Intelligent questions rewarded with intelligent answers (again). So nice to listen to experienced professional pilots who are not disappearing up their own jacksie. 👍
I was really looking forward to part two, And it didn’t disappoint! Simon ‘Only’ flew the Merlin for four years, but got tours of Bosnia and Iraq, and trials role. I say that’s a pretty intensive four years!
Well not really. Different roles entirely and S92 wouldn’t do the Battlefield helicopter role aswell. But Merlin too big, expensive, heavy and complicated for offshore.
Something most helicopter pilots dont know is the main rotor also keeps them cool 😉, i mean have you seen how the pilot starts sweating when that rotar stops lmaooo 🤣😂🤣👍, jokes aside though because i absolutely love helicopters and aviation in general 👌
The story of why the aircraft commander sits in the right side seat I heard is in "the old days" you could not let go of the cyclic in flight so if you needed to switch a switch in the cockpit from the right seat, your left hand could let go of the collective to do the switching and the right hand could stay on the cyclic. If you were in the left seat, you would have to let go of the collective with your left hand, the left hand grabs the cyclic, and the right hand does the switching which is less "ergonomic". I don't know how true this is, but hey, don't let the truth get in the way of a good story.
Great interview and awesome war stories! I've always liked seeing our Canadian coastguard Cormorants (same aircraft as the Merlin) operate out of my local airport. Its nice to hear some detailed information about them.
