AgustaWestland AW101 (EH101) Merlin - All Variants

[wingsnstuff]

When  I was shooting Pentax I had the Takumar 50mm 1.2 and it was my go to lense next to the 135mm which was an awesome Takumar lense.  This is a very nice capture Joe.  Well done.

[Joe Copalman]

JUNGLIE GREEN GIANT


"All the Merlins previously operated by the Royal Air Force were recently turned over to the Royal Navy as the latter retired it's Westland-built Sea King HC.4 Commando fleet."

Yup.  This was shot in 2015 when 845 NAS was just a few months into the transition from the Commando Sea King.  Interestingly, about half the squadron was RAF at the time - pilots, aircrewmen, and engineers. Pretty sure both 845 and 846 are 100% Navy personnel now.

Unfortunately, the Royal Navy is painting its 'green' (Navy helicopters assigned to Commando Helicopter Force, which is tasked primarily with supporting 3 Commando Brigade, Royal Marines) Merlins gray.  Not a popular decision at all.

[wingsnstuff]

Thanks for the additional background and new image.  The two Merlin images I posted are old shots that I never processed.  I liked the way they turned out and thought both might be good enough to be posted on the AZAP pages.  I hope all is well with you.  I did see several of you images will scanning through aviation magazines at Barnes and Noble recently.  Congrats and well done.  The images were spectacular.   I will be making a trip back to Arizona in September for my College Football Team's 50 Reunion (Yes, I actually did play college football).   Susie and I will be there most of the month, so maybe I'll be able to participate in an AZAP shoot if you have one scheduled.  All the best from the Low Country of South Carolina. 

[Joe Copalman]

Oh, excellent.  As it gets closer, let me know what dates you'll be in town and I'll see if we can set something up, or at least meet for some outside-the-fence shooting somewhere.

Love the two recent Merlin shots too - very in-your-face.

[Joe Copalman]

URBAN JUNGLIE

An 845 NAS Merlin over the Combined Arms Military Operations in Urban Terrain (CAMOUT) range at Twentynine Palms.  Hands-down the most impressive training facility I've ever seen. 

[wingsnstuff]

Nice capture Joe.