Save a Sea King for Moray and Scotland

[Oldsarbouy]

The yellow Sea King has been a welcome sight to many in Scotland and the Morayvia group are trying to keep one at their base at Kinloss where it would be open to the public. The aircraft at Lossiemouth are due to cease operations at midnight on the 31st March after which they will be flown south to be disposed of with one reputed to be heading to the RAF Museum at Hendon. Once the other aircraft is decommissioned it will no longer be flyable and, if Morayvia is successful in it's bid, it will have to be brought back on a low loader at vast expense. It would appear to be far more sensible if the aircraft remained up here and to this end Morayvia have started a petition on AVAAZ which has already topped 1200 signatures but more are needed. We realise that we won't be the only group interested in saving a Sea King but our location means that we need to act quickly before the deed is done so please support us. Thanks
Welcome to the official website of Morayvia | morayvia.org.uk (http://www.morayvia.org.uk)

[5aday]

Good luck in your endeavour. It/they were a familiar sight tracking westerly over my house in Nairn en route to another rescue.
Dave M

[Hangarshuffle]

What's taking their place? Is it just fingers crossed for everyone? This country has gone to ******* blazes.

[Biggus]

Hangarshuffle,

BBC News - Bristow Group to take over UK search and rescue from RAF (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21934077)

[SARF]

Resue 125 is always a welcome sight for us RNLI chaps in the Thames estuary
Gonna miss the big yellow bird belching out fumes

[Biggus]

Personally speaking, and listening to my head rather than my heart, I think the Morayvia project is doomed to failure.

I wish no disrespect to the dedicated enthusiasts taking part in the project, and hope to be proved wrong, but I just can't see it being financially viable. It's in the wrong part of the country, where, although there are tourists they aren't aviation aficionados. The main exhibit is an aircraft which never endeared itself to the public, and examples of which can be seen in more accessible locations in much larger overall displays.

Still, time will tell...

[Oldsarbouy]

Well Biggus, let's hope you're wrong about the interest in aviation in this area and the lack of tourists. Morayvia have had a pop up shop in a local shopping arcade, selling purely aviation related items such as mugs, pictures and other objects, which has proved immensely popular and financially worthwhile. When the Nimrod fuselage on it's trailer has been to airshows etc it has always proved a big draw, with people standing patiently in line, even when it was raining. You're completely wrong when you say it was an unpopular aircraft unless you mean the decision to scrap it and its replacement. I'm sure the many people in trouble who were relieved to see the arrival of the Mighty Hunter would also disagree with you. If Morayvia are successful and put a Sea King on display I have absolutely no doubt that it will be a major attraction. Morayvia was able to buy a complete, although engineless, Nimrod two years ago and do have a viable business plan and financial backers.

[NutLoose]

Do you have a link to the petition?

[Oldsarbouy]

Yes, Nutloose, it's Save a Sea King for Moray and Scotland and is on Avaaz - The World in Action (http://www.avaaz.org)

[Martin the Martian]

I disagree that the Sea King has not endeared itself to the public. Maybe not in the way that the Vulcan or the Spitfire has, but to people living in coastal areas it has been a very visible presence, whether painted yellow or red and grey. Even non-aviation people know automatically what it is and what it represents.

[Biggus]

MtM,

I was referring to the Nimrod MR2, XV244, which is Morayvia's main exhibit! Acquisition of the Sea King remains an aspiration at the moment.


Oldsar,

I hope to be proved wrong, but there is a huge difference between a few (presumably unpaid) volunteers selling a few bits of memorabilia and funding the construction and long term maintenance and upkeep of a facility large enough to house an MR2 and other exhibits. Or has the aspiration changed?

As I said, time will tell....

[Oldsarbouy]

Biggus I take your point but one has to have something to aim for in the longer term. JFK had aspirations to put a man on the moon, Hilary and Tensing had aspirations to climb Everest all achieved when some said they couldn't. The site where the Nimrod is located is, unfortunately, behind the wire at Kinloss and although we would love to be able to purchase the hardstanding and relocate the fence to allow public access this remains an aspiration until the future of Kinloss is finally decided. One only has to visit the Battle of Britain Memorial near Folkestone to see how a very small concern can grow and develop given time. Whilst it would be preferable to have the Nimrod under cover we realise this is for the long term and in the meantime take all reasonable steps to keep it in good order thanks to our "small" band of enthusiasts and volunteers. Why not come and join us.

[Biggus]

Oldsarbouy,

Thanks for the offer - but it's quite a long round trip from Cambridge!!





Duxford is just down the road too, if I wish to visit an aviation museum.