Save a Sea King!
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 121
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From: uk
This thread is plumbing the depths. Competitive willy waving using the context of fatal accidents is a disgrace. Many if not all of us have faced circumstances that could have ended just as badly, irrespective of the robustness of machine, supervision, ability or weather. Military flying carries risk, as does SAR. Do either for long enough and you will find yourself in some sticky situation or other. You may use your superior skills to dig yourself out of it or you may just be lucky. Either way gloating that your system is superior to someone else's because you have less accidents, and most particularly identifying a specific fatal as evidence is crass and insensitive as well as statistically naive.
It's wrapping up now. There are lot of SAR bases closing, lots of sadness from crews and public alike. It's not a time to dwell on crashes, accidents, incidents or whatever. We should all be reflecting on the achievements and success of generations of military crews, not highlighting each other's blackest moments.
It's wrapping up now. There are lot of SAR bases closing, lots of sadness from crews and public alike. It's not a time to dwell on crashes, accidents, incidents or whatever. We should all be reflecting on the achievements and success of generations of military crews, not highlighting each other's blackest moments.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 2,297
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From: The Burrow, N53:48:02 W1:48:57, The Tin Tent - EGBS, EGBO
As a member of the public who would like to see one preserved (and one whose father served in the RAF) can I just say that had I been in need of rescue I would not have cared less which service provided the helicopter and crew as long as one appeared in time and succeeded in rescuing me.
Now for a somewhat frivolous suggestion - why not save one, paint it bright pink/orange/purple/whatever service non-specific colour you fancy and provide plenty of visual information on the subject for visitors to the museum? Oh, and make up a number to paint on it so it can't be traced back to a particular service.
Now for a somewhat frivolous suggestion - why not save one, paint it bright pink/orange/purple/whatever service non-specific colour you fancy and provide plenty of visual information on the subject for visitors to the museum? Oh, and make up a number to paint on it so it can't be traced back to a particular service.
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 32
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From: Outside in the cold distance
A couple of on-topic observations.
Aircraft which have been taken out of service have a cash value to the taxpayer and HM Treasury's rules - not MoD's - make it very hard to justify giving them away. However sympathetic MoD staff might be to the idea of preserving Sea Kings there are limits to the help they can give. Some will certainly be preserved - a yellow one is going to the RAF Museum, a Mk4 to the FAA Museum and there may be a Mk5 gate guardian at Culdrose (but keep your fingers crossed on that one). Others may well be preserved privately - all it needs is the money to buy them.
The multi-coloured Sea King previously mentioned in this thread ironically isn't actually a SAR aircraft - it's a HAS Mk6 (yes, OK, it will have had a secondary SAR role but that wasn't its primary purpose).
Aircraft which have been taken out of service have a cash value to the taxpayer and HM Treasury's rules - not MoD's - make it very hard to justify giving them away. However sympathetic MoD staff might be to the idea of preserving Sea Kings there are limits to the help they can give. Some will certainly be preserved - a yellow one is going to the RAF Museum, a Mk4 to the FAA Museum and there may be a Mk5 gate guardian at Culdrose (but keep your fingers crossed on that one). Others may well be preserved privately - all it needs is the money to buy them.
The multi-coloured Sea King previously mentioned in this thread ironically isn't actually a SAR aircraft - it's a HAS Mk6 (yes, OK, it will have had a secondary SAR role but that wasn't its primary purpose).
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,174
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From: UK
a yellow one is going to the RAF Museum
a Mk4 to the FAA Museum
Mk5 gate guardian at Culdrose
The multi-coloured Sea King
That's five; why do you need to
Save a Sea King!
Joined: Nov 1998
Posts: 460
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From: UK
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 912
Likes: 1
From: UK
John R81. Keep up...the Heli Museum has already said its willing to buy one ..just wants equal treatment to Morayvia for a direct sale and not to have to buy from a middle man adding his slice of profit.
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,413
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From: England & Scotland
I have kept up.
What is the cash difference, and look to the public to raise the difference.
That would be a useful application of time / effort rather than the "spinning wheels" event this thread has become.
A couple of years back I had the opportunity to get a complete Wessex. Posted on here to ask who would want one / what would they do with it, with the intention of then donating the machine. The thread turned into....... exactly what we have here. I gave up and let the Wessex go.
So. Do we carry on with the this theatre or try to do something constructive?
FAoD: I was not offering to fund the difference this time.
What is the cash difference, and look to the public to raise the difference.
That would be a useful application of time / effort rather than the "spinning wheels" event this thread has become.
A couple of years back I had the opportunity to get a complete Wessex. Posted on here to ask who would want one / what would they do with it, with the intention of then donating the machine. The thread turned into....... exactly what we have here. I gave up and let the Wessex go.
So. Do we carry on with the this theatre or try to do something constructive?
FAoD: I was not offering to fund the difference this time.
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 106
Likes: 11
From: UK
Personally, I'm glad to see the back of the old dog, and its amusing habit (OK it happened twice to the Mk 1, and the first one was mine) of breaking its own rotor blades - the result of which you can see below.
I can honestly say that in the ensuing 40-odd years and 16,000-ish hours flying helicopters, I have never again experienced the sense of foreboding which existed when sitting in a 40ft hover, somewhere over a freezing North Atlantic in the middle of the night, waiting for the next hilarious joke to be played by the autopilot/transmission/fuel computers etc.
I can honestly say that in the ensuing 40-odd years and 16,000-ish hours flying helicopters, I have never again experienced the sense of foreboding which existed when sitting in a 40ft hover, somewhere over a freezing North Atlantic in the middle of the night, waiting for the next hilarious joke to be played by the autopilot/transmission/fuel computers etc.
Joined: Apr 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
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From: EGDC
They do say never fly the Mk1 of anything! Perhaps that is why we didn't take it on until the Mk 3 However a VRS failure was still very exciting at night in the hover!
However a VRS failure was still very exciting at night in the hover!
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 1
From: Among these dark Satanic mills
This thread is plumbing the depths. Competitive willy waving using the context of fatal accidents is a disgrace. Many if not all of us have faced circumstances that could have ended just as badly, irrespective of the robustness of machine, supervision, ability or weather. Military flying carries risk, as does SAR. Do either for long enough and you will find yourself in some sticky situation or other. You may use your superior skills to dig yourself out of it or you may just be lucky. Either way gloating that your system is superior to someone else's because you have less accidents, and most particularly identifying a specific fatal as evidence is crass and insensitive as well as statistically naive.
It's wrapping up now. There are lot of SAR bases closing, lots of sadness from crews and public alike. It's not a time to dwell on crashes, accidents, incidents or whatever. We should all be reflecting on the achievements and success of generations of military crews, not highlighting each other's blackest moments.
It's wrapping up now. There are lot of SAR bases closing, lots of sadness from crews and public alike. It's not a time to dwell on crashes, accidents, incidents or whatever. We should all be reflecting on the achievements and success of generations of military crews, not highlighting each other's blackest moments.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 912
Likes: 1
From: UK
The thread may have moved on but the Sea King help hasn't.
Sounds like all are going to be sold off to a commercial agent who will now doubtless want his commission and add to the transport costs.
Anyone at Chivenor who could fly via Weston and accidentally go u/s before retirement end of this month?!
Sounds like all are going to be sold off to a commercial agent who will now doubtless want his commission and add to the transport costs.
Anyone at Chivenor who could fly via Weston and accidentally go u/s before retirement end of this month?!
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 5,174
Likes: 7
From: UK
sold off to a commercial agent
Joined: Jun 2014
Aviation Qualifications: Spotter
Posts: 3,896
Likes: 86
From: Netherlands
Spares for who?
Germany: to be replaced with NH90??
Norway: to be replaced by AH101
Australia: already sold all?
Belgium: to be replaced by NH 90
Egypt: max 6 left
Pakistan max 6 left
India: max 29 left
But ofcourse as this will be fairly free market, everything according demand and supply
SLB
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 31
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From: North East
Contact for buying a Sea King is...
Trevor Smith 01869 256827
DSA MST2,
Room 8,
Building 9, H Site
JSC Services
Bicester,
Lower Arncott
OX25 2LD
Email – [email protected]
And you had better get a wiggle on cos the Nogs are now buying two Mk3As
DSA MST2,
Room 8,
Building 9, H Site
JSC Services
Bicester,
Lower Arncott
OX25 2LD
Email – [email protected]
And you had better get a wiggle on cos the Nogs are now buying two Mk3As
Last edited by Bucaneer Bill; 29th September 2015 at 12:00.