The Merlin Mk4 flew over from RNAS Yeovilton yesterday morning, circling the Port Soif area before landing on the playing fields at Rovers AC.
‘We’re here training with the Jersey Field Squadron which serves both islands. For us it counts as crew training as well,’ said Lt Commander David Houghton-Barnes.
‘We have two pilots with students going to do some training landing in remote sites on the island in an unfamiliar environment. We’ve also been practising getting troops onto a ship while it’s moving.’
It has a crew of four people but can carry up to 24, and balanced against fuel, usually takes 18. Its top speed is 160 knots, cruising at 120 at 9,000ft.
Temperature wise, the helicopter can operate in temperatures down to -40C, in case it needs to be flown into the Arctic Circle, and there is anti-icing on the rotator blades.
The back of the aircraft can fold to fit onto a ship, the tail folds in, while it can lift up to four tonnes such as cannons or a Land Rover.
The aircraft and its crew flew to Sark after a short visit to Guernsey.
They dropped off some of the crew to carry out helicopter landing site recces.
On landing they did a formal assessment of two landing sites if they are ever needed for casualties in Sark.
On Saturday, the helicopter trainined with the Jersey Field Squadron over L’Eree and the south-west of the island until about 2.30pm.
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