Sixty Fifth anniversary of the Sea King first flight
 

Sixty five years ago, on the 11th March 1959, the prototype Sikorsky YHSS-2 helicopter took to the air for the first time. This model became the SH-3A Sea King and also evolved into the legendary Sikorsky S61, one of the finest helicopters ever built, continuing to operate to this day, and for years to come. The prototype commercial S61 is still logging on Vancouver Island with VIH helicopters, and others operate around the world with various military and commercial operators.

As the VH-3D it remains the principal helicopter model flying the President of the United States, despite billions of dollars attempting to develop and commission a replacement.

It has outlasted it's contemporaries and supposed replacements, and will outlive some.of the latest generation equipment that are starting to run into their retirement airframe life limits - and remains a safe, reliable and viable platform with extensive support and parts sources ensuring its future.

Here's to the future of this incredible aircraft produced by Sikorsky Aircraft at its finest, and the incredible achievements of 65 years of flight.

Retirement - I don't think so!

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The Big Yellow Fun Bus

Phil Kemp
May I copy and paste your post to another site please. “FB Canadian Military Aircraft”
The 61 is a truly great aircraft…kind of like the C47/DC-3
Cheers

Please feel free.

Thank you very much.
Cheers

Albatross

Alright alright alright! Gather 'round everyone, because it's time to celebrate a true legend, a flying grandpa with more stories than your nan after a sherry – it's the one, the only, the Sea King helicopter! Can you believe this bad boy's been soaring through the skies for 65 years? That's older than my singing career, folks, and let me tell you, that's saying something!

Back in the day, when people were rocking those questionable bowl haircuts, the Sea King showed up and said, "Move over, fellas, there's a new sheriff in town… and it's got rotors!" This wasn't your average helicopter, no siree. This was a machine that could sniff out a submarine faster than you can say "sonar," pluck people out of danger zones like a human claw machine (with way less questionable hygiene), and even drop off troops with more swagger than a group of mimes at a convention.

The Sea King was like the ultimate all-rounder, the Mary Poppins of helicopters – practically perfect in every way! Anti-submarine warfare? Sorted. Search and rescue? You betcha. Troop transport? Absolutely! This thing had more uses than a Swiss Army knife dipped in WD-40!

Now, some folks might be saying, "Isn't it a bit, you know, old hat?" Well, listen up, because the Sea King is like a good pair of socks – reliable, familiar, and always ready for an adventure. These choppers are still buzzing around in the civilian world, putting out fires, rescuing folks in floods, basically being the ultimate good Samaritans with rotors.

So here's to the Sea King helicopter, 65 years young and still kicking butt! May you keep on saving lives, looking cooler than a wind turbine in a hurricane, and maybe even give Tom Cruise a few flying lessons (because let's face it, the man could use some help with those landings). Happy birthday, you magnificent metal bird, you!

Most Beautiful helicopter ever. I got to ride a lot in the back as a child, and that severely influenced my current choice of career. love it!

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The ABZ local 'rag' must miss their long serving default 'headline' font too!

I used to go to work on one of these flying transit vans offshore North Sea every two weeks in the earlier years! Absolutely fantastic machine. Loved it!

Trying to work out which base (great photo BTW). I don't think it's Boulmer, Valley, Leconfield, Chivenor. Could be Lossie or Wattisham, although my money is on Wattisham - obvs a later shot as it has the FLIR pod on it.

RCN Sea King.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMCS_Assiniboine_(DDH_234)

Some Sea Kings wot I have flown:)
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Thank you. It was taken @ Wattisham.

SAR Sby @ Buck House? Nice work if you can get it 😉

It was in 2006 for an emergency services cocktail party and we flew from Wattisham, picked up the SAR Force Cdr at Wellington Barracks and then routed down the Mall at 250' and in to Buck House, all filmed by a Sky helicopter. There were a lot of clearances required and, although we had them, I still said to the crew as we turned finals 'I'm sure we shouldn't really be doing this' :)
The downside was we had to remain sober whilst everyone else guzzled HM's champagne and we flew out again in the dark back to B Flt.
Had to apologise to HMTQ and PP for putting dents in their back lawn.

A visual search for survivors by Crab!! D


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Is that in the Claymore Field, 1988?

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Personally, I hated the b…..y things. This one tried to kill me!
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