It may not be a generic problem with the Merlin, but a BBMF quality escape.

What if they’ve had a bad batch of oil or filters ? What if they have found out one of there torque wrenches is under reading, what if one of their procedures was wrong ?

Lets just wait and see shall we.

Yes, I was pleased to see the centreline doors intact, suggesting the gear made it up just pre impact. That being the case it’ll hopefully have minimised the damage.

The pilots notes at

https://www.seavixen.org/images/documents/Pt4._2._Emergency_Handling._Abandoning_and_Emergency_Landing_Procedures.pdf

Make an interesting read compared with the incident

Sola is a great little museum – thoroughly recommend it if you get a chance.

Personally I’d have loved to see her preserved but fear footfall wouldn’t pay her upkeep. The modern ships are thinner than Warrior or Belfast, but even solid ships struggle survive as they age-look at USS Texas

http://nation.time.com/2012/07/06/texas-is-sinking/

Opps – not sure why I put you there Tony – meant the OP !

In response to the ‘anyone could have changed direction’ type comments, there is one key thing.

These were military men, doing what their flight commander, and presumably examining officer, told them. To disobey, however much you doubt them, takes a lot of courage.