1:72 Diecast XZ589 RAF Sea King, Search & Rescue, Lossiemouth

            When I finished the Air Ambulance EC135, my mind turned to the RAF Sea Kings used for Search & Rescue. As I’ve never yet tried to build an Airfix or similar kit (watch this space…), I found a Spanish Armada Sea King for cheap on eBay, dismantled and re-painted it. I have added extra lookout windows at the rear on both sides, and a search radar dome on the spine. 

The “CRAB RESCUE” decals on the front doors are based on the real aircraft, “Crabs” being the inter service nickname given to the RAF. This allegedly comes from the blue colour of the first RAF uniforms matching the colour of mercuric oxide jelly, widely used at the time to treat lice. In reality either RAF personnel or Navy/Army colleagues used black tape to change the RAF to “CRAB”. 

XZ589, a Sea King HAR3, was built by Westland Helicopters as WA855 and delivered to the RAF in May 1978, part of the first batch of 15 HAR3’s dedicated to Search and Rescue (SAR). 589 spent many years of its working life with D Flight of 202 Squadron, based at RAF Lossiemouth. While a military service, since 1975 over 95% of rescues by 202 Sqn were civilian. D Flight at Lossiemouth recorded their 5000th rescue in 2001 - a fallen climber with a shoulder injury, and the 5th tasking of that day. (Record keeping only began in 1983). 

The HAR3 Sea King flies with a crew of 4; Aircraft Captain, Co-Pilot, Radar/Winch Operator & Winchman (trained to Paramedic level). Additionally it is capable of carrying 6 stretchered casualties, or 18 independently mobile survivors. 

In 2006 the Westminster Government decided to privatise helicopter search and rescue. The Department for Transport granted Bristow Group the contract on behalf of the Maritime & Coastguard Agency. The last recorded rescue by D flight was a 31st of March 2015 request from Police Scotland to assist Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team with no one found. The 1st of April 2015 saw Bristow formally take over helicopter SAR taskings. Sadly there was no final fly past and a party, planned to celebrate the crews and their service at Lossiemouth, was cancelled. Bristow now provide this service for HM Coastguard using more modern aircraft, namely the Sikorsky S92 and Leonardo AW189.

Taken on: December 22, 2024

Tags:

1:72

1/72 scale

Diecast Model

Diecast Models

Model

Models

Scale Model

Scale Models

Diecast Helicopter

Model Helicopter

Model Aircraft

Royal Air Force

RAF

Search and Rescue

SAR

RAF SAR

D Flight

202 Squadron

202 Sqn

Lossiemouth

RAF Lossiemouth

XZ589

589

Sea King

RAF Sea King

Helicopter

Air Force

HM Coastguard

Coastguard

Military

Military Helicopter

Yellow

Yellow Helicopter

Rescue

HAR3

Rescue Helicopter

Code 3

Code 3 Model

Scotland

Scottish

999

Emergency

Emergency Helicopter

Yellow Aircraft

Westland

Westland Sea King

CRAB RESCUE

RAF RESCUE

RAF crabs « less

Sets appears in: • Extended 999 Family • HMCG/RNLI more » • Ships, Trains & Planes • Aircraft - All Scales • Dioramas/Buildings • Non-Bus Models « less

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