RN Dauphin?

[Iain-M]

What is it used for- crew changing? And what air squadron does it belong to?

Thanks.

http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/server/show/ConMediaFile.35223

[spheroid]

It is used to transport FOST staff from Plymouth airport out to the ships at sea. Flown by civilians.

[Iain-M]

Thank you.

[Razor61]

Used to (not sure if they still are) be owned by Bond and are based at Plymouth City Airport. Painted red originally but adopted the nice blue a few years ago.

Very busy chaps

[clicker]

Hi Razor,

Believe it changed colour when Bond lost the contract to Brirish International.

cheers clicker

[fuel2noise]

Why a drag?

May be they are civvies but all highly experienced ex-RN pilots. The Dauphin contract replaced 3 or 4 x Mk4 Sea Kings based at RNAS Portland when FOST re-located to Plymouth around 1996. Originally Bond had the contract but for about 6 years it's been British International (BIH)....you would be amazed at how many hours are flown by just 2 aircraft and 3 crews (crew = 1 pilot and 1 aircrewman)...no military outfit could possibly deliver so much for so little cash. That is why it has stayed as a commercial contract.

BIH also supports the Navy with a S61N helicopter for the Neptune Warrior (JMC) exercise off Scotland a couple of times a year and a range of other tasks.