Sea King Still Flying After 50 Years Of Service
A birthday party was held for a helicopter at a former Royal Navy helicopter base in Dorset for one called Damien.
Birthday party for a helicopter
And as I was invited, I am being a little indulgent presenting this news/travel?/feature.
However, some of my readers will find this of interest so please keep reading and watch the video. Or go onto the search box and check out some of my other several hundred other pure travel features.
Damien A Reference To A Comedy TV Show
Back in 1970 Westland Sea King serial number XV666 was built by the company that is now called Leonardo and handed over the Fleet Air Arm.
The Royal Navy crews named the helicopter ‘Damien’ after the BBC Only Fools and Horses TV comedy programme. Where one character was thought to be a devil child and was called Damien, hence the 666 link!
This former Royal Navy Sea King helicopter is now being used to train German Search and Rescue pilots at the Portland HeliOps base.
About to land on its 50th birthday!
Action For Plane Spotters
Certainly, the helicopters coming and going make a great sight for tourists and visitor. Which in turn, makes the area attractive for the more dedicated plane spotters too.
In order to make more of the event, a birthday party for Damien was held at the base. Just after making a short trip north to the former Westlands base at Yeovil.
An Italian based company Leonardo have taken over the Somerset factory. Although it is still making helicopters for the military and civilian market.
Crews ready with chocks as Damien lands back after her flight to Yeovil.
CEO of Heli Operations Steve Gladston said, “In June 1970 was the first flight for XV666 affectionately known by the Fleet Air Arm as Damien. So, we decided to make a return flight to Leonardo or the former Westlands as they were then. Where we celebrated.
“Damien is the most iconic Sea King among the maritime Sea Kings in the Royal Navy.”
The Sea King helicopter has been a work horse for all the military services and has been used by the Navy for numerous roles. Anti-submarine detection, carrying commandos into action, airborne early warning roles and as a search and rescue version too.
Built under licence from Sikorsky the SH-61 and in all 344 have been built by Westlands they have been replaced by The Merlin.
