PSA: last HMS Gannet SeaKing flight

They sacked off India Juliet down here a while back – the TWO replacements just aren’t the same taking off from about 1500mts down the road.
She’s now residing somewhere in Sultan by all accounts to be pulled apart for training at some point 🙁

from Edinburgh Castle Esplanade – with my phone.

That. Was. Brillaint.

(curses to much in the camera from one of the kids last week… 🙁 )

Rescue 177 final flight by Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

Rescue 177 final flight by Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

Rescue 177 final flight by Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

Rescue 177 final flight by Matt Robinson[/url], on Flickr

Sat in the work canteen watching them leave Prestwick this morning. Those guys will be missed, it was a pleasure to talk to them on the FIR frequency on nights. Interesting to see how the coastguard boys compare in their fancy new Sikorskys!

Had a nice view of them against the snowy Pentland hills from the top floor of the office here in Edinburgh. I would do unspeakable things to get a trip round Scotland like that on a day like today! Well jeal.

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

Weather looks stunning, perfect way to say farewell

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

+1

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

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

@RoyalAirForce search & rescue Sea Kings on final flight over Arthur's Seat @edinburgh @edinspotlight @EdinEditor pic.twitter.com/lsXDTy082u

— Dr. Kit Carruthers (@DrKitCarruthers) January 14, 2016

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

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.

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.

Great pictures matt!

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

That was a great little flight

/understatement

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.

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

Well done though.

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

It was filming / photo’s.

ta, must have got some fantastic shots today

Noticed that you sped up past Govan 😉

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.

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.

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.

^ 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.

Bump for the daytime massive

Some of the news and official images were perfect for the ‘visit Scotland 2016’ campaign… 😆

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.

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!

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

*likes*