HMS Queen Elizabeth completes initial rotary-wing trials

Merlin HM2s from 820 NAS and MOD Boscombe Down land on HMS ‘Queen Elizabeth’ to carry out flying trials. In the foreground is ZH826, which previously conducted first-of-type performance trials aboard HMS ‘Illustrious’ in 2012. Crown Copyright THE ROYAL Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) arrived back in Portsmouth on February 27 after successful first-of-class rotary-wing trials in the Atlantic. The tests involved two Merlin HM2 and two Chinook HC5 aircraft and a team of 56 aircrew, analysts and