RN helicopter formation

Aviation sightings, roadrunners, exercises and flypasts
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Paul F
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RN helicopter formation

Post by Paul F »

Three Merlin plus one Lynx Wildcat ( or whatever the correct description is) just passed over my corner of East Sussex at very low level, heading south towards the coast. I presume they were RN, but fading light meant I couldn't see their colour/markings.

Not showing on FR24. Anyone else in the South East area see (or hear!) them?

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ericbee123
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Re: RN helicopter formation

Post by ericbee123 »

All UK Merlins are RN helicopters.
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Paul F
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Re: RN helicopter formation

Post by Paul F »

Ah, sorry, I thought RAF operated them too...Modern Military is not my thing...

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ericbee123
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Re: RN helicopter formation

Post by ericbee123 »

They all got transferred from the RAF to the RN.

I think most, if not all, ex-RAF Merlins replaced the SeaKing in the Commando role.
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frank
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Re: RN helicopter formation

Post by frank »

Hi Paul
The very same formation flew over Fontwell, West Sussex on Monday roughly about 2pm. Fairly low level bisecting the A27. Wonder what that was all about.

Paul F
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Re: RN helicopter formation

Post by Paul F »

Sounds like two of the three Merlins have just gone over here again, saw the lights heading back north....

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ericbee123
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Re: RN helicopter formation

Post by ericbee123 »

A wild guess would be that this is one element of the Queen’s Platinum Flypast rehearsing their bit.

( the daytime formation bit ).
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Paul F
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Re: RN helicopter formation

Post by Paul F »

frank wrote:
Wed 18 May 2022, 9:08 pm
Hi Paul
The very same formation flew over Fontwell, West Sussex on Monday roughly about 2pm. Fairly low level bisecting the A27. Wonder what that was all about.
Hi Frank,
We had a singleton Merln low over here (Lewes) heading south on Monday afternoon too.

Maybe something to do with Jubilee flypast practices?

Paul F
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Re: RN helicopter formation

Post by Paul F »

...And there goes the third one back northwards...

cg_341
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Re: RN helicopter formation

Post by cg_341 »

There's an exercise taking place at the moment, not flypast related. There's a thread on fighter control that for some reason I can't currently find, but it says where they're operating from.

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tankbuster81
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Re: RN helicopter formation

Post by tankbuster81 »

They are operating from Pippingford Park in Crowborough.
Don't bother running, you'll only die tired!!

Paul F
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Re: RN helicopter formation

Post by Paul F »

tankbuster81 wrote:
Thu 19 May 2022, 8:54 am
They are operating from Pippingford Park in Crowborough.
Thanks, that makes sense in terms of their headings to/from the coast (as they passed over Lewes).

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