Royal Navy SA341C Gazelle HT2 XZ938 (CU45) as seen at Redhill Aerodrome on 25th September 1991 (Photo: Martin Pole)
The HT2 was the Royal Navy’s primary trainer and is seen here fitted with a hoist.
When student pilots reached the search and rescue portion of their course, two Gazelles from 705 Squadron were fitted with these hoists in readiness for the impending SAR training.
The training involved recovering a life buoy from the airfield and, once mastered, two further ‘wet’ sorties were carried-out just off the coast, again using a life buoy.
XZ938 became instructional airframe 9304M for the RAF in 2001 and was finally disposed of in 2003.