Yeovilton celebrates Lynx milestone

FORTY years of Britain’s fastest and most nimble helicopter will be celebrated this summer in the showpiece public event at the home of the Lynx.

The 2011 Yeovilton Air Day will be a celebration of the long-serving helicopter, with navies from around the world sending their Lynx to Somerset to take part in an international fly past.

The Lynx – in service with three Fleet Air Arm squadrons all based at Yeovilton – is one of the most successful British exports over the past four decades: more than 200 of the versatile helicopters are operating with 11 navies.

In the Royal Navy’s case, the helicopter’s the backbone of operations by frigates and destroyers in the form of the Mk8, while the Commando Helicopter Force flies the reconnaissance model over land and sea.

The prototype Lynx flew for the first time in March 1971 (followed three years later by the first naval variant) and has sparked a number of birthday events (including a restoration of one of the prototypes and a cocktail party at Yeovilton).

As well as the international flypast at the air day on Saturday July 9, there’ll be a chance for the public to see the next-generation Lynx, Wildcat, up close; the helicopter is due to enter service with the Fleet Air Arm by 2015.

The air show will end with the trademark commando assault – big pyrotechnics, lots of helicopters, plenty of Royal Marines running around with guns shouting, shooting and ham-acting.

Tickets will go on sale from April 1. Prices (in advance) are £18 (adults), £16 (senior citizens), £5 (children), £16 (veterans/serving personnel) or (on the day) £23 (adults/senior citizens/veterans/serving personnel), £8 (children).

HMS Cornwall's 815 NAS Lynx on anti-piracy patrol off Somalia last month. Picture: LA(Phot) Dave Jenkins

Navy Helicopter Crews Prepare for Helmand

Sailors and Royal Marines from 847 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) are preparing to return to the front line in Afghanistan.

Around 50 personnel are deploying to operate the new Lynx Mk9A battlefield helicopter. They will be supporting British forces in Helmand province, as well as Coalition and Afghan allies.

The squadron previously deployed to Helmand province in southern Afghanistan for seven months in September 2008. At that time the whole squadron successfully operated the Mark 7 variant of the Lynx helicopter.

The pilots and door gunners will be primarily escorting support helicopters as they resupply forward operating bases.

However, the 847 NAS aircrew could also be called upon to conduct  reconnaissance, convoy escort, airborne command and control, and fire support with artillery and fast jets.

Meanwhile, the squadron's engineers and support personnel will be working to ensure the aircraft remain available around the clock in the gruelling Afghan environment.

847 NAS started training for this deployment last summer. Over the last six months they have been learning how to operate and maintain the enhanced Lynx Mk9A in a desert environment.

The new aircraft variant can now operate during the scorching Helmand summer, enabling a continuous Lynx presence in theatre. With new engines the aircraft has increased power to cope in Helmand's 'hot and high' conditions.

The aircraft has also been equipped with the larger, more powerful 0.50-calibre machine gun, which will provide a greater capability and a far more versatile asset for allied forces.

For a number of B Flight's personnel it will be their first operational deployment. Major Dave Sutton, Royal Marines, said:

"Whilst we are rather reticent about leaving our loved ones behind, we look forward to the many challenges that face us.

"There are also members of the squadron that have a vast experience of operational deployments, some of whom have deployed on the ground in Afghanistan with commando units.

"We have trained extremely hard for all eventualities and we are confident that we will provide both Coalition and Afghan allies with all that is required of us."

Corporal Matthew Lane, Royal Marines, said:

"I feel excited about the challenges that face the squadron in Afghanistan but with the additional performance of the upgraded Mark 9 Lynx we should be able to provide a more robust and dynamic service to the troops on the ground."

847 NAS will be joining their Commando Helicopter Force (CHF), or 'Jungly', colleagues from 845 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons who operate the Sea King Mk4 support helicopter. The CHF maintains a continuous Sea King Mk4 detachment presence in theatre.