Merlin helicopters to fly over Shropshire as part of training exercise
Merlin helicopters will be flying over Shropshire from today as part of preparations for front line operations by a squadron training at RAF Shawbury.
RAF Shawbury and the Defence Helicopter Flying School are assisting with preparations for front line operations when ex-students come back to the unit with No 78 Squadron.
The Squadron, based at RAF Benson in south Oxfordshire, will be operating from the north Shropshire airbase from today including day and night flying.
The helicopters will arrive this morning carrying out training until Thursday which includes night flying until 2am each morning.
The flying includes operating within the Shawbury low flying area as well as utilising Mountain training areas in North Wales.
The Squadron regularly prepares for front line operations by operating from other units around the country, but this is the first time they will have operated their Merlin helicopters from the north Shropshire airbase for a longer period.
All the crews have previously trained at the unit at the Defence Helicopter Flying School and are all used to operating from the airfield.
