the country’s top 100 rising stars in the female-only We Are The City awards.
Royal Marines Merlin iMk3 Aboard HMS Ocean

Royal Marines Merlin iMk3 Aboard HMS Ocean

29-Mar-16 - Transferred from the RAF, the green Merlins HC.3i (interim) of 846 Naval Air Squadron joined Britain’s flagship HMS Ocean for amphibious training. They replaced the recently retired Junglie Sea King
    More News ...



  Units


YearsUnitsBase
2015-    846 NAS RNAS Yeovilton
RAF Benson
2015-    845 NAS RNAS Yeovilton
RAF Benson
RNAS Yeovilton





  Platforms


Classes
LH Ocean class



List of Aircraft


C/NBuiltID     In this OrgIn other Org
50049 1999 ZJ118 hc.3i Nov15 HC.3i type asg 846Sqn
Westland ZJ118: RAF 50049/RAF02 f/f 14jun99 at Yeovil
Ministry of Defence (MoD) ZJ118: First visit to RAF Benson by Merlin HC.3, flown by A&AE...
Royal Air Force ZJ118: 28 Sqn /B
50099 2000 ZJ121 hc.3i HC.3i type; visit to Gibraltar, with ZJ129.
Royal Air Force ZJ121: noted at Valence.
RAF; 2007 28Sqn./E
pictured (pic1) at Yeovil
50141 2000 ZJ126 hc.3i Apr15 HC.3i type asg 846Sqn
Royal Air Force ZJ126: RAF 50141/RAF10 in June 2009 /K 28/78Sqn.
pictured (pic2) with 78 Sq/K markings on std side in t...
50167 2001 ZJ129 hc.3i HC.3I type; visit to Gibraltar with ZJ121.
Royal Air Force ZJ129: RN; 01may05 as 28Sqn /N pictured (pic1) at Abingdon
2007 28Sqn /N
AgustaWestland UK ZJ129: May18 /N conv to HC.4 completed for delivery to 845 NA...
03sep18 pictured (pic2) winching exercise with HMS Que...
50169 2001 ZJ130 hc.3i pictured (pic2) as 846Sq /O at RNAS Yeovilton during Air Day 2016
Royal Air Force ZJ130: HC.3 type 28Sqd./O at Rotterdam
RAF; 2007 28Sqn./O
28/78 Sq/O by Oct 2009. Part of 1st detachment of RAF M...
pictured (pic1) as /O at RIAT 2013 RAF Fairford
50173 2001 ZJ131 hc.3i final Merlin delivered from RAF Benson to 845 NAS at Yeovilton. ZJ131/P on 16 Ju...
Royal Air Force ZJ131: RAF Merlin HC.3 28Sqn./P; 11may07 pictured (pic1) at E...
1419 Flt /P by Jun 2009; returned to UK to MDMF Culdros...
50177 2001 ZJ132 hc.3i Royal Navy HC3i; /Q RNAS Yeovilton
Royal Air Force ZJ132: RAF Merlin HC.3; 06 pictured at Abingdon Air Show
50187 2001 ZJ135 hc.3i pictured (pic2) as 846Sq /T at RNAS Yeovilton during Air Day 2016
Royal Air Force ZJ135: RAF HC3, pictured (pic1) at RAF Benson
50191 2001 ZJ136 hc.3i Dec15 HC.3i type asg 846Sqn
Royal Air Force ZJ136: RAF HC.3 d/d 29apr02
as /U pictured (pic1) at RAF Benson.
50195 2002 ZJ137 hc.3i Jan16 HC.3i type asg 846Sqn
Royal Air Force ZJ137: RAF 50195/RAF21.; 2003 28Sqn./W

    No longer with this org.




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