SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: Naval Air Station Merryfield opens its doors to the community

THE Naval Air Station at Merryfield near Ilminster opened its gates this week to the local community.

More than 1,500 people took up the offer to visit and find out what happens at NAS Merryfield and why on Wednesday (June 25, 2014).

NAS Merryfield is the satellite airfield for the main Fleet Air Arm base, RNAS Yeovilton, 13 miles away near Ilchester.

Much of Yeovilton’s procedural helicopter flying training takes place at Merryfield but many people do not know where the base is, or what it is used for. So once a year - resources permitting - Merryfield stages an open evening to ‘tell all’.

RNAS Yeovilton currently has aircraft deployed around the world.  In addition to the more obvious tasking, they are involved in operations ranging from counter-narcotics and counter-piracy to a contingency presence in areas such as the Arabian Gulf, the South Atlantic and the Mediterranean.

PHOTO – TOP: Lieutenant Danielle Welch a student on 702 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) with a young Merryfield Open Evening visitor sitting in the pilot’s seat of a Lynx HMA Mk8.

PHOTO – RIGHT: Lynx HMA Mk8 demonstrating flying manoeuvres to the Merryfield Open Evening visitors.

The military’s flying training requirement to support this front-line activity is intense.  Merryfield accommodates much of the Commando Helicopter Force, Aviation Reconnaissance Force and Maritime Lynx and Wildcat Force training that cannot take place at Yeovilton because it provides a full fixed wing flying capability.

Many years of experience show that intensive helicopter flying training and fixed wing operations do not mix.

Maintaining flying skills and readiness for operations is a demanding and exacting task and, as many who live in the Merryfield area know, it is sometimes noisy.

Yeovilton’s community relations officer, Jeremy Greenop said: “We acknowledge the impact our operations at Merryfield has on the local community and we do all we can to minimise the disturbance while maintaining the operational effectiveness of our aircrew.

“Having visited many parishes in the area, I believe we have the overwhelming support of the people in the local community but it is inevitable that some people are not as enthusiastic about what takes place at this airfield, but it is worth remembering that we have been operating helicopters at Merryfield since 1971.”

At the start of the evening, the Ilminster and District Radio Control Club, the British Model Flyers Association and the RN Model Flyers provided an exciting flying display with an impressive variety of aircraft.

PHOTO – RIGHT: Static helicopters with visitors at the Merryfield open evening.

The ‘ground displays’ included the Yeovilton fire station with an example of the largest RN fire fighting vehicle, regular RN fire vehicles and a fire prevention display; a Royal Marine Commando field equipment display including a field hospital and weapons display; the Royal Navy Aircrew Survival & Evasion Section’s equipment; a history of Naval Air Station Merryfield and work of the Yeovilton Estates Conservation Group; the Fleet Air Arm Museum; the Fly Navy Heritage Trust; the Royal Navy Presentation Team; the British Horse Society; Somerset Road Safety; the Taunton Vale Cycle Racing Club and the Chard 1st Wheelers cycling club,  and some Classic Cars from the 30s.

In addition, Martock Army Cadet Force provided a display of field crafts and cadet training and cadets from Ilminster Air Training Corps gave invaluable assistance to the Merryfield staff throughout the evening.

The ‘special flying displays’ showcased the highly acclaimed RN Raider’s Parachute Display Team, a Chipmunk from the Royal Navy Historic Flight and the Black Cats Lynx Mk 8 helicopter display team.

PHOTO - ABOVE: People look around the static aircraft at NAS Merryfield.

PHOTO – ABOVE: Lieutenant David Neyland of 700W Naval Air Squadron (NAS) talking to Merryfield open evening visitors about the Wildcat HMA Mk2 helicopter.

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