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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Sikorsky S-61 / H-3 / Sea King
    Latest Model:Sea King HU.5SAR
    Last Military Serial:XV661 RN
    Construction Number:WA0649
    Compressed ID:Westland Sea King HU.5SAR sn XV661...
    Latest Owner or Location:Gosport

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a Sea King HAS.1 by Westland.

    9 March 1970

    First flight.

    2 April 1970

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Navy with s/n XV661.

    From 9 May 1977 to 15 March 1978

    Converted to a Sea King HAS.2 by Westland.
    Conversion carried out at RNAY Fleetlands.

    By 1981

    Converted to a Sea King HAS.2A by Westland.

    By 1981

    Transferred to 819 NAS, RNAS Prestwick.

    By 1984

    Converted to a Sea King HAS.5 by Westland.
    Conversion carried out at RNAY Fleetlands.

    Circa 1984

    Transferred to NASU, RNAS Culdrose.

    Circa 1985

    Transferred to 810 NAS, RNAS Culdrose.

    Circa 1985

    Markings Applied: 502

    Circa 1987

    Transferred to NATIU, RNAS Lee-On-Solent.

    Circa 1988

    Transferred to 826 NAS, RNAS Culdrose.

    Circa 1989

    Markings Applied: 135

    Circa 1993

    Transferred to Aircraft Maintenance Group, RNAS Culdrose.

    By 1994

    Transferred to 771 NAS, RNAS Culdrose.

    By 1994

    Markings Applied: 824, RESCUE, 24,RESCUE, CU

    29 July 1994


    Photographer: Ken Videan
    Notes: On finals to Fairford.

    From By 1997 to 1998

    Transferred to Naval Aircraft Repair Organisation, RNAY Fleetlands.
    Conversion to a dedicated rescue Sea King HU5?.

    By 1998

    Converted to a Sea King HU.5SAR by Westland.
    This designation was often shortened to Sea King HU5.

    By 1999

    Transferred to 771 NAS, RNAS Culdrose.

    By 1999

    Markings Applied: 821, 21

    By 2005

    Transferred to AMG, RNAS Culdrose.

    By 2008

    Transferred to 771 NAS, RNAS Culdrose.

    By 2008

    Markings Applied: RESCUE, 26, RESCUE
    Code was 826, however aircraft was only marked 26.

    From By 2010 to 2012

    Assigned to MoD/Vector Aerospace, Fleetlands for storage.

    By 2013

    Transferred to 771 NAS, RNAS Culdrose.

    18 June 2015


    Photographer: Robert Nichols
    Notes: at RNAS Culdrose

    18 June 2015


    Photographer: Robert Nichols
    Notes: at RNAS Culdrose

    18 June 2015


    Photographer: Robert Nichols
    Notes: at RNAS Culdrose

    5 October 2015

    Assigned to Sea King Depth Store, RNAS Culdrose for storage.

    Assigned to Gosport for storage.
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier was started by a contributor.
    An preliminary review of the submitted data is pending.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Print Sources
     Military Aircraft Markings by Howard J. Curtis
    Internet Sources
     UK Serials Resource Centre by Wolverhampton Aviation Group
    Individual Contributors
     Robert Nichols
    Ken Videan
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