RAF Merlins headed to Afghanistan

BENSON, England, Oct. 1 (UPI) -- With its Merlin helicopters pulled out of Iraq, the British Royal air force said it was preparing to deploy the transport vehicle and its crew to Afghanistan.

The RAF announced it would deploy its Merlin fleet and crew to Afghanistan by the end of the year, boosting the number of helicopters there by 25 percent, the British Ministry of Defense said.

"We've doubled the number of helicopter hours and the Merlin gives us the opportunity to get even more helicopter hours to our troops," said Defense Secretary Bob Ainsworth.

The RAF equipped the Merlin with new rotor blades to cope with the climate in Afghanistan, while its crew will train to fly the helicopter in the thin mountain air.

"The engines become more limited and less responsive in the thinner air so you have to be more careful and think about how heavy you are -- and remember it's not just another sunny day at Benson," said Flight Lt. Ross Norman, a helicopter pilot.

Merlin crews will train in day and night operations at a U.S. air base in the California desert to practice flying in conditions similar to Afghanistan. The fleet is expected to deploy to Afghanistan by the end of the year.