SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: Great night for Open Evening at RNAS Merryfield

THE Royal Naval Air Station at Merryfield welcomed the local community with open arms last night (Wednesday, June 10, 2015) for the annual Open Evening.

More than 2,300 – twice as many as in 2014 - took advantage of the glorious weather conditions to visit and find out what happens at RNAS Merryfield, and why.

RNAS 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.  Once a year - resources permitting - Merryfield stages an Open Evening to ‘tell all’.

Claire-Louise Hutchinson, from Ilminster, was with her two sons Cameron, seven, and four-year-old Fraser.

“We are used to seeing the aircraft flying over our home and we like to come and support the military efforts every year,” said Claire-Louise.

As Fraser and Cameron patiently joined the longest queue of the evening to get in the static Sea King, Claire added: “It’s a great evening and so nice for the boys to get up close to the aircraft.”

PHOTO - TOP: Cameron and Fraser Hutchinson in the cockpit of a Sea King Mk4.

PHOTO - RIGHT:: Becky Hoare with her son Kaleb Morris, left, and his two friends Benjamin Doel and Owen Lee.

Becky Hoare, from Chard, was at Merryfield with her son Kaleb Morris, five, and his two friends Benjamin Doel, also, five, and Owen Lee, four, and their mothers.

Becky said: “It’s our first time at Merryfield and the boys are having a great time, they are really excited it’s hard keeping up with them.  We saw the poster on Facebook and thought we would come along and take a look, I’m glad we did”.

Abi Bond, mum to Owen, added: “It’s a brilliant evening the kids are loving it and proudly wearing their Black Cat stickers and face paints."

PHOTO - RIGHT:: Queue to look at the cockpit of a Sea King Mk4.

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.

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.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Wildcat HMA Mk2 demonstrating flying manoeuvres to the Merryfield Open Evening visitors.

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.”

Other than the aircraft, one of the main attractions was the Royal Navy Presentation Team’s ‘Fit for Life’ caravan in which Royal Marine Colour Sergeant Chef Mike Beaton, 43, demonstrated simple but healthy cooking options while describing the importance of good food for keeping the men and women of the Royal Naval Service fit for life and – for the Royal Naval Service – fit to fight.

At the start of the evening, the Ilminster Model Flying Group provided an exciting flying display with an impressive variety of aircraft.

The ‘ground displays’ included the Yeovilton fire station’s exhibits with an example of the largest RN fire fighting vehicle (the MFV), 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; the Royal Navy Presentation Team; the British Horse Society; Somerset Road Safety; the Taunton Vale Cycle Racing Club that, as well as their ultra modern carbon fibre racing bicycles, displayed some Classic Cars from the 30s.

In addition, 2381 Ilminster Squadron Air Cadets gave invaluable assistance to the Merryfield staff throughout the evening.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Colour Sergeant Mike Beaton, of the Royal Navy presentation team, concluding the Fit for Life demonstration.

AgustaWestland, whose helicopters regularly use RNAS Merryfield, provided three aircraft in the static line-up including an Italian Military Search and Rescue EH101, a Wildcat HMA Mk2 and an AW 109E.

The finale flying displays showcased, a Chipmunk from the Royal Navy Historic Flight and the highly acclaimed Black Cats display team flying, for the first year, the Wildcat HMA Mk2 helicopter.

On completion of the flying displays, the static aircraft dispersed in front of an enthusiastic and knowledgeable crowd with a stunning sunset backdrop.

PHOTO - ABOVE: The Ilminster Squadron of the Air Training Corps in front of the Sea King Mk4.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Sea King Mk4 departing Merryfield at the end of the Open Evening. Photo courtesy of Kevin Wills.

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