Forum search & shortcuts

PSA: last HMS Ganne...
 

[Closed] PSA: last HMS Gannet SeaKing flight

Posts: 566
Free Member
 

A few vids up on YouTube already, search against "rescue 177"

Weather looks stunning, perfect way to say farewell


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 3:46 pm
Posts: 46114
Full Member
Topic starter
 

I would do unspeakable things to get a trip round Scotland like that on a day like today! Well jeal.

+1


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 3:49 pm
Posts: 6
Full Member
 

Shot a quick iPhone video from Edinburgh castle, I'll upload it tonight. Cracking day for the flight and a fitting send off


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 3:56 pm
 Kit
Posts: 24
Free Member
 

I'll get some more online later, but this is all I've got so far:

[img] [/img]

https://twitter.com/MrKitCarruthers/status/687635932598669312


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 3:58 pm
Posts: 46114
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Anyone else think there is irony about the weather, having spent half their working life in white out and clouds? 😆


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 4:02 pm
Posts: 9397
Full Member
 

I've been fortunate to fly with 177 several times and also with their RAF colleagues. Also been fortunate to never need their rescue services.

I'll just come out and say it, I bloody love Sea Kings, in a proper child hero type way. A sorry sight to see them go, but they have put in a good shift.


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 4:07 pm
 grey
Posts: 104
Full Member
 

Absolutely amazing,thanks for the flypast at the police college, you could only have been 200ft from us. It was awesome 😀 , far better than you promised, thank you.
we were the two dafties waving our arms in the middle of the playing fields 😆 .
You have done us a sterling service over the years.
I am glad to never have used you, but happy to know you were there.
well done folks, i salute you.


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 4:11 pm
Posts: 1683
Full Member
 

Great pictures matt!


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 4:13 pm
Posts: 5031
Full Member
 

Flying through glencoe earlier
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=927493907337410&id=590836837669787


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 4:30 pm
Posts: 46114
Full Member
Topic starter
 

That was a great little flight

/understatement


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 5:01 pm
 irc
Posts: 5332
Free Member
 

A short video of the Sea Kings flying out the sun and past Dunbarton Rock. Sorry about the camera shake. That sound brings back a memory or two.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3mfd92


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 5:16 pm
Posts: 9397
Full Member
 

Must have been an emotional day for all of the crews.

Well done though.


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 5:17 pm
Posts: 1039
Full Member
 

Big thanks to you and your colleagues Tom. Hope you're having a party tonight.


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 5:29 pm
Posts: 46114
Full Member
Topic starter
 

It was filming / photo's.


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 5:55 pm
Posts: 9397
Full Member
 

ta, must have got some fantastic shots today


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 6:00 pm
Posts: 0
Free Member
 

Noticed that you sped up past Govan 😉


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 6:40 pm
Posts: 6940
Full Member
 

even though it was a little stressful making sure we flew down the right valleys and made our times.

Cos a February night-time white out in Lochaber is a walk in the park 😉

Good job all for today and the past few decades. Like many on here when out in the mountains I've always bent an ear to the sound of an approaching helicopter and invariably and appreciably seen you and your RAF cousins out and about doing your thing.


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 7:00 pm
Posts: 3267
Free Member
 

We were waving from the roof of Alloa Academy as you flew down the Forth from Stirling. I'm so glad you flew past on the South side of the school, as if you'd passed on the North side I'd have looked like a right numptie.


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 8:54 pm
Posts: 460
Free Member
 

Missed it as was skiing at the Shee however my wife and daughter did and said it was awesome.
20 years ago almost to the day Sqdn Ldr Nicky Smith hovered her machine above my head out the back of Glas Maol as I poured in my mate who had a massive head injury. Having had to resus him twice and control his fitting she did an epic job in the dark on a nasty site. Saved his life by getting him to Dundee at low level. Forever indebted.


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 9:42 pm
Posts: 46114
Full Member
Topic starter
 

^ this.

I watched a fellow forumite slip away, only for the 202 RAF boys sweep in (en route to sub at Gannet apparently), pluck him off Hellvellyn by touching down on one wheel for less than 30secs, with rotors tearing out bracken, and off to Carlisle hospital, where he woke two weeks later... He would not be here today if it were not for combine efforts of Ullswater MRT, 202 squadron and NHS staff.

Edit: I think that is why I had such a strong response to the plans for today. I grew up watching an old scool pupil become winchman, then through a career in the hills make many a prayer as I saw the paraffin budgies fly around the hills, eventually needing them desperately one day, and since then really appreciate the difference such a (beast) of a machine can make.


 
Posted : 14/01/2016 9:46 pm
Posts: 6
Full Member
 

Bump for the daytime massive


 
Posted : 15/01/2016 2:16 pm
Posts: 46114
Full Member
Topic starter
 

Some of the news and official images were perfect for the 'visit Scotland 2016' campaign... 😆


 
Posted : 15/01/2016 8:33 pm
Posts: 11605
Free Member
 

Bloody missed it!

Was on Barassie beach and watched a single lonely Sea King fly by at about ten past two, hung about for a while then went for lunch. Only to get a message as soon as I went inside from my mate outside filming the proper fly past!

Gutted.


 
Posted : 16/01/2016 4:37 am
Posts: 12888
Free Member
 

A green Sea King has just done a couple of laps of the industrial estate where I work, really low with the side door open and a couple of guys waving out of it! Was very cool (and loud!).

Initially I thought of this thread but apparently they just happened to be in the area and the wife of one of the crew works in the building opposite. Should've got some pics but was too busy watching it & wondering what the hell was going on!


 
Posted : 28/01/2016 1:16 pm
Posts: 36
Free Member
 

Bit of excitement over Tintern abbey yesterday. 3! (yes 3! - is that all of them?) AH64 Apache's throwing shapes down the Wye.

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 28/01/2016 1:28 pm
Posts: 46114
Full Member
Topic starter
 

*likes*


 
Posted : 28/01/2016 2:31 pm
Page 2 / 2