FOUR engineers stationed in Yeovil have just returned from Brindisi in Italy, after receiving specialist training in ‘cutting-edge’ engineering techniques.

The trip allowed Leonardo engineers Alex Weymouth, Joseph Eveleigh, Matt Walters, and Stuart Redman to get a hands-on look at the building of AW149 military helicopters.

These helicopters are currently manufactured in the Italian town of Vergiate, but could now also be manufactured in Yeovil if chosen by the UK armed forces.

Alex Weymouth, a former apprentice mechanical fitter, said: “I was watching and learning new techniques on how to build the aircraft. As a modern, mostly composite aircraft, the skills and techniques differ slightly... I’m excited to possibly work on the AW149 more in the future and hopefully at the Yeovil site.”

Another engineer on the trip, Stuart Redman, has worked at the Yeovil site for almost 25 years.

He said: “The aircraft could bring work into the company for years to come.

“It would mean a good progression for myself to work on a different platform.”

The Italian aircraft is being pushed by Leonardo Engineering to the UK Ministry of Defence’s ‘New Medium Helicopter’ (NMH) requirement.

If this is successful, AW149 helicopters will have an assembly line at Leonardo’s Yeovil site.

The campaign will allow for continued support and growth to the UK’s helicopter industry, which is “essential to future UK participation in next-generation platforms”.

Written by Jamie Grover, Twitter: @jamiegrover9