Sea King Retirements And Preservation, (Shark 07 to Nowra)

Hi Folks,

This came in from Defence Media today, has any one heard the likely fates of any other Sea Kings?

Preserving our Sea King Helicopters

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare was at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Nowra to announce that Sea King Shark 07 would be preserved at the Museum given the significant role the Sea King has played in Naval Aviation over the last 36 years.
“The Sea King has served our nation well over the last 36 years and it is fitting that an example of this Navy work horse is preserved here in Nowra,” Mr Clare said.
“Nowra was chosen to receive the Sea King helicopter because it has been the home base for the Navy’s Sea King operations with 817 Squadron since 1974.
“Sea King Shark 07 was chosen because it has the most operational history of all the Sea King helicopters, having served in the Middle East and East Timor.
“The Sea Kings are known as the workhorse of the Navy, large enough to pick up loads heavier than a Land Rover. They have flown in excess of 60,000 hours in a range of operations both at home and abroad.”
The permanent display of a Sea King in the Museum will also honour the nine Defence personnel who perished when Sea King Shark 02 crashed on the Indonesian island of Nias on 2 April 2005. They were in Indonesia to provide humanitarian assistance to the Indonesian people in the aftermath of the 2005 earthquake.
The community in Nowra was hit hard by the Nias disaster as four of the nine Defence personnel were members of the 817 Squadron based at Nowra.
“Sea King Shark 07 will be a permanent memorial to the seven young men and two young women we lost that day.
“Not only does Australia owe them a great debt, so to do the Indonesian people.
The aircraft has also come to the assistance of many Australians.
In 1994 the Sea Kings were involved in one of the largest fire fighting efforts in Australia’s history. The aircraft used water buckets to fight fires raging near Grafton, Gosford, Bulahdelah, and Sydney’s western suburbs.
The Sea Kings have also been used for rescue operations at sea.
In 1998, two of the helicopters were involved in rescuing yacht crews in disastrous weather conditions during the 1998 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
One of the Sea Kings’ last operations was to South West Queensland to provide response and recovery efforts during the Queensland floods.
As recently as 17 May they were involved in the dramatic rescue of a climber on Lord Howe Island.
A Sea King helicopter will also be offered for display at the Australian War Memorial in recognition of the Sea King’s role in combat operations in Timor and the Middle East.
Sea King helicopters will be withdrawn from service in December 2011.
The remaining aircraft and associated support equipment will be offered for sale by tender. Announcements regarding the tender and sale will be made in the coming months.
Organisations wishing to receive notification when the tender is released can register their interest with the Defence Disposals Agency, by email disposals@defence.gov.au, or phone on 02 9393 2914.
Media contact:
Korena Flanagan – 02 6277 7620

Sea King to live on
08 Jun, 2011 08:38 AM
A NAVAL helicopter involved in several overseas operations is about to be given a permanent home in Nowra.
Defence Materiel Minister, Jason Clare, will be in Nowra tomorrow to present the Sea King Helicopter Shark-07 to the Fleet Air Arm Museum at HMAS Albatross.

At the time he will dedicate the helicopter to the memory of the nine Royal Australian Navy personnel who died when another of the navy’s Sea Kings crashed on the Indonesian Island of Nias during emergency relief operations following a devastating tsunami.

Among those killed was Lieutenant Paul Kimlin, whose major deployment was in the Middle East on Shark-07.

While in the area with Gilmore MP Joanna Gash, Mr Clare will also tour the Fleet Air Arm Museum and the Albatross Aviation Technology Park.

Brendan..I have heard that the remaining aircraft will go onto the world market for sale..

Thanks Dave,

Well the USN has been able to sell off a few of their SH-3 Sea Kings after their retirement - so it's possible to find buyers I guess.

BC

And here's the plan for the fleet disposal:

NAVY SEA KING HELICOPTERS FOR SALE

Minister for Defence Materiel Jason Clare today released the Request for Tender for the sale of the Navy’s remaining Sea King Helicopters.

The Request for Tender includes:
• Five complete helicopters;
• Three airframes;
• A simulator; and
• Associated unique equipment and parts.
“The Sea Kings will be withdrawn from service in December 2011,” Mr Clare said.

“They’ve been the workhorse of the Navy, having flown in excess of 60,000 hours in operations in Australia and overseas.

“The latest example of their work was the disaster relief and search and rescue missions they conducted during the Queensland floods.”

Mr Clare announced on 7 June 2011 that Sea King Shark 07 would be preserved at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Nowra with the remaining aircraft to be offered for sale by tender.

“This is a really versatile helicopter and a proven capability. The Sea Kings could be used for a range of things like fire fighting, disaster relief, search and rescue, by another Navy or commercially,” Mr Clare said.

The sale of the Sea Kings will be marketed across the world including major Defence expos in the United Kingdom and Canada in September.

Submissions close on 1 November 2011.

RFT documentation will shortly be available for download after registering on the AUSTENDER website www.tenders.gov.au.

Further information is available by emailing disposals@defence.gov.au.

Media contact: Korena Flanagan – 02 6277 7620

A bit lousey only one allocated to museums.
I thought the AWM was getting one as well as Nowra
3 "airframes" sound like hangar queens that probably won't fetch much $ and they should be offered for preservation.
Again the bean counters rule!

Martin... Apparently the AWM is getting one. I believe that Egypt was interested in the remainder.

Hi folks,

The break down on the airframes for sale are:

Sea King Mk50A
N16-114 8982 hours
N16-125 8191 hours
N16-238 8771 hours
N16-239 7732 hours
N16-918 7988 hours

Sea King Mk.6 (Ex RN FAA used for spares recovery)
XZ571
XZ647
XV710

Also available are engine and airframe spares including complete RR Gnome engines, a mobile engine test stand.

If you were thinking of snaping one up, it's too late already as the tenders closed on 01/11/2011.

Brendan

Activity 817 Squadron Final Flight
When Thursday 15th December 2011
Time To Be Confirmed
Where 817 Squadron, A Hangar hardstand, Fleet Air Arm Museum
Cost Free
The final flight of the Sea King MK50 helicopter in RAN service. The flight will launch from Nowra and fly to Canberra before returning to the Shoalhaven for a final flight around the area that has been home to the Sharks for the past 35 years.
The return of the final flight will be open to the public
Source Navy website

Yep..I'll be there. Crikey I can remember when the Seakings arrived at Nowra...seems like only yesterday. Can also remember clearly when the first one was lost in Shoalhaven Bight (Seaking 06) not long after they entered service. Carl Daley was the pilot and the cause was a loss of oil from the main transmission :( The end of an era for sure.

Any information available yet on the timings for the final Sea King events?

Joe

Just got this off the net Joe. But I'll be going up on the Thursday to Nowra....for the farewell then. So they are having two farewells by the look of things.




Sunday, 13th November 2011 Time 9:30am to 3pm Where Fleet Air Arm Museum, Albatross Road, Nowra, New South Wales Admission Fee $10 for adults and free for children. Admission includes entry to the Fleet Air Arm Museum.

Shark 10 of 817 Squadron conducts a handling demonstration for the assembled crowd at the 817 Squadron Family Day.Navy's Fleet Air Arm Museum invites the public to celebrate the end of an era in naval aviation, with an open day featuring flying displays by 817 Squadron’s Sea King helicopters.

817 Squadron will be decommissioned in December 2011 so this is one of the last opportunities for the public to see the Sea King helicopter in flight.

The flying program will also include the Squirrel pairs display team, the Vietnam-era UH-1 Iroquois, an Air Force PC-9/A from the Roulettes display team and static displays of Seahawk and MRH-90 helicopters.

The Sea Kings are fondly regarded as the workhorse of the Navy’s Fleet Air Arm, having provided 36 years’ dedicated service. They have flown in excess of 60,000 hours in a range of operations, both at home and abroad. Following decommissioning a Sea King helicopter will be on permanent display in the museum.

The flying program commences at 9:30am. Admission, which includes entry to the Fleet Air Arm Museum, is $10.00 for adults and free for children.

Details for the final Sea King flight are now up

Activity: 817 Squadron Final Flight
When: Thursday 15th December 2011
Time: Depart - 10:00am
Return: - 12:00 - 12:30 approximately
Where: 817 Squadron, A Hangar hardstand, Fleet Air Arm Museum
Cost: Free

Beauty, thanks for posting Winston.

Latest from Defence PR on the final flight of the Sea Kings

Navy Sea King helicopters make their final flight


What:
Royal Australian Navy Sea King helicopters of 817 Squadron making their final flight before decommissioning.

When:
Thursday 15 December 2011 between 0930am and 1pm. (Please note that timings for all locations are approximate). The formation will depart Nowra at 0930am and arrive at Sydney Heads at 1020am. The formation will fly over Sydney Harbour between 1020am and 1030am. Arrival in Canberra is expected between 1145am and 12pm. The formation will depart Canberra at 1215pm at the latest and is expected to arrive back in Nowra by 1pm.

Where:
A formation of Sea Kings will launch from the Naval Air Station at HMAS Albatross, Nowra, proceed up the NSW coast to Sydney, fly over Sydney Harbour then turn south to Canberra, fly over Lake Burley Griffin and the Australian War Memorial before heading east to the coast, then over the Shoalhaven and back to the Naval Air Station.

Who:
Commanding Officer, 817 Squadron, Commander Paul Moggach, will lead the formation.

I was able to go to Nowra today to watch the last flight of the Seakings in RAN service. Three aircraft took part...being Seakings 07,21&22. They flew from Nowra up to Sydney-Canberra and then return to Nowra. After the flight we were able to go onto the flight line and chat with the aircrews and have a look through the aircraft. Even mamaged to shake Tanzi Lea's hand and wish him a happy retirement...he retires tomorrow and he flew one of the Seakings. Here are some pictures. I took video footage also but it is 58meg and to big to upload.

07 goes to the FAA Museum at Nowra and a furthur Seaking to the AWM in Canberra. Unfortunately I can't post the pics here as they are to big <_<











This post has been edited by Dave Masterson on Dec 15 2011, 04:12 PM

Hi Dave,
If you would like to email me the pictures I will add them to the Gallery
Thanks
Martin

...any idea which Sea King is going to AWM?

Martin

It was muted that 05 was going to Canberra, but that is not Gospel truth. Can you PM me your email address and I'll send them through to you.

I was at HMAS Albatross today too. I have a heap of photos too, attached is one of many.

I watched a very loose formation pass Wollongong before I came down, but it was a great sight to see.

Thanks to the Navy for letting the old girls go out with a bit of dignity and for letting the public have a good look over them today.

We need a secret handshake or something to identify other members of the website.

Final touch down of 07 and 22

This post has been edited by winston on Dec 15 2011, 08:03 PM

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Great shot Winston. Good day wasn't it. You weren't sitting on the stairs outside the Museum by any chance?

Thanks. It was a great day. I was very happy to have been able to make it down.

I was on the verandah of the museum.

End of an era, after everyone had moved off.

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While waiting for the Sea King's to return, there was a bit of activity at the base.

The weather was a bit ordinary though.

A40-011 returning



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That NH-90 just does not have the look of the old Seaking does it. I got the impression from some of the pilots that I spoke to that they were not overly keen on this new helo. Anyway times are a changing ^_^

Here is the nose art on either Seaing 21 0r22 can't remember now. I'll check up on that.

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Martin

Here is Wessex N7-226 in the Museum at Nowra...as promised.

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The MRH-90's certainly don't have the character of the Sea King's.

The Angry Birdy's nose art was on 21

Martin, if you are after a complete photo of Wessex 36 in the museum, I took some yesterday as well. I'd be happy to post it or upload it to the web site.

Does anyone know where A20-651 is? I didn't see it in the museum yesterday. Has it gone back to Victoria?

Thanks

Thanks for the pics guys.

End of an era.

BC

Just a note: I heard on BTQ-7 last night that a further Sea King was being donated to a new Museum to be established in the Gatton Area (Qld) to celebrate in their effort per the 2011 Queensland Floods.

It was linked with the building of a new Airfield there in 2012.

With the number of airframes in extant, one wonders what airframe will be left to hand over? Hopefully it would be one of the participating airframes

Any news from anyone?

Best
Gordy

Interesting Gordy,

- One more Sea King saved

- New Airfield

- New Museum

It seems that you have all the News!

;)

BC

Wirraway A20-651 is back in Victoria in the Museum of Victoria' Moreland Storage Facility and was seen there in July 2010 when the 1910 Duigan Flyer was assembled and displayed for its Centenary.

regards

Mark Pilkington




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I love the Sea King nose art!

It's probably reminiscent of what most people did during their downtime on Excersise TS11; play Angry Birds on their iPhone! :D

One Of the deployed helos (07 I believe) suffered an engine failure during the re-deploy and had to sit at Coolangatta while an engine was flown up and changed. I'm sure that created a few angry birdies too!

Thanks for the 'angry birdie' nose art Dave. I'll put it in the PDF beginning pages (around page 20 to go with your final Seaking flypast FAAM video clip!). :D

Thanks Luig :D

Dropped into HMAS ALbatross on my way back up the coast on Thursday 29th March. I was surprised to see Shark 07 out in front of the hangar. It looks like it is still being cared for.


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They must have been re-arranging the hangar, as Shark 20 was also brought out. It certainly has seen better days.



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A40-013 was also doing laps and there was a Squirrel practicing slung loads and a Sea Hawk departing. Not bad considering I was only there for an hour :D

This post has been edited by winston on Mar 30 2012, 08:28 PM

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Thanks Winston,

Imagine how much more you would have picked up if you'd have had two hours spare!

;)

Brendan

Shark 07 arrives at Fleet Air Arm Museum 5 April 2012 [More photos at LINK]

http://www.navy.gov.au/Shark_07_arrives_at..._Air_Arm_Museum
-
“Chief Petty Officer Simon Hustwit’s years of experience manoeuvring a 22.15 metre helicopter were obvious when he reverse-parked Sea King Shark 07 at the Fleet Air Arm Museum yesterday.

The Sea King is the latest addition to the Museum’s collection and has been installed in time for Easter and school holiday visitors to take enjoy the sight of the King proudly on display between the Wessex and Scout helicopters.

Shark 07 was gifted to the Museum in June 2011 in recognition of the Sea King’s well earned place in naval aviation history. The Sea King had over 60,000 flying hours serving the nation on operations in the Middle East, as well as domestically. 817 Squadron also provided assistance to many Australians, fight-ing raging fires, rescuing hundreds of people in flood ravaged areas and conducting countless rescue operations at sea.

A lot of behind the scenes work has gone into getting the Sea King ready for its Museum debut. Sea King Logistics Manager Mr Kevin Beare oversaw the process & says the King is looking better than ever. “Many hours have gone into getting Shark 07 safe & suitable for public display,” Mr Beare said. “All the fluids have been drained out of the transmission & hydraulic systems, it's been washed with a special cleaning agent & polished with automotive polishes, 817 Withdrawal Unit have done a great job”.

For CPO Hustwit, who was with 817 Squadron for 15 years, it was a labour of love. “I think it’s great that it’s got a place here in the Museum. Obviously it’s going to preserve the Sea King and some of the legacy of 817 for the people to come and check out and it will be also be a reminder of all that 817 achieved. I’m looking forward to bringing my kids here, and all the boys feel the same. We can bring them our children here to the Museum and show them what we’ve done and what we used to work on. We’re going to be part of history”.

A formal handover ceremony for the Sea King is scheduled for later this year.”

http://www.navy.gov.au/File:Shark07_FAAM_DSC_2996.jpg

This post has been edited by Luig on Apr 13 2012, 08:15 AM

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From News Ltd reports this week.

"..the navy's former fleet of Sea King helicopters will be broken down for spare parts after plans to try and market them to foreign governments were scrapped.

The aircraft have been stored in a shed at HMAS Albatross navy base at Nowra in NSW since they retired last December.

Five complete helicopters, three airframes, a flight simulator and assorted spare parts will be offered for sale by tender in 2013.

They are likely to go to private operators to be stripped down for spare parts."[I][/I]

I wonder if that opens up an opportunity for another museum to obtain a parts recovered airframe at the right price?

Or, in the spirit of the season and following recent developments, a gifting ?

How about turning them out for fireops? There are plenty of S-61s getting around Australia over the fire season...

From Darren Crick:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-01-04/navy...a-kings/4452416


BC

...and at the other end of the scale. Our brand new Seakings being manufactured in the U.K.

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Great photo Dave
Can we tie up the serial numbers
Lets hope that after their bones have been picked that the residual has some chance as museum exhibits.
As the Gordon Birkett photo below shows even the most basic shell can make an intersting museum piece.

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Nice Iriquos shed ;) The Seakings, no I can't tell the serials from the information that I have here. However I was naïve enough to think for a very brief second that maybe the numbers on the frames were going to be the aircraft side number...but only for a second B) Anyhow here is another picture.

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The ADF Serials motto:
"We provide prompt service no matter how long it takes"

ex-RAN Sea Kings with their new UK owners

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No doubt will be slowly canabilised over the next decade or so.