ULTIMATE RESCUE HELICOPTER
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ULTIMATE RESCUE HELICOPTER
Watch the second part of the new series 'helicopter rescue' and the commentator quoted 'Sea King, the ultimate rescue helicopter, is this true?
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The Sea King is the only military rescue helicopter in the UK.
Oh, so glad I don't have to attempt to regurgitate any trite 'mission statements' any more.
"To generate and sustain a world-leading Search and Rescue capability, including Command Control and Coordination, helicopters and Mountain Rescue Service Force elements, to be a force for good and contribute to the Ministry of Defence's mission"
Last edited by Willard Whyte; 4th Aug 2012 at 00:50.
errrrrr....not quite true about the Sea King being the only.....seems to remember some USAF Helicopters being there as well.
All this stuff about 'ultimate rescue helicopters' .... if you are bobbing about in the oggin, you will be grateful for ANY rescue helicopter. You also know that the guys and gals flying these things will do their very, very best to get you - be grateful!
Interestingly, however, one of the pilots did discuss what would happen if the aircraft got into difficulties and I'm not sure I've heard stated explicitly on camera before.
My fear about what replaces Sea King, is will it be 'best of breed' or 'cheapest' and bought to keep some MP's constituents in a job. I saw recently an aircraft, supposedly being offered as an SAR cab, in which the crew couldn't stand upright in the back
O-D
Interestingly, however, one of the pilots did discuss what would happen if the aircraft got into difficulties and I'm not sure I've heard stated explicitly on camera before.
My fear about what replaces Sea King, is will it be 'best of breed' or 'cheapest' and bought to keep some MP's constituents in a job. I saw recently an aircraft, supposedly being offered as an SAR cab, in which the crew couldn't stand upright in the back
O-D
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Watched a rescue attempt in Brighton a few weeks ago. Didn't recognise the helo at all. Looked very civvy to me. Didn't look to have a lot of room inside either but I guess it was cheap to run. Unsuccessful rescue but not SARS fault.
What's The Solution?
Maybe the time has come with this Thread to move it on.
Sea King has proved a pretty good cab but the airframes etc are now approaching or past their sell by date.
First question then: would a fleet replacement of Sea Kings by new Sea Kings with updated cockpits and other goodies be an answer ie is the spec of the current Sea King 3A still fit for purpose?
Second question: if the answer to the first question is 'NO' - however you wish to express that word, what represents an outline spec for an SAR aircraft which fulfils the needs of the UK, Falklands and wherever else we want to provide SAR cover?
Third question: Is the current RN/RAF/Coastguard mix efficient, sustainable, necessary and if not, what should it be and what would the basing strategy be?
Old Duffer
Sea King has proved a pretty good cab but the airframes etc are now approaching or past their sell by date.
First question then: would a fleet replacement of Sea Kings by new Sea Kings with updated cockpits and other goodies be an answer ie is the spec of the current Sea King 3A still fit for purpose?
Second question: if the answer to the first question is 'NO' - however you wish to express that word, what represents an outline spec for an SAR aircraft which fulfils the needs of the UK, Falklands and wherever else we want to provide SAR cover?
Third question: Is the current RN/RAF/Coastguard mix efficient, sustainable, necessary and if not, what should it be and what would the basing strategy be?
Old Duffer
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I suspect, as ever, that a greater proportion of mission success can be put down to the crews not the airframe.
A shame some people, on the many threads covering capabilities of kit, seem to take any criticism of their (current or former) mount as criticism of their operational skills. In truth their ability to cope with sub-optimal equipment highlights crews' abilities even more.
A shame some people, on the many threads covering capabilities of kit, seem to take any criticism of their (current or former) mount as criticism of their operational skills. In truth their ability to cope with sub-optimal equipment highlights crews' abilities even more.
Sea King has proved a pretty good cab but the airframes etc are now approaching or past their sell by date.
First question then: would a fleet replacement of Sea Kings by new Sea Kings with updated cockpits and other goodies be an answer ie is the spec of the current Sea King 3A still fit for purpose?
PPRuNe Bashaholic
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Taking Gannet SAR Flight as an example, 298 call outs in 2011 with 240 people given assistance.
Any new cabs replacing the Sea King will have quite a tough act to follow
Any new cabs replacing the Sea King will have quite a tough act to follow
Just This Once,
No, Sir, the previous correspondence hasn't passed me by. I posed the questions because after the - how can I put this delicately - difficulties over the way forward, I have seen nothing which convinces me that the services are going to get out of the SAR business anytime soon. It follows that until I see an alternative 'game plan' with a robust transition plan, I judge nobody actually knows where this is all going. I am cynical/realistic enough to know that we shan't simply bin SAR and leave it all to the coastguards
I have always regarded military run SAR as being a pretty good recruiting Sgt and it is very popular amongst the civvy population. The decision to send Flt Lt Wales to SAR was a master stroke in many ways.
One only needs to look at almost every facet of public policy to know that:
a. we are deep in the smelly stuff.
b. nobody seems to actually have a grasp of the way forward.
c the political elite is doing what they always do when a and b apply and that is; look at all sorts of unimportant issues - HofL reform, gay marriage etc, elected police commissioners - which will cost money we don't have.
I'm not being party political just wondering what the country is sliding towards.
Old Duffer
No, Sir, the previous correspondence hasn't passed me by. I posed the questions because after the - how can I put this delicately - difficulties over the way forward, I have seen nothing which convinces me that the services are going to get out of the SAR business anytime soon. It follows that until I see an alternative 'game plan' with a robust transition plan, I judge nobody actually knows where this is all going. I am cynical/realistic enough to know that we shan't simply bin SAR and leave it all to the coastguards
I have always regarded military run SAR as being a pretty good recruiting Sgt and it is very popular amongst the civvy population. The decision to send Flt Lt Wales to SAR was a master stroke in many ways.
One only needs to look at almost every facet of public policy to know that:
a. we are deep in the smelly stuff.
b. nobody seems to actually have a grasp of the way forward.
c the political elite is doing what they always do when a and b apply and that is; look at all sorts of unimportant issues - HofL reform, gay marriage etc, elected police commissioners - which will cost money we don't have.
I'm not being party political just wondering what the country is sliding towards.
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SAR-H
I am cynical/realistic enough to know that we shan't simply bin SAR and leave it all to the coastguards
Sadly, military SAR is a lifed service. No MoD money will be spent on it post transition to MCA SAR, and that transition willhappen on time.
Sun.
Oh dear, it was clearly too much to expect people to understand what ultimate actually means...
As for a replacement, the only capability which a modern aircraft has, which the Sea King lacks, is the ability to transit at a decent speed.
As for a replacement, the only capability which a modern aircraft has, which the Sea King lacks, is the ability to transit at a decent speed.