WHEN: Thursday 19 March 2026 – 5:30pm for 6:00pm.
WHERE: Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, Level 15, Asteron Centre, 55 Featherston St., Wellington.
SUBJECT: Merlin (EH101) Desert Operations – and an update by Peter Johnson. –
Peter was the Senior Engineering Officer for No 28 (AC) SQN in the RAF from 2003 – 2005., operating the EH101 (AW101) “Merlin” Mk3. During this time the Sqn was deployed operationally in the Balkans and Iraq.
This presentation tells the backstory of the aircraft type, the “challenges” of preparing to operate from a new environment, new geographic location, new threat level, with an aircraft that, arguably, some in the RAF never wanted.
It will also update on the types’ continued journey since.
This presentation is open to all who wish to attend.