Restored Sea King makes final landing
22 Aug 08
A Royal Navy Sea King helicopter flown by Prince Andrew during the Falklands conflict in 1982 has been handed over to the Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton, following a full restoration.
Sea King XZ574 is resplendent in its 1982 livery at Yeovilton
[Picture: LA (Phot) Paul "Wheelie" A'Barrow]
HAS Mk6 XZ574 was handed over Commodore David Evans from Defence Equipment and Support to Commodore Chris Palmer, Commanding Officer of Royal Naval Air Station, Yeovilton, who accepted the aircraft on behalf of the Fleet Air Arm Museum.
Commodore Evans thanked those who gave up their time to undertake the restoration, he said:
"This is a great day and my sincere thanks to all those involved, from MOD, industry and Front Line Commands, who found time, despite the operational tempo, to carry out this superb restoration," he said
Museum Director, Graham Mottram, said he was confident Prince Andrew would approve of the superb job the volunteer restorers had done:
"The Sea King is an important aircraft and the museum has been after one for some time."
Sea King XZ574 was built by Westland Helicopters in Yeovil and first entered service with the Royal Navy on 6 October 1976 in the anti-submarine role.
"The Sea King is an important aircraft and the museum has been after one for some time."
Graham Mottram, Museum Director
The aircraft was finally retired from service on 7 October 2004 having been earmarked for disposal.
Defence Equipment and Support' Sea King team worked with colleagues from the Defence College Aeronautical Engineering (Gosport) to remove any serviceable equipment and cosmetically prepared the aircraft to appear as it would have done in 1982.
Assistance was also provided by Vector Aerospace (Formerly the Defence Aviation Repair Agency) Fleetlands, who manufactured the stencils and decals for the markings.
AgustaWestland funded and completed a respray of the aircraft, restoring it to its original 1982 colour scheme.