Sea Kings continue flying operations
 

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and...cornwall-skies

Great to see the Sea Kings getting a second life.

Not sure how military aircraft leased to a commercial operator to train a third party works from a regulatory perspective though, but still good to see them back in the air.

I presume this would have to be conducted under CFAOS - interesting to do it with an aircraft that is no longer in service and wouldn't meet modern airworthiness standards.

What are they going to be doing J?

Train new pilots for the German Navy.

skadi

Don't know if this is actually happening or if it is just someone's pipe-dream.

The aircraft are old and knackered (why they were taken out of service) and spares were a nightmare. Wonder how the SKPT and RTSA are packaging this up to get it cleared.

MRCOA usually takes civilian aircraft, gives them a mil reg and allows operation under Mil rules - leasing a mil aircraft with no civilian registration is surely a different kettle of fish altogether.

Can't be the cheapest solution to training a few German Navy SAR pilots.

The Indians have bought sea kings too its for them isn't it?

This is to be the new HeliOps gig out of Portland I assume? Seems a lot of costs and effort for 14 months. There must be more work to follow?

XV666: which started life as 144/826 NAS and with that new helicopter smell, straight from Westlands in August 1970!

http://www.eacott.com.au/gallery/d/1...+Singapore.jpg

But may be cheaper than getting the typerating on the few available german Seakings.

Skadi

Separate activity I think - the Indians are rumoured to be taking several HAR3As and HC4s, which will also return to UK skies (briefly) before being sent east.

The only reason I ask was there was an email recently looking for crews in UK initially with ability to travel to Indian for several months.

Si

Hi...are you sure you're not mixing up India with Pakistan ,which HeliData showed last issue as taking two MK.3 and five MK.4 (two for spares). List of serials published too. The German training deal has been on the cards since last year .AgainHdata alerted this at the time,with a/c based at Portland. Both h/c at Culdrose at present under return to service maintenance.

And I think the 3As went to Norway - there were only ever 6 of those anyway.

I hope as part of the operation they get to fly in Bournemouth direction. I would really like to see (and hear) a Sea King clattering overhead again ! Is it possible they will join joint exercises with the RNLI as the UK Coastguard currently do ?

Very much doubt that - sorry.

India.
Pakistan.
Norway.
Qatar.
German Navy.
Egypt.

Only one's left using Westland SeaKings. Pakistan mount exocet on theirs.

....and the Royal Navy......

Oh you mean this lot - Sea King MK7 | Royal Navy:ok:

Had to laugh at the headline top speed of 90Kts on the same page as 'the future, Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier'. How will their shiny new toy cope with a leaky Sea King dropping, fuel, hyds and gearbox oil on it?

She might be old and leaky, but she does what it says on the tin, which is a hell of a lot more than the RN even dreamed of. However, I won't get involved in the inter-service banter arising from the RN's assertion in 2001 that she was "two generations ahead of AWACS". I'd have said three. :ok:

I spotted a grey & red Sea King flying east along the Bournemouth Eastcliff about 10:30 this morning. Is this just a coincidence ?