Best SAR Aircraft Ever

[Role1a]

Let’s have a more interesting thread, (in my humble opinion)

What’s the best SAR Platform ever (Aircraft)

If you like, it can be broken down to Rotary/Fixed wing/CSAR/Civ/ Mil whatever you like.

Pictures would be really good.

R1a

[engoal]

The Supermarine Walrus?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1f/Supermarine_Walrus.jpg (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/1/1f/Supermarine_Walrus.jpg)

Mind you, I'm biased because my Grandad ran the factory that built them!

[Melchett01]

Typhoon ....

Gave Torpy something to cling to whilst RW was actually the most relevant platform :}

[Samuel]

That's easy, the Catalina, by far! Everything at the same speed.

[lsh]

The one that rescues YOU!!?
lsh

[Warmtoast]

Never had to be rescued by one, although the arrival of the ASR Launch c/w a tot of rum whilst on water survival training at RAF Mountbatten was very welcome for a V E R Y cold survivor!

However at 5 FTS, RAF Thornhill, Rhodesia in early 1950's the station Anson was on stand-by for aircraft down in the 'bundu' and regular dropping supplies practice was carried out as shown here.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/5FTSRAFThornhillSARAnson-1952.jpg

Later at the 1954 Battle of Britain display at Biggin Hill a USAF Manston-based SA-16 Grumman Albatross search and rescue amphibian demonstrated a Rocket Assisted Take Off (RATO).

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/USAFGrumannAlbartross-BOB-BigginHil.jpg

Later still whilst at RAF China Bay in 1957 Seletar based 205/209 Sqn had a Sunderland on permanent detachment for SAR purposes. Wonderful views from the Sunderland's panoramic windows, plus a Primus (paraffin) fuelled galley for fry ups and fresh brewed tea. ISTR the meals were taken in what the crew called the "Wardroom" - all very civilised.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/ChinaBay1957-SunderlandAlightingAre.jpg



http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/RAFGanSunderlandP-ML757-July1958.jpg


This last photo from my album is of one of 205/209's Sunderlands at RAF Gan in 1958.

As to the merits of these aircraft, I reckon when you're in trouble down in the drink or out in the bundu, they would all be very welcome.

Tony

PS Two more photos from my album of aircraft with a possible SAR role. These are of Short Sealands of the Indian Naval Service which took part in exercise JET'57. 10 of these aircraft were supplied to the Indian Navy and four of these participated in the exercise based at RAF China Bay, Sri Lanka. Although amphibian, their operations during the exercise were from the runway, they didn't use the flying boat alighting area.

Home base of these Sealands was the Indian Navy Fleet Requirements Unit at Cochin.

One of the more pleasing to look at aircraft IMHO.

T.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/ChinaBay-ExerciseJET1957-IndianNavy.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/ChinaBay-ExerciseJET1957-IndianN-1.jpg

[Thud_and_Blunder]

This thing, the Shin Meiwa PS-1/SS-2, always looked like it could handle a South China Sea state:

http://acielmd.cool.ne.jp/tkg21/photos/aeroplanes/PS1_02.jpg

Whereas this one looks like it'd get there and back faster than anything else in the fleet:

http://www.machtres.com/be200-04.JPG

[StbdD]

More than most missions, the aircraft means little, the AIRCREW means everything.

[airborne_artist]

It's big, it's ugly but it's a beautiful sight - MH-53 Pave Low

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/ac/mh-53j-dfst8909541.jpg

[Razor61]

Wouldn't it be better to post your choice and explain why?

[airborne_artist]

Long CSAR range and door mounted .50 cals do it for me :ok:

[Razor61]

The MH-53M uses miniguns usually on the side doors.Have you seen the facial gear the gunners use now? They look like Darth Vaders troopers...
It certainly is a wicked looking machine...

[Thud_and_Blunder]

Mind you, the one in this link:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/drama/rockface/game/main.swf

has most of the others beat for control response, load-lifting capability and so on. Shame about the endurance, or lack thereof...

[FlyerFoto]

It's OK Thud - just had a go and collided with the bloke on the island - doh!!!

[wobble2plank]

Wow, flew for the real outfit and still didn't make the training mission!!!

Good to see it's a 771/819 chopper thou ;)

[thunderbird7]

The Sunderland and Shagbat photos are of an age I can only dream of. Great shots, thanks.

[buoy15]

The Coastguard SR 61
The best purpose built SAR helo ever - has rescued more than any other craft to date - even beats SeaKing and Lifeboats - sorry guys!

[artyhug]

Well now those SR 61's are awful roomy you know.......

[Wiretensioner]

S-61 in the SAR role was just a ordinary oil and gas cab with a winch strapped on at the beginning. As the years went on mods and avionics were added to make it a good alround SAR aircraft, but it was never purpose built. Best for me was the Sea King. At least it had a hot water boilerto make tea coffee, pot noodles on those long slogs out to the west, something sadly missing from the S-61 and it's replacement, the S-92. :cool:

[SARCO]

I thought from the specs you had a fully fitted kitchen in the back of the 92, don't you use the rear ramp for the galley trolley! :)

[Role1a]

My contribution for what its worth.
Fixed wing (amphibious) – Walrus – War record speaks for its self. Could be included in the CSAR category.
Fixed wing - Nimrod – Comms suite, range and sets of eyes.
Rotary - Sea king 3a – It’s slow, it’s an old design, but the radar puts it above the newer stuff.
CSAR - MH-53 Pave Low – TFR and it looks good.
R1a

[PingDit]

Nimrod MR - Best radar, good comms, loadsa lookouts, air dropped dingies,
you can eat while you're doing it!

[Mr Point]

Rotary - Sea king 3a – It’s slow, it’s an old design, but the radar puts it above the newer stuff.

Great aircraft but the radar, as of course in the Mk3, is massively flawed with a 30 degree blind sector on the nose! God bless blind arc clearances - long live the King.

[Kitbag]

Small crew but ideal equipment carrier http://www.martinbowersmodelworld.com/tb2photo3.JPG

[wobble2plank]

How about the German Navy Seakings based at Kiel??
Take the venerable old Sea Queen and plug an up to date S-61 radar in it, multi function displays with search pattern track display for the pilots and remarkably steadfast reliability when on task.
Is an excellent beastie, soon to be replaced by the NH-90. Will watch with interest.

http://www.hmfriends.org.uk/images/hd05gerseak65.jpg

[Role1a]

Of course the mighty Sea King could also be included in the amphibian category!!
R1a
http://213.photobucket.com/albums/cc84/role1a/Waterlanding.jpg

[Razor61]

Have crews in the UK ever practiced water operations with the Seaking like they do with the Chinook (now and then)?

[tucumseh]

"Great aircraft but the radar, as of course in the Mk3, is massively flawed with a 30 degree blind sector on the nose!"


Agreed. But remember, the RAF could have had the RN scanner/radome, with half the blind arc, for much less, but insisted on the expensive option. Same applies to the TxRx.

[Mr Point]

Have crews in the UK ever practiced water operations with the Seaking like they do with the Chinook (now and then)?

Selected pilots, and occasionally rearcrew, attend the Waterbird course in Canada (see the photo above), but this is not practiced in the UK.

[wobble2plank]

The 'Waterbird' course is a fantastic course run by the Canadians based out of Halifax (or was?).

Great eye opener as to what the aircraft can do but the Cab is specially sealed and prepared. Must admit I wouldn't like to have done the same thing in either a normal cab or with a swell running!!!

The normal nose bay only has a compression seal which is not man enough for the job of keeping the water out fully in normal circumstances.

It is a truely bizzare feeling to run the aircraft forwards on one donk, pitch to 'surf' the bow wave then 'overpitch' to get airborne. Then fight the NR/height/speed etc....

Great fun

[[email protected]]

Wobble - yes it's still run at Shearwater - don't know for how much longer though - and yes, outstanding fun.

[Shack37]

Wossamatter, can't anyone spell SHACKLETON?:ok:

[Razor61]

So why does the Seaking have a boat shaped hull if it isn't up for the job of landing on the water unless specially prepared?
Another helicopter with the same kind of shaped hull comes to mind, the Mi-14... but with floatation gear deployed..... however...it didn't go to plan. What did the pilot do here?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9LFLWcFpw6A

[wobble2plank]

Perhaps in its initial conception the Sea King was designed to allow water operations. However, as the gross weight of the aircraft has steadily climbed to 21,400lbs over the years, the nose bay has been stuffed with electronics and the radar has been added under the rear freight floor in the bathtub below the theoretical water line, the aircraft sits considerably lower in the water allowing significant water ingress.

If you look at the Shearwater picuter above all seals are protected with water proof tape.

Whilst the normal aircraft will not take long time immersion in water, the boat hull and SEWTO (Single Engine Water T/O) capability does allow for engine failures in the hover when heavy to be recovered if dealt with in a reasonable amount of time. The aircraft can also be water taxied over long distances if
required, as happened to a friend of mine in Mounts Bay many years ago.

As to the Mi 14, it looks as if the pilot tries to apply full power with forward cyclic into the swell :sad: The resulting tip strike would be fairly catastrophic in all helos. Water is HARD! The course at Shearwater teaches, wait for the aircraft to stabalise, if possible run with the swell, gently trim the rotor disc forward, always watching the distance of the tips to the water surface. When the bow wave reaches to bottom of the windscreen, blip the collective to break the surface suction of the water, ride the bow wave, over pitch the collective to get airborne, nose down, gain airspeed, reduce collective as you enter the ground cushion. Continue gently trimming forward to increase the airspeed whilst attempting to maintain an NR in excess of 91%. As translation lift comes in to force climb away slowly whilst recovering NR. Brains a bit rusty but thats what I remember. :}

W2P

[wokkameister]

The one above you as you bob around in the oggin next to a sinking wreck?

WM

[Razor61]

W2P
Many thanks for that reply, just the sort of answer that was needed.
Thanks