Happy Birthday - Sea-King 50th Anniversary
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Happy Birthday - Sea-King 50th Anniversary
First Flight on the 11th March 1959. 
I guess it wasn't raining that day or someone might have thought to weatherproof the aircraft
Crab,
It is cheaper to issue rain gear to the flightcrews.
Besides...if they did not leak like a sieve then they would not be helicopters.
It is cheaper to issue rain gear to the flightcrews.
Besides...if they did not leak like a sieve then they would not be helicopters.
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It's an icon of my youth and I nearly share the same 50th birthday. I grew up in awe of that aircraft for it enabled me to admire its crews and their amazing exploits. Subconsciously, I associate a Sea King with saving lives, irrespective of its operator's nationality. So I will raise my glass to the old girl... Oh wait! Barbie's coming over for dinner! We'll celebrate together then. And she's driving over in her Mini...
Great things of 1959. Lunatics included...
Great things of 1959. Lunatics included...
The Sea King is a classic by any definition.
However, as a Chinook Pilot, I would like to remind you the Chinook first flew on my birthday in 1961, and is still rolling off the assembly line as the CH-47F. They no doubt will be flying long after I depart for warmer regions with perpetual fire.
CH-47F, 98-00011, which stared off as an A model before being upgraded to a D model, is now 44 years old and still going strong.
That is the difference between a classic and an Icon!
I wonder if the Sea King will outlast the S-92?
However, as a Chinook Pilot, I would like to remind you the Chinook first flew on my birthday in 1961, and is still rolling off the assembly line as the CH-47F. They no doubt will be flying long after I depart for warmer regions with perpetual fire.
CH-47F, 98-00011, which stared off as an A model before being upgraded to a D model, is now 44 years old and still going strong.
That is the difference between a classic and an Icon!
I wonder if the Sea King will outlast the S-92?
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King of the skies
guess it wasn't raining that day or someone might have thought to weatherproof the aircraft
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King of the Skies
I was born on 17 Feb 59 shortly before the first Sea King flight - I apparently flew the first Sea King as it passed 5,000 airframe hours hours back in the early 80s (so Westlands told me!) and now with a few thousand Sea King hours under my belt I am proud to share 2009 for a 50th birthday celebration with the King of the Skies!
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I'm somewhat surprised that more ppruners have not stepped up to salute a venerable machine that many of us are proud to have flown - in my case, five formative aviation years.
Time to raise a glass to all those airframes that have served so many so well and with little recognition - whilst not the most exciting machine to fly, I always felt the Sea King had a forgiving nature and allowed me to hone my skills gently, as well as safely helping me pass on those skills to others.
Long may they continue to grace the skies.
Time to raise a glass to all those airframes that have served so many so well and with little recognition - whilst not the most exciting machine to fly, I always felt the Sea King had a forgiving nature and allowed me to hone my skills gently, as well as safely helping me pass on those skills to others.
Long may they continue to grace the skies.
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Vaguely remeber in the early 90's Culdrose celebrating a significant SeaKing anniversary. There was a small book published which went through the history of this remakable aircraft and summarised by serial number where they all were. Anyone know if this is to be updated and reprinted for the 50th?
I consider myself lucky that I still get to fly SeaKings and as long as you don't want go anywhere in a hurry it is a cracking cab.
I consider myself lucky that I still get to fly SeaKings and as long as you don't want go anywhere in a hurry it is a cracking cab.
Seems there is a new member to the club who had her membership held in abeyance since 2001.
Sea King comes back to life
Sea King comes back to life
Wednesday, April 08, 2009 - Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services
On the 2 April 2009 Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services Fleetlands performed the formal handover of Sea King MK4 ZF115 back to the British Ministry of Defence after an extensive repair, modification, and maintenance programme.
The aircraft sustained extensive airframe structural damage as result of an accident in November 2001 and was subsequently held in storage.
In June 2007 the Fleetlands operation was awarded the contract to repair the aircraft and bring it up to the latest modification standard. This involved nearly 30,000 man hours of effort and the embodiment of over 250 modifications, dating back over the last 25 years.
The recovery and return to service represents excellent value for money, as the work was completed at a fraction of the cost of a new build Sea King aircraft, providing an additional asset for the Front Line Command.
Sea King Project Team Leader, Group Captain Simon Moss MBE, stated, “The success of this 21-month project has been achieved through the close working relationship of Vector staff with the MoD Sea King Project Team (SKPT) and AgustaWestland”.
ZF115 will shortly return to the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset as part of the Commando Helicopter Force.
Photo: Tim Rice (right), Managing Director Vector Aerospace UK, formally handing over the MF700C to Captain Tim Davies (left) from the Joint Helicopter Command Headquarters and Group Captain Simon Moss (middle) from the MoD Sea King Project.
Wednesday, April 08, 2009 - Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services
On the 2 April 2009 Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services Fleetlands performed the formal handover of Sea King MK4 ZF115 back to the British Ministry of Defence after an extensive repair, modification, and maintenance programme.The aircraft sustained extensive airframe structural damage as result of an accident in November 2001 and was subsequently held in storage.
In June 2007 the Fleetlands operation was awarded the contract to repair the aircraft and bring it up to the latest modification standard. This involved nearly 30,000 man hours of effort and the embodiment of over 250 modifications, dating back over the last 25 years.
The recovery and return to service represents excellent value for money, as the work was completed at a fraction of the cost of a new build Sea King aircraft, providing an additional asset for the Front Line Command.
Sea King Project Team Leader, Group Captain Simon Moss MBE, stated, “The success of this 21-month project has been achieved through the close working relationship of Vector staff with the MoD Sea King Project Team (SKPT) and AgustaWestland”.
ZF115 will shortly return to the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset as part of the Commando Helicopter Force.
Photo: Tim Rice (right), Managing Director Vector Aerospace UK, formally handing over the MF700C to Captain Tim Davies (left) from the Joint Helicopter Command Headquarters and Group Captain Simon Moss (middle) from the MoD Sea King Project.
Last edited by Senior Pilot; 9th Apr 2009 at 22:47. Reason: Add text as quote
Thread Starter
Last US Navy Sea-King retired
Today, the US Navy retired their last operational UH-3H Sea-King - the end of a long and illustrious 50 year career with this branch of the military.
Many might wonder what happens to these old birds when their day is done?
The ship was handed over to the Marine Corps, who will continue to operate her! 
You gotta love it!
U.S. Navy Retires Last Operational UH-3H Sea King Helicopter - Southern Maryland News, Charles County, Calvert County and St. Mary's County News
Many might wonder what happens to these old birds when their day is done?
The ship was handed over to the Marine Corps, who will continue to operate her!
You gotta love it!
U.S. Navy Retires Last Operational UH-3H Sea King Helicopter - Southern Maryland News, Charles County, Calvert County and St. Mary's County News
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I wonder what is the highest total airframe hours accumulated by a sea king airframe before retirement? Anybody know the answer to this bit of trivia? I do know the Penzance / Scilly Isles machine was around 46000 airframe hours and I am sure that was a few years ago. Just wondering who is the highest on hours.
Nit Picking I know, but I'm sure that the Scillies machines are S-61s, which although bearing similarities to the Sea King, is a different aircraft.
I would imagine that the original Mk3 Sea Kings (circa 1978/79) must be up around 15000 hours by now - I remember when they went through 10000 some 10 years ago. I have no idea what the RN cabs have - traditionally they had fewer hours than the RAF ones, but with recent ops in the 'Stan, they may have increased significantly.
...perhaps someone with access to the 700 can shed some light?
I would imagine that the original Mk3 Sea Kings (circa 1978/79) must be up around 15000 hours by now - I remember when they went through 10000 some 10 years ago. I have no idea what the RN cabs have - traditionally they had fewer hours than the RAF ones, but with recent ops in the 'Stan, they may have increased significantly.
...perhaps someone with access to the 700 can shed some light?
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Yes, am aware that technically speaking the S61N is a different bird to the sea king but I have just become lazy about making the distinction. I blame the g-info site, which lists them under sea kings whilst omitting the navy and RAF sea kings.
My guess is that military airframes will be much much less in accumulated hours than the civilian S61's
My guess is that military airframes will be much much less in accumulated hours than the civilian S61's
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If the Spitfire had also celebrated its 50th anniversay in service then that would have been on the 5th March 1986, we could have left a flight down at MPA instead of those noisy old Tornado things
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I imagine any of the rescue S61's could easily have 43000+ airframe hours, given they all came from commercial operators andn were slogging it out daily in the Norht Sea prior to their "retirement job"?
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CHC have an aircraft in Venezuela (YV235) that may come close to challenging the BIH ships' TTSNs.
Further to Um lifting's comment, the recently retired (/reallocated) UH-3Hs are mere babes by comparison, the high-time aircraft in the fleet having 'only' 17K.
I/C
Further to Um lifting's comment, the recently retired (/reallocated) UH-3Hs are mere babes by comparison, the high-time aircraft in the fleet having 'only' 17K.
I/C