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Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Please post movements and activities to do with RNAS Yeovilton and Merryfield here
Judwin71
Posts: 501
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2016 10:25 am
Location: 3 miles south of Judwin

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by Judwin71 » Tue Apr 26, 2022 8:51 am

Malcolm wrote:
Tue Apr 26, 2022 8:17 am
Judwin71 wrote:
Tue Apr 26, 2022 7:32 am
Is anyone able to physically confirm that the AW101 in primer is ZR287 not ZR285.
AFAIK the only primer Merlins currently flying are ZZ100 and ZR285. I'm not aware that anyone has seen ZR287 outside of the paint-shop yet.


Thanks for the reply Malcolm. The confusion arises from a photo on the internet taken by Phil Adkin at Westlands in July 2021 showing ZR285 in full colours.
We know that Westlands have in the past swopped Mode S between aircraft.
Regards
Keith

TB1
Posts: 1508
Joined: Sun Oct 04, 2009 6:48 pm
Location: Preston

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by TB1 » Tue Apr 26, 2022 9:13 am

Keith,

If the photo you are referring to is on the Defence Hub site you need to read the blurb under it!
The photo shows ZR286.
Phil took a photo of ZR285, IN PRIMER.

Cheers

Trevor

Judwin71
Posts: 501
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2016 10:25 am
Location: 3 miles south of Judwin

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by Judwin71 » Tue Apr 26, 2022 10:09 am

TB1 wrote:
Tue Apr 26, 2022 9:13 am
Keith,

If the photo you are referring to is on the Defence Hub site you need to read the blurb under it!
The photo shows ZR286.
Phil took a photo of ZR285, IN PRIMER.

Cheers

Trevor
The photo I refer to is in 'UK Serial Resource Centre' and clearly shows ZR285 with large serial on the tail in full colours.

Andy Marden
Posts: 952
Joined: Tue Oct 06, 2009 9:15 am

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by Andy Marden » Tue Apr 26, 2022 10:36 am

I'm getting really confused!
Looking at the UK Serial Resource Centre: http://www.ukserials.com/
there is indeed a photo of ZR285 in Jul21.
It is in primer....

Kevin Brewer
Posts: 605
Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 1:35 pm

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by Kevin Brewer » Tue Apr 26, 2022 10:38 am

You're not the only one!

Malcolm
Posts: 4169
Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2010 8:26 am

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by Malcolm » Tue Apr 26, 2022 11:47 am

ZR285 : has not, AFAIK, ever been painted. It was still in primer on 07/04/2022
ZR286 : is painted, and has been since Nov21 - I never saw it in primer.
ZR287 : ukserials has this one as f/f 20/04/2022. I was away last week (15th to 23rd) so have no further info on whether it was painted or not.
ZR288 : no confirmed sightings yet (possibly into paintshop on 11/04/22)

I did observe an unmarked polish primer Merlin being pushed into the paintshop on 11/04/2022, which I assumed at the time was ZR287. However if the f/f date on UK serials is correct for ZR287 then it seems more likley that the one I saw was actually ZR288.

Judwin71
Posts: 501
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2016 10:25 am
Location: 3 miles south of Judwin

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by Judwin71 » Tue Apr 26, 2022 12:10 pm

Andy Marden wrote:
Tue Apr 26, 2022 10:36 am
I'm getting really confused!
Looking at the UK Serial Resource Centre: http://www.ukserials.com/
there is indeed a photo of ZR285 in Jul21.
It is in primer....
I am not convinced that the July 21 photo shows ZR285 in primer it looks more like two tone camouflage, it is certainly nothing like what was flying over the last few days.
Have a look at the photo of ZZ100 (I know this is Norway but only AW101 I could find in primer).

We will just have to wait for the next flight to see if that helps.
At least it gives us something to talk about after a few dull months. :S

Best Wishes to all.
Keith

Malcolm
Posts: 4169
Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2010 8:26 am

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by Malcolm » Tue Apr 26, 2022 12:29 pm

Judwin71 wrote:
Tue Apr 26, 2022 12:10 pm
Andy Marden wrote:
Tue Apr 26, 2022 10:36 am
I'm getting really confused!
Looking at the UK Serial Resource Centre: http://www.ukserials.com/
there is indeed a photo of ZR285 in Jul21.
It is in primer....
I am not convinced that the July 21 photo shows ZR285 in primer it looks more like two tone camouflage, it is certainly nothing like what was flying over the last few days.
Have a look at the photo of ZZ100 (I know this is Norway but only AW101 I could find in primer).

We will just have to wait for the next flight to see if that helps.
At least it gives us something to talk about after a few dull months. :S

Best Wishes to all.
Keith
Can you provide a direct link to the July 2021 image you're talking about of ZR285?

Is it this one? http://www.ukserials.com/images/ukimage ... 0422142425

If it is, then that is primer. Ok it's various shades of primer, and the cabin door does look partly painted, but none the less it's primer.

Judwin71
Posts: 501
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2016 10:25 am
Location: 3 miles south of Judwin

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by Judwin71 » Tue Apr 26, 2022 1:54 pm

Thanks Malcom, our posts crossed.
We are talking about the same photo, so I accept that I was wrong and it was in primer.
However I still believe that it is ZR287 that was flying last week even though FlightRadar24 was showing it as ZR285.
Thanks again
Keith

ChrisGilligan
Posts: 149
Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2013 11:31 pm

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by ChrisGilligan » Tue Apr 26, 2022 2:44 pm

It was ZR285 flying last week. It has now been fitted with a few more bits and bobs including nose mounted FLIR and has now got a tiny painted panel at the root of the tail. I don't believe 287 has flown, or for that matter, even been seen (irrespective of what the internet says)

Malcolm
Posts: 4169
Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2010 8:26 am

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by Malcolm » Thu Apr 28, 2022 8:33 am

Thursday 28th April 2022 08:45L

Out on an overcast and slightly chilly ramp this morning are:

ZR285 Merlin for Poland, still in primer, now with a small FLIR turret pimple under the nose cone.
ZZ406 Wildcat AH1 "Army"
ZZ52(6/8) Wildcat AH1 "Army" - probably ZZ526 since 528 is an HMA2.
G-EDWA A-109 white colour scheme.

Cheers
Malcolm

mjcmerlin
Posts: 242
Joined: Tue Oct 01, 2019 4:27 pm

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by mjcmerlin » Wed May 04, 2022 10:35 pm

Wednesday 4th May

ZH831 Merlin HMA2 AEW
ZR285 AW101 MK613 Poland primer
ZZ520 Wildcat AH
ZZ378 Wildcat HMA
I-RAIU AW149
G-EDWA A109E

Judwin71
Posts: 501
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2016 10:25 am
Location: 3 miles south of Judwin

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by Judwin71 » Thu May 05, 2022 2:08 pm

Anyone tracking WHE07 this afternoon on Flightradar24 would have seen the following details 'AW101-612, Reg 0268 Serial 50268'.
This is incorrect, WHE07 was in fact AW101-614, ZR285, serial 50285.

Malcolm
Posts: 4169
Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2010 8:26 am

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by Malcolm » Thu May 12, 2022 8:32 am

Thursday 12th May 2022 08:45L
Out on a clear, warm and slightly muggy ramp this morning was :

ZZ100 Merlin (for Norway) still in primer

First time I've seen this for over a year. Looked complete and ready for flight. Also looked like it has been washed - I remember it looking distinctly grubby last time I saw it.

Cheers
Malcolm

Bluesteve
Posts: 33
Joined: Tue Mar 17, 2015 10:29 pm

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by Bluesteve » Sat May 14, 2022 4:29 am

An AW101 in yellow primer was outside and flew yesterday, and was quite clearly read as ZR285.
Steve

eyesinthesky
Posts: 152
Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2012 6:29 am

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by eyesinthesky » Fri May 20, 2022 9:33 am

Outside on a wet ramp at 10:20

ZR285 Merlin (primer)
ZZ102 Merlin (painted) put away in cutest bay at 10:25
ZZ533 Wildcat HMA2

eyesinthesky
Posts: 152
Joined: Tue Jun 26, 2012 6:29 am

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by eyesinthesky » Fri May 20, 2022 11:07 am

Meant Furthest bay

Judwin71
Posts: 501
Joined: Sat Jan 09, 2016 10:25 am
Location: 3 miles south of Judwin

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by Judwin71 » Wed May 25, 2022 3:36 pm

1630L Flying as WHE07 AW101-612 ZZ100.

Malcolm
Posts: 4169
Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2010 8:26 am

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by Malcolm » Wed May 25, 2022 4:44 pm

17:00L (ZJ130)/O Merlin HC4 grey colour scheme visible on the ramp from the bedroom window.

Cygnus237
Posts: 397
Joined: Wed Jun 16, 2021 7:02 pm
Location: South of VLN

Re: Yeovil (Westland) sightings 2022

Post by Cygnus237 » Mon May 30, 2022 10:53 am

Monday May 30th, 10.30z

ZH831, as WHE03, meandering around West Dorset

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