Tri-Service
New Life For Falklands Search And Rescue
It was March of this year when the Falklands retired the beloved Sea King and phased in its replacement.
The islands were the last place in the world to bid farewell to the big yellow helicopter, as the contract was passed from the MoD to a collection of private contractors, not just in the Falklands, but across the UK.
Fast forward a few months, and the replacement for the Sea King, the new AgustaWestland AW189, is in full swing.
Managing Pilot Andrew Lamb said this of the new craft:
"Basically what we've done is we've taken all the things that the Sea King could do, and the 189 is added onto it, so we've got... far more capability".
Mr. Lamb said that although he regards the Sea King as a highly capable aircraft, the AW189 is better suited to the extreme weather of the Falklands.
The Sea King though, has not been forgotten and is waiting to be gifted to a museum in the Falklands capital of Stanley.
The particular helicopter being donated took part in a dramatic cruise ship rescue last November.
The Sea King played a vital role in rescuing all 347 people on board the ship.
And likewise, there are sure to be many heroic moments in the life of the AgustaWestland AW189.
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