The British Royal Navy’s newly commissioned aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has commenced preparations for its rotary wing trials at sea. An anti-submarine Merlin helicopter has been training on-board the carrier at Portsmouth Naval Base as part of the preparatory tests. 

The helicopter has been used to verify the flight deck and hangar facilities by connecting up to the vessel’s onboard electrical supply cables and refuelling hoses as well as the on-deck flying control (FLYCO) unit. HMS Queen Elizabeth is scheduled to leave its homeport for the rotary wing sea trials over the coming weeks.