WS61 Sea King HAR3 Medium-lift transport/utility helicopter Registration XZ598. XAV-542
The RAF operates the Sea King in the Search and Rescue (SAR) role, and the big yellow helicopters have become a familiar sight on television news programmes as they carry out rescue operations all around the United Kingdom. To assist in this role, the Sea King is fitted with advanced all-weather search and navigation equipment and a computer to assist positioning. In the hover, it can be 'flown' by the winch operator, who can position the rescue harness with great accuracy. The Sea King can carry 18 passengers and has a radius of action of 280 miles. Sea King Specifications Engines: Two Rolls-Royce Gnome turboshafts Length: 55ft () Rotor Diameter: 62ft 0in () Top Speed: 143mph (230km/h) at sea level Accommodation: Crew of four and provision for up to 19 passengers Developed by Westland from the American Sikorsky S-61, the first of 15 RAF dedicated SAR aircraft entered service in September 1977. For the next fifteen years Sea King and Wessex helicopters shared search and rescue duties until a further batch of six updated Sea King Mark 3A aircraft were ordered in 1992 to replace the SAR Wessexes. Aircraft are based in pairs at locations around the UK
Size: 5288px × 3512px
Location: RAF Lossiemouth, Moray. Gampian Region. Scotland. United Kingdom.
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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