Visit to Augusta Westland at Yeovil
Wednesday 25th May 2005

Although some twenty aircraft were scheduled to fly in to Westlands at Yeovil (formerly Judwin) only about one third of this number actually made it to the grass runway in very dubious weather, forcing many members to come by car.

Squadron members were welcomed by David Bath, the Westlands Director of Public Affairs, tagged with security passes and led to the Directors Mess for coffee and a welcome address. This was followed by a tour of the Build Lines and Flight Shed conducted by the Chief Test Pilot Don Maclaine and Mike Norman. Here we saw the very impressive sequential assembly line of the mighty EH101 Merlin.

After a very delicious buffet lunch, David Bath gave an informal presentation on Agusta Westland where we learned that the firm is now an Anglo Italian helicopter company owned by Italy’s Finmeccanica. The company claims to be ‘The Worlds Number One and Most Capable Rotorcraft Company’. The company further claims to be unique with its unrivalled capability in design, technical innovation, manufacturing, training and customer support. Helicopters produced by Agusta Westland include the 15 ton, three engined multi role EH101 Merlin, the Super Lynx 300, the Apache AH and the BA609 Tiltrotor. EH 101 Orders are being fulfilled for many countries and services around the world including the RN and RAF, the Portuguese Air Force, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Ireland, Canada and Denmark. A large potential order is possible for the United States following the selection of the US101 for the Presidential Helicopter Replacement Programme. As with the Harrier the US Marines have now got their eyes fixed on the Merlin. The company has been awarded an Apache modernisation contract and another to Revolutionise Support for the UK Sea King fleet. The future Lynx has been selected as the preferred option for land and sea helicopter requirements. All in all the future for Agusta Westland seems to be pretty bright.
One of most important aspects of Agusta Westlands operation is comprehensive training to military and civilian customers around the world in all aspects in the use of modern equipment and technologies from basic engineering to aircrew conversion. Two of the training programmes include the UK MOD’s Bowman system, and jointly with Boeing the Aviation Training International Ltd which provides a complete training systems package for the British Army which Squadron members saw in operation during our visit to Middle Wallop last year.
After lunch we carried out a tour of the Training Facilities, Training devices, Simulations, CBT Procedure Trainers conducted by Peter Prager the Training Delivery Manager.
To those of us who enjoy using the Microsoft Flight Simulator on our PC’s at home to practice cross-countries, instrument flying and procedures and even aerobatics, the Merlin cockpit simulator was a real thrill. Don Maclaine the Chief Test Pilot demonstrated the fully functioning electronic cockpit with its very advanced instrumentation. With a large panoramic scenery screen in front of the simulator cockpit, he showed how potential Merlin pilots could be trained without going anywhere near the real thing. The movement of taking off and translating into forward flight was so realistic that many muttered ‘I want one of these’ !
Thinking back to the days of the Hiller and Dragonfly half a century ago it is quite staggering to realise just how much rotary flight has evolved.
Squadron members really enjoyed this visit to Westlands and were gratified to find that in the helicopter world at least things are really moving forward and the Services are being supplied with really top class machinery at last.

Report by Ron Dobree-Carey - (ex Hiller / Dragonfly / Whirlwind Pilot)..