Mechanical failures after a helicopter was transported from the Falkland Islands caused it to crash land, investigators have found.
In recognition of the time the Sea King helicopter has spent supporting both the military and the civilian population of the Falkland Islands, the UK Ministry of Defense has donated the decommissioned Sea King Search and Rescue Helicopter to the Falkland Islands Museum & National Trust.
The ex-Royal Air Force (RAF) Sea King helicopter, XZ593, is to be gifted to the Falkland Islands Museum and National Trust to commemorate its gallant service to the Falklands, Commander British Forces South Atlantic Islands, Commodore Darren Bone RN, has announced.
The Falkland Islands community bid farewell to two Search & Rescue (SAR) helicopters today after over three decades of service. Both the two RAF Sea King helicopters were brought to the capital Stanley today for the local community to say goodbye, as well as meet the crew who man the aircraft. The new AAR helicopter, which will replace the existing RAF SAR service, was also present at the farewell today.
Thousands of people owe their lives to this unique unit whose iconic, but ageing, yellow Sea King helicopters have plucked injured fishermen from raging seas, winched climbers from treacherous cliffs, and airlifted flood victims from the rooftops of their homes.
More than 74 years of continuous Royal Air Force UK search and rescue (SAR) air operations drew to a close this month, as the Service handed over SAR duties to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency and Bristow Helicopters Ltd. SAR operated mostly in the UK, Falkland Islands and Cyprus.
United States helicopter operator, AAR Airlift and partner British International Helicopters (BIH) have grabbed a £180 million ($275 million) helicopter deal to support U.K. defense ministry operations in the Falkland Islands.
The Duke of Cambridge is to become an air ambulance pilot next spring, it has been announced. Kensington Palace said Prince William will join the East Anglian Air Ambulance flying both day and night shifts. It will become his main job, but his rota will take into account any duties he will continue to undertake on behalf of the Queen.
The Russian Ambassador has thanked the crew of the RAF Search and Rescue Flight, which included Prince William, for their attempts to rescue the crew of a sinking Russian cargo vessel this weekend.
Britain's Prince William is apparently battling to serve in the Falkland Islands with his Royal Air Force (RAF) search and rescue squadron. The pilot Prince is determined to fly alongside colleagues when they are sent to the UK outpost within the next two years.