RNAS Yeovilton International Air Day 2009 - Press Release
Air Day Marks Sea King's 40 Year Reign
In tandem with this year's Fly Navy 100 celebrations, RNAS Yeovilton Air Day 2009 will also mark the Westland Sea King helicopter's 40 years of Fleet Air Arm service, with a large-scale gathering of the type in various marks.
Derived from the US-built Sikorsky S-61, the Royal Navy's first Westland Sea King entered service in 1969 - it and all subsequent models having being assembled at Westland's factory at Yeovil. Over the past four decades, the type has become a familiar sight in the Somerset skies – RNAS Yeovilton being home to several Sea King squadrons – while, operationally, Sea Kings have participated in major areas of hostility including Iraq and Afghanistan and – going further back in time – Kosovo, Operation Desert Storm and the Falklands Conflict. Prince Andrew – the Fleet Air Arm's presiding Commodore-in-Chief – took part in the latter event as a Sea King co-pilot.
A highly versatile helicopter, the Sea King is capable of undertaking many different and varied roles, including search and rescue, anti-submarine warfare and airborne-early warning.
The 2009 Air Day static display will feature a cross-section of the multiple marks of Sea King to have passed through the Fleet Air Arm, and hopefully include several examples unseen to the public eye for many years. The two oldest of these, a Mark 1 and a Mark 2, are residents of Hampshire-based UK military training establishment, HMS Sultan, and are being transported to RNAS Yeovilton especially for Air Day, as is one of the most vibrantly-schemed Sea Kings due to attend - an 814 Squadron Mark 6 that features a prominent tiger-based livery.
A selection of contemporary variants will bring the story up to date - among them, a locally-based Sea King HC.4 wearing eye-catching camouflage stripes as worn on operations in the Balkans, and a specially marked Sea King HU5, painted in the attractive navy blue scheme in which the FAA's initial quota served.
It is hoped that another, especially rarely-seen Sea King will also be able to attend – a tri-coloured red, white and blue machine operated by research/defence firm QinetiQ.
In addition to the 40th anniversary gathering, Sea Kings will also play a prominent part within Air Day's six-hour Flying Display, featuring in both the traditional Commando Assault demonstration and the spectacular 50-aircraft-strong Fly Navy 100 flypast.
The current list of participating aircraft can be viewed at www.yeoviltonairday.co.uk. Tickets are available online or via the ticketline on 08445 781 781.
