Sea Kings Spotted

[markcp]

Hi,

While on a bike ride in South Cambs last Monday a pair of what appeared to be Army Sea King helicopters flew overhead heading NE. I'm assuming they were Army since they were painted dark green.

I didn't realise these were still in operation - if so, who is using them?

Ta.

[FourWheelDrift]

markcp said:

I didn't realise these were still in operation - if so, who is using them?

Ta.

Royal Navy, Commando Helicopter Force? - http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/The-Fleet/Aircraft/Hel...

[markcp]

Yep, that looks spot on. Not sure why the Navy would be in deepest Cambridgeshire though!

[Eric Mc]

The Army has never operated Sea Kings.

[andy97]

The Commando Helicopter Force is part of the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) and so whilst it is nominally to support RN & RM ops it is a Joint Forces asset. Hence they spent a long time in Afghanistan.

May have been on there way to the Thetford Forest training area?

[NEEP]

RAF Search & Rescue Sea King still in regular Service up our way, this one was up near Braemar 13th March, Don't know if it was on exercise or out on a shout but was shifting either way

[Silent1]

It seems to be something to do with the Libyans at bassingbourn being trained, the air traffic in and out of there at the moment is probably greater than the last 10 years combined

[markcp]

Silent1 said:

It seems to be something to do with the Libyans at bassingbourn being trained, the air traffic in and out of there at the moment is probably greater than the last 10 years combined

I live in the next village to Bassingbourn and I didn't realise that they'd started training yet. Clearly need to keep my eyes and ears peeled for more air traffic!

[Rotaree]

Most Sea Kings go out of service in 2016 apart from the Mk7, ASaC variant that has been extended until 2018.

[Silent1]

markcp said:

Silent1 said:

It seems to be something to do with the Libyans at bassingbourn being trained, the air traffic in and out of there at the moment is probably greater than the last 10 years combined

I live in the next village to Bassingbourn and I didn't realise that they'd started training yet. Clearly need to keep my eyes and ears peeled for more air traffic!

At the moment it seems to be silly am, see my thread in here the other week, flights between 01:00 and 04:30 aren't unusual right now, quite a few chinooks as well, they tend to fly in from the direction of wrestlingworth / tadlow and often leave either heading in the direction of wimpole or the gap between bassingbourn and litlington heading towards sandon direction IYSWIM

[texaxile]

Frequently see the local RAF Search and Rescue Sea King flying around Felixstowe . They used to do practice landings in the field adjacent to Ipswich hospital , always a pleasure to sit and watch. I might be wrong but I think they are based at RAF Wattisham.

[DAmiJO]

I'm pretty sure we have a search and rescue one in the newcastle area, we had our heli-deck modified to take the extra weight and ocasionally see a yellow one, if it's a sea king or not iv no idea

[Eric Mc]

DAmiJO said:

I'm pretty sure we have a search and rescue one in the newcastle area, we had our heli-deck modified to take the extra weight and ocasionally see a yellow one, if it's a sea king or not iv no idea

The only yellow choppers sued for air sea rescue in the UK are the RAF Sea Kings. RAF rescue helicopters have always been yellow.

[Cheib]

The Sea Kings are being replaced by AW 139's soon....first deliveries are at the end of this year.

[andy97]

Cheib said:

The Sea Kings are being replaced by AW 139's soon....first deliveries are at the end of this year.

With a civilian operator. Not the RN or RAF.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21934077

[Cheib]

andy97 said:

Cheib said:

The Sea Kings are being replaced by AW 139's soon....first deliveries are at the end of this year.

With a civilian operator. Not the RN or RAF.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21934077

And your point is ?! Not sure I said they were being taken on by RN or RAF did I?! I just said they were being replaced..........which they are.

[andy97]

I am not really "making a point", just trying to add a little extra info. I assume that's OK on a forum??????

Let me know by PM if not.

Not really sure why you think I am "making a point" really.

Oh, and you forgot the S-92s.

Edited by andy97 on Monday 28th April 12:53

[Eric Mc]

I too, for a brief moment, assumed that the post indicated that the RAF were acquiring AW139s - which was news to me.

[markcp]

Silent1 said:

At the moment it seems to be silly am, see my thread in here the other week, flights between 01:00 and 04:30 aren't unusual right now, quite a few chinooks as well, they tend to fly in from the direction of wrestlingworth / tadlow and often leave either heading in the direction of wimpole or the gap between bassingbourn and litlington heading towards sandon direction IYSWIM

According to the local paper this week, the arrival of the Libyans has been delayed so any suggestions as to the increased air traffic?

[V41LEY]

Wells Cathedral today - lots of coverage