After recording the recent television programme (presented and narrated by John Sargeant) - this evening I had the pleasure of viewing it!!
The programme was very well presented. The superb onboard filming was done out of R.N.A.S. Culdrose (SAR) & R.N.A.S. Yeovilton (Junglies) with
the various green Sea Kings. These extremely reliable helos have been used all the way through - from the 1982 Falklands War, to the Iraq wars, thence to the Balkan Conflicts and also onto to Afghanistan - in its various colours and guises, this helicopter has been proved to be (probably) one of the best military helicopters ever!!
Unfortunately it seems that after 2016, all SAR operations are going to be privatised - (let alone military operations), for the civilians around the coasts etc -
in my own personal opinion, this could be a disaster!!). What on earth would happen if we had another 'Boscastle' incident in say - 2020!!
It seems such a shame that this is going to happen - over many years we have seen these Sea Kings carry out so many operations.
All that I can say to all of my many mates on here - the Sea King is on the way out - PLEASE keep all photos, videos, etc, etc, of this iconic aircraft - once gone -
it will be lost for ever!! (Hopefully, there will be at least a few saved into various museums!!)
May I suggest that at least a few of these Sea Kings should be preserved at the new Classic Air Force Museum at Newquay (the MOD, probablygiven half a chance would scrap the whole lot!!)
But at the end of the day, it is not ONLY the helicopter - but it is also the crews - these are the REAL heroes!! --Paul

