Sea Kings Gone

[donutsina911]

Sat at Port Solent in the sunshine and caught the last of the RN's Sea Kings on their way for disposal in Gosport, so probably their last 5 min of flight time. Another end of an era and capability gap thanks to HMG.

Lump in throat time when I least expected it, apologies in advance for st pics..

[louiebaby]

Do QinetiQ still operate one on our behalf at Boscombe Down?

[Eric Mc]

There was an ex RN one at Farnborough this year operated by a civil organisation - although retaining its military serial.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

donutsina911 said:

Another end of an era and capability gap thanks to HMG.

When does Merlin Crowsnest come online?

[donutsina911]

https://helioperations.co/portland

Still to be seen in Dorset, albeit in day glo orange.

[donutsina911]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

When does Merlin Crowsnest come online?

Fitted to Merlin HM2 / 849 sqn reactivated next year and operational in 2020. Another RN shambles of 'fitted for and not with' so less than a dozen mission kits will actually be delivered IIRC.

[ecsrobin]

donutsina911 said:

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

When does Merlin Crowsnest come online?

Fitted to Merlin HM2 / 849 sqn reactivated next year and operational in 2020. Another RN shambles of 'fitted for and not with' so less than a dozen mission kits will actually be delivered IIRC.

I had a discussion with a Fleet air arm chap this week who said using rotary is just an outdated way of doing things these days and really it should be fixed wing. Any thoughts on that?

One more is being used for a hangar party and then being road moved to sultan next week. And as has been said heliops at Portland are operating 2 for training the German SAR crews.

[mebe]

ecsrobin said:

I had a discussion with a Fleet air arm chap this week who said using rotary is just an outdated way of doing things these days and really it should be fixed wing. Any thoughts on that?

To me it doesn't make much sense as a statement, there are loads of situations where rotary is the obvious and best choice (and vice versa) but as FAA where was he expecting these fixed wing assets to take off and land?

[donutsina911]

ecsrobin said:

I had a discussion with a Fleet air arm chap this week who said using rotary is just an outdated way of doing things these days and really it should be fixed wing. Any thoughts on that?

Within the limitations of QE design and the premise that organic Airborne Early Warning is a must have, then it was either Merlin or a vapourware tilt rotor of some description - fixed wing was never an option once cats and traps were sidelined.

If we assume a Falklands scenario is the exception rather than the norm, Sentry alongside Crowsnest for localised / surface picture should do the job.

[SeeFive]

donutsina911 said:

Sat at Port Solent in the sunshine and caught the last of the RN's Sea Kings on their way for disposal in Gosport, so probably their last 5 min of flight time. Another end of an era and capability gap thanks to HMG.

Lump in throat time when I least expected it, apologies in advance for st pics..

I was indoors at PS when I heard the racket coming across from the cliffs. Nipped out the back door and had a look, watched them fly low on towards Pompey.

I wondered why 3 of them were flying in formation - big impressive old lumps.

[kurt535]

My nephew's new toys to practice on so he can be a WAFU when he grows up and....poor picture as its in a frame but, 'B Flight' 22 Sqn doing the business with my old crew playing 'dope on a rope'.

Edited by kurt535 on Thursday 27th September 14:59

[MB140]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

donutsina911 said:

Another end of an era and capability gap thanks to HMG.

When does Merlin Crowsnest come online?

I’m pretty sure when I was on guard at Seeb/Minhad (There all hot and stty and blend in to one over the years) that they have a Merlin equivalent with the radar on the side.

Yep 2010. Long time ago.

https://imgur.com/gallery/SeOqPDR

Edited to add: on closer inspection I’m not sure if the pictures ones I quoted are infact radar search versions).

Guy in my office used to be the Dope on a rope for many years (RAF search and rescue), he always has some good stories to tell.

Edited by MB140 on Thursday 27th September 15:20

Edited by MB140 on Thursday 27th September 15:24

[aeropilot]

donutsina911 said:

Another end of an era and capability gap thanks to HMG.

Capability gaps are about the only we do well these days.......

[Tony1963]

And it really doesn't matter

[MrAndyW]

Fox Bay(ish) Falkland Islands. Stopping for a quick refuel

[Kccv23highliftcam]

mebe said:

ecsrobin said:

I had a discussion with a Fleet air arm chap this week who said using rotary is just an outdated way of doing things these days and really it should be fixed wing. Any thoughts on that?

To me it doesn't make much sense as a statement, there are loads of situations where rotary is the obvious and best choice (and vice versa) but as FAA where was he expecting these fixed wing assets to take off and land?

Whilst it would be puerile to break out a Blake chart of detection range Vs altitude due to the many variables in successfully breaking out a contact at range, there is no denying the potential increase in detection range by the use of high altitude rather than plodding around in the chop at 10k+....

As for assistance from Sentry, I wouldn't hold your breath too much, what assets left will probably be far too busy elsewhere to be spared halfway round the globe...



Forcing through a modern Harrier and customising the carrier only to allow stovl ops...MADNESS.