Constructors Number WA969
846 Sqn (“VI”) 1998
846 Sqn (“VU”) 2000
845 Sqn (“L”) 2007
846 Sqn (“V”)
The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines (derived from the US General Electric T58), British-made anti-submarine warfare systems and a fully computerised flight control system. The Sea King was primarily designed for performing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions. A Sea King variant was adapted by Westland as a troop transport and was known as the Commando.
In British service, the Westland Sea King provided a wide range of services in both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. As well as wartime roles in the Falklands War, the Gulf War, the Balkans conflict, the Iraq War and the Afghanistan War. The Sea King is perhaps most well known in its capacity as a Royal Navy Search and Rescue (red and grey livery) and RAF Search and Rescue Force (yellow livery) helicopter. The Sea King was also adapted to meet the Royal Navy’s requirement for a ship-based airborne early warning platform.
TIMELINE
Built at Westland Helicopters, Yeovil and first flown on 15 Jan 1987
NASU RNAS Yeovilton 5 Feb 1987
772 NAS Portland 3 Mar 1988
848 NAS 11 Dec 1990
772 NAS Portland 14 Dec 1990
AMG Yeovilton 28 Jul 1993
772 NAS Portland 16 Feb 1994
AMG Yeovilton 30 Nov 1994
772 NAS Portland 5 Dec 1994
AMG Yeovilton 4 Sep 1995
846 NAS 27 Aug 1996
NARO Fleetlands 18 Jul 1997
846 NAS 21 Apr 1998
AMG Yeovilton 29 Aug 2001
846 NAS 25 Feb 2002
845 NAS 4 Mar 2002
846 NAS 22 Mar 2002
845 NAS 20 May 2003
846 NAS 2 Oct 2003
845 NAS 7 Oct 2003
Airfreighted to Basrah 9 Oct 2003
Airfreighted to UK 18 Dec 2003
846 NAS 7 Jan 2003
Flown to HMS SULTAN and retired from service 2 Feb 2015 – 8670:25 Flying Hours
Transferred to Withams Specialist Vehicles by road
Sold and transferred to Historic Helicopters on ???