Saying farewell to an old friend.

[Spey_Phantom]

despite having an infection on my lungs for the past 2 weeks, i ventured out today for one last greet to an old friend.
for 43 years, the famous Westland Sea King Mk.48 helicopters have provided Search and Rescue cover over the coast, saving over 1700 lives, flying over 3.300 missions and booking over 60000 flying hours.

so i took the camera, headed to the coast, and made my last pictures of the Last Sea King in Belgium.

Long Live the King!!!

[strobez]

Were they rescuing you?! How close were you?  Amazing pics!

[Spey_Phantom]

Were they rescuing you?! How close were you?  Amazing pics!

the last helicopter made one more flight allong the Belgian coast, stopping at 10 coastal cities.
i chose to wait at Blankenberge, as i could get there faster and get home faster.

this afternoon at 17.00CET, it made its final landing, sided by a German and Norwegian Sea King (no pics im affraid).

[63cpe]

Great pictures Nils!

Did see the RBAF Seakings in action a couple of times. Last time was two years ago at the Schaffen-Diest oltimer/fly-in. Also saw them at their base (?)at the Oostende-Zeebrugge airport.

They pleayed a key part in the Harold of free enterprise rescue I suppose.

David aka 63cpe

[JayBee]

Super pictures Nils.
I know how you feel, when the RN Sea Kings left Prestwick (HMS Gannet) it was a very sad day.

[NARSES2]

Fantastic pictures Nils and that's a really good scheme she's wearing as well.

i chose to wait at Blankenberge,

One of my first foreign holidays as a kid. Still have fond memories of the place 

[kitnut617]

The Canadian Sea Kings are being retired too, saw this retro paint job at Cold Lake last year.

[kitbasher]

They pleayed a key part in the Herald of free enterprise rescue I suppose.

Indeed thry did, and I have it on very good authority that the squadron's magnificent effort (and therefore the saving of many lives) was due in part to fortunate timing.  The ship sank minutes before the Koksijde Officers Ball.  As off-duty crews arrived at the Ball they were turned away and redirected to the airfield to launch ops without delay. The duty SAR crew was by then of course very much engaged in the rescue operation.

[Captain Canada]

Sad times. Such a beautiful machine.

[Caveman]

"Fear God, Honour the King!"

[PR19_Kit]

The Sea King may be the best known helicopter in the world, possible competitors being the Huey and the Mil-8 perhaps.

(Some would say the Mil-8 is a Sea King in disguise of course.  )

[Caveman]

(Some would say the Mil-8 is a Sea King in disguise of course.  )

Well that is a whiff right there!