Forgotten your membership no. or want to update your details? Call 0845 605 5555

Sea King

RAF Sea King

DECORATION.

Every year, RAF helicopters carry out scores of airlift rescues around the UK. Here are just a few they’ve carried out in recent months.

April 2008

Saltwick Nab, Whitby - Woman airlifted to hospital after falling on rocks and breaking her ankle. A helicopter from RAF Leconfeld carried out the rescue.


June 2008

Cove, Aberdeen – An injured woman was rescued after sea cliff plunge.

Sand Point, near Weston-super-Mare – Rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor airlifts injured man to hospital after he fell from a cliff.

July 2008

Llanberis Pass, North West Wales – Helicopter from RAF Valley, Anglesey rescues injured climber after he fell 20 ft. (6m).

Cader Idris, Dolgellau – Five walkers. Including one injured, flown off mountain in South Snowdonia.

Aircraft ID

The Sea King is one of the RAF’s best-known aircraft thanks to its search and rescue missions, which often get it a starring role in the news. Here’s the inside story

Technical

The Westland Sea King HAR3 has been in RAF service since 1978, with the HAR 3A version arriving in 1996. It is known and admired for being tough, versatile and reliable.

Engines: Two Rolls-Royce Gnome Turboshafts

Thrust: 1,389nm

Max Speed: 125kts

Length: 22.15m

Max Altitude: 10,000ft

Rotor Span: 18.9m

Aircrew

The RAF’s Search and Rescue Sea King crews are based in six locations around the UK, plus the Falkland Isles. They’re on 24-hour alert all year round.

Pilots: Two, Captain and Co-pilot. Like all Search and Rescue crews, trained to use night vision over unfamiliar terrain

Radar Op: Runs video/infrared detection equipment: Also works as winch operator

Winchman: Recovery and rescue specialist, trained in first aid to paramedic standards

Equipment

As a Search and Rescue aircraft, the Sea King, painted yellow to aid visibility, needs a lot of specialist equipment

Communications: A multi-band homing system, satellite navigation systems, a search RADAR, a comprehensive avionics suite and a large selection of radios

Search: A video/infrared detection POD, similar to the equipment used by police helicopters, to help find casualties

Rescue: A hydraulic main rescue hoist, an electronic emergency rescue hoist and electrical outlets for medical equipment