Showing posts with label helicopters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label helicopters. Show all posts

Monday 5 February 2018

Watch live as HMS Queen Elizabeth taking on her helicopter fleet form RNAS Culdrose



Watch live as the Newlyn fishing webcam is zoomed in on HMS Queen Elizabeth as she takes on board her fleet of helicopters from RNAS Culdrose.

The ship took its quota of Chinook helicopters last week when she was in Portsmouth. The aim of the trials is to work out the conditions that the aircraft can operate in while at sea on the carrier. They will collect data about the landings, take-offs and manoeuvres in different wind and sea conditions, before processing the information and ultimately declaring that the ship can safely operate the aircraft.

These helicopter trials take place before the fixed wing F35 Lightning II trials later this year. Ultimately the carrier will be declared safe to fly Chinook, Merlin Mk2, Merlin Mk3, Merlin Mk4, Wildcat and Apache attack helicopters, as well as the fast jets.

HMS Queen Elizabeth's 700-strong crew will be further bolstered during the trials by more than 70 people from the ship's permanently assigned Naval Air Squadron, 820 NAS from RNAS Culdrose, with two further operational Merlin helicopters providing force protection.

Helicopters have previously landed on HMS Queen Elizabeth to transfer essential stores and personnel, but not for official flying trials.