Helicopter type Fit for purpose (Percentage)
Sea King MK 3/3A - 53%
Given that the RAF has 25 Sea Kings and 6 SAR Flts, even 25% "Fit for purpose" would mean 1sts available at each UK base. We only need 17 (or 68% fit for purpose) to have 1sts and 2nds at each base and 3 for the OCU and 2 in the Falklands, so 53% isn't too bad. In fact 53% (13 aircraft) would mean one each for OCU and Falklands and both aircraft serviceable at 5 of the 6 UK flights - not bad at all.
What the more partisan posters from mil and civ camps on this thread have yet to acknowledge is that neither 2 old aircraft nor 1 new one per base is an ideal solution - the gold standard surely would be to have 2 new and modern aircraft. Anyone holding their breath?