Capt Vac, I'm an Aberdeen based Super Puma pilot. The information I got came from an ex RAF Sea King pilot from Lossiemouth and I was only providing it for interest in reply to the question.
The CG S61 with long range tanks fitted has a fuel load of 5200lbs of which 5100 lbs is useable with no reserves (a normal S61 has 4250lbs, 4150lbs useable). So if you say a Sea King has a useable fuel load of 5900lbs that to me is still 800lbs more fuel than the S61 which seems to be approximately 40-45 mins more fuel. So if the Sea King landed as the papers reported with 20 minutes fuel left seems to make sense.
However since you're a Scottish based Sea King pilot with knowlegue of a route via the Faroes then I take it you are based at Lossiemouth and may have even have been on the rescue. So as to whatever else you're implying then I don't know but I'm beginning to sense that I'm an innocent walking in to a political trap and that people are about to start point scoring! <img src="eek.gif" border="0">
Still good luck with it anyway! I keeping well clear of this one.
Safe flying. <img src="smile.gif" border="0">
IL. .PS If you were on the rescue - good job! <img src="smile.gif" border="0">