Norway says goodbye to the Sea King

[NutLoose]

I can think of another Country that might be interested in them slightly off to the East. After all they operate three ex UK ones already.

Goodbye to Royal Norwegian Air Force Sea King

After more than 50 years of service, the Luftforsvaret (RNoAF, Royal Norwegian Air Force) will say goodbye to the Westland Sea King rescue helicopter. For this occasion, Sea King Mk43B serial 189 (c/n WA874) will make its last trip across Norway from 22 to 27 November 2023.

Sea King 189 will make its last flight on Monday 27 November 2023 from Stavanger/Sola (HQ 330 skvadron) via Lysebotn, Røldal, Odda, Torpomoen, Gol, Fagernes, Lillehammer, Hamar, Gardermoen, Kjeller, Oslo and Drammen to Rygge air base where the helicopter will be (temporary) stored.

Rygge is the last base where the Leonardo AW101 SAR Queen will take over the tasks and the emergency response from the Sea King.

The first RNoAF Sea King started its career as a Rescue helicopter in May 1973. From that point untill now, these helicopters have completed over 45.000 missions. The RNoAF have operated fourteen Sea King Mk43 rescue helicopters with 330 skv at Sola and the various 330 skv detachments spread across the country. One Sea King was lost in an accident on 30 April 1977.

Overview of the Sea King Mk43/Mk43B:

delivered 1972/1973: 060 (c/n WA746), 062 (c/n WA747), 066 (c/n WA748), 068 (c/n WA749), 069 (c/n WA750), 070 (c/n WA751), 071 (c/n WA752), 072 (c/n WA753), 073 (c/n WA754) and 074 (c/n WA755)
delivered September 1978: 189 (c/n WA874) as replacement for 072
delivered 1992 and 1996: 322 (c/n WA1005), 329 (c/n WA1011) and 330 (c/n WA1012)

In addition, the RNoAF received three former Royal Air Force Sea King HAR3A (serial ZH540, ZH541 and ZH543) for spares and instructional use in November/December 2015.


https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/goodbye-to-royal-norwegian-air-force-sea-king

[Winnie]

Last day of operations is 11 December 2024. Sad day, My dad was part of the team that went to Culdrose in 71 to train and accept the new machines, he worked on them till he passed in 92. I got many trips as a kid, and now fly 139s in Canada.

[SimonPaddo]

Shame they seem to have had an adverse effect on at least their RN crews due to exhaust gas inhalation over the years.

[[email protected]]

Shame they seem to have had an adverse effect on at least their RN crews due to exhaust gas inhalation over the years. The MOD has been denying that one for many years - claims it is the wrong size of particulates to cause damage to the human respiratory system:ugh:​​​​​​​

[NutLoose]

You want to have done see off’s with a pair of Jags in a HAS, you would start up with the doors shut then open them for them to depart.
The rear jets exhausts would blast off the walls and only one of the front one’s engines would face the blast doors at the back, you would struggle to breathe and your eyes would be watering. They used to say it was the equivalent of smoking 200 Cigs per see off.

i would have thought a Wessex crewman would have it worse than a Sea King? And I did enough Rotors turning refuels on the Wessex

[Snowbound 612]

Had a good view of watching the Sea Kings at Stavanger/Sola from my hotel room while doing my Super Puma type rating in Jan '92. They were only around 20 years old then. Always loved my trips to Norway. Some great training personnel at Sola.

[[email protected]]

Nutty - it's being in the cabin door in the Sea King for hours searching and winching that is the problem, the Sea King exhausts are directly above and ahead of the door whereas the Wessex exhausts push the jet efflux away from the airframe and you certainly wouldn't stand with your head in the exhaust plume doing a refuel:)