Sea King is going out in style
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Sea King helicopters finally ready for full retirement on the East Coast
Michael MacDonald, The Canadian Press
Published Friday, January 19, 2018
HALIFAX -- Canada's fleet of geriatric Sea King military helicopters has finally reached its long overdue retirement on the East Coast, and the Royal Canadian Air Force is making sure the venerable, snub-nosed workhorse gets a proper send-off after 54 years of service.
The Sikorski CH-124 Sea Kings have been a familiar sight in Halifax for half a century, but many people stopped to watch Friday as three flew in close formation above the city's harbour to mark the final days before the aircraft officially ceases Atlantic operations next week.
"We are now downing tools on Sea King operations on the East Coast so we can put our full efforts into transitioning aircrew and technicians to the new Cyclone," said Col. Sid Connor, wing commander at 12 Wing Shearwater. "It's bittersweet for the technicians and aircrew here at 12 Wing."
The Sea Kings operating on the West Coast at Patricia Bay near Victoria will remain in operation until the end of this year as crews from that base are trained to fly the new CH-148 Cyclone, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns.
"Sure, there has been a bit of delay here and there," said Lt.-Col. Jody Smith, commanding officer of 423 Maritime Helicopter Squadron. "However, the people within the maritime helicopter community understand the importance of getting it right."
The first Sea Kings arrived at Shearwater on Aug. 1, 1963, and were expected to serve mainly as submarine hunters to deter the former Soviet Union from violating Canadian sovereignty.
At first, the big choppers were placed on aircraft carriers, but that role ended in the 1970s when the big warships were scrapped.
And so began the story of the Sea King's constant reinvention. Over the years, these machines have had to adapt to a variety of missions as their operational lives were repeatedly extended.
Without aircraft carriers, the helicopter was modified to land on smaller, less stable warships, during even the harshest conditions.
"We were really the first ones to do that with the development of the beartrap system," said Connor, referring to the innovative cable system used to reel in Sea Kings landing on the rear flight deck.
Three geriatric military aircraft flew in formation above Halifax harbour Friday, Jan. 19, 2018.
CTV Atlantic's Ron Shaw was invited to board the Sikorsky C-H 124 Sea King for one of its last flights Friday, Jan. 19, 2018
During the Cold War, Sea Kings were regularly dispatched for missions near Norway, where they lured Russian ships and submarines from their ports.
And as its surveillance and weapons systems evolved, Canada became a world leader in anti-submarine warfare, the helicopter acting as the "eyes and ears" for Canadian warships.
"We were able to more than hold our own as a relatively small navy," Connor said.
In more recent years, the vintage helicopters have run into a series of mechanical problems, some of which forced landings in schoolyards and parking lots.
The procurement process aimed at replacing the helicopters started in the mid-1980s, but politics and technical challenges soon got in the way.
In 1992, the Progressive Conservative government led by Brian Mulroney decided to purchase 50 of E.H. Industries' EH101 helicopters for $5.8 billion, but that decision was scrapped in 1993 when Jean Chretien's Liberals won office. The newly minted prime minister said the EH101s were unaffordable "Cadillacs."
That decision cost the federal treasury up to $500 million in contract cancellation penalties, and it forced the military to refit the Sea King for new roles, such as supplying troops during the Somalia mission and providing surface surveillance in the First Gulf War that forced Iraq to withdraw from Kuwait.
In 2003, after numerous redraftings of the original specifications, the Liberal government chose the military version of the Sikorsky S-92, later dubbed the CH-148 Cyclone. But there were warnings the Cyclone was an untested design that could take many years to properly adapt to the Canadian military's needs.
Still, the federal government signed a $5-billion contract with U.S.-based Sikorsky to buy 28 Cyclones, the first of which was supposed to arrive at Shearwater in 2008.
Since then, there have been disputes over the readiness of software needed to run the aircraft, and Sikorsky has blamed repeated delays on changes the military has demanded to the design, including a requirement for stronger engines.
In October 2010, the federal auditor general harshly criticized the Cyclone project, saying cost overruns had hit $700 million.
The first "interim" CH-148 Cyclone arrived at Shearwater in May 2011. But that model was for ground-based training only.
Connor said the Royal Canadian Air Force now has eight Cyclones. He said he expects to have one fully operational within the next six months.
The remainder of the helicopters are expected to be fully operational by 2021.
Meanwhile, there are six Sea Kings still flying on the West Coast and, for a few days longer anyway, another four or five on the East Coast.
https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/sea-king-helicopters-finally-ready-for-full-retirement-on-the-east-coast-1.3767492
Sea King helicopters with commemorative paint schemes headed for museums
DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN
July 9, 2018
July 9, 2018
Accer- CF Coordinator
- Posts : 462
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Re: Sea King is going out in style
Sea King: Going out with style
Posted on July 27, 2018 by LCol Travis Chapman
Posted on July 27, 2018 by LCol Travis Chapman
Lincoln- Advocate Coordinator
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Re: Sea King is going out in style
RCAF to present Shearwater Aviation Museum with two Sea Kings as part of base anniversary
DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN - July 30, 2018
DAVID PUGLIESE, OTTAWA CITIZEN - July 30, 2018
Jackson- Registered User
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Re: Sea King is going out in style
Flying full circle with Sea King CH-1240
JOHN DEMONT THE CHRONICLE HERALD
Published August 2, 2018
JOHN DEMONT THE CHRONICLE HERALD
Published August 2, 2018
Diesel- News Coordinator
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Re: Sea King is going out in style
The second-oldest military aerodrome in Canada turns 100
Aug 03, 2018 - by: Katie Hartai
Aug 03, 2018 - by: Katie Hartai
Lincoln- Advocate Coordinator
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Join date : 2018-05-11
Re: Sea King is going out in style
A final $2.1M spent on maintenance for Canada's aging Sea Kings
Murray Brewster · CBC News · Posted: Aug 24, 2018
Murray Brewster · CBC News · Posted: Aug 24, 2018
394 COMMENTS
Leopard- Registered User
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Re: Sea King is going out in style
DND says Canadian Sea Kings didn’t have asbestos fire walls like U.K. counterparts
ANDREA GUNN OTTAWA BUREAU
Published August 30, 2018
ANDREA GUNN OTTAWA BUREAU
Published August 30, 2018
Jeremiah- Registered User
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Re: Sea King is going out in style
Sea King disposal underway
Posted on October 3, 2018 by Lisa Gordon
Posted on October 3, 2018 by Lisa Gordon
Rockarm- CF Coordinator
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Re: Sea King is going out in style
Really sad to hear about all this in one way.
Like sentimental high maintenance.
Gotta figure out how to post my pics here of the Sea King.
Have quite few pics at sea, bear trapping from way back.
But 3 out of 4 ops never left the deck.
The pigeons I encountered were really good guys.
Stay well all.
Like sentimental high maintenance.
Gotta figure out how to post my pics here of the Sea King.
Have quite few pics at sea, bear trapping from way back.
But 3 out of 4 ops never left the deck.
The pigeons I encountered were really good guys.
Stay well all.
pinger- Registered User
- Posts : 64
Join date : 2017-10-16
Location : Facebook-less
pinger- Registered User
- Posts : 64
Join date : 2017-10-16
Location : Facebook-less
Re: Sea King is going out in style
Sea King helicopter, a fond farewell
By Lookout on Nov 06, 2018
By Lookout on Nov 06, 2018
Starman- Benefits Coordinator
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Join date : 2017-10-28
Re: Sea King is going out in style
Royal Canadian Air Force retires CH-124 Sea King helicopters
KRISTYN ANTHONY / Nov. 27, 2018
https://www.100milefreepress.net/news/royal-canadian-air-force-retires-ch-124-sea-king-helicopters/
KRISTYN ANTHONY / Nov. 27, 2018
https://www.100milefreepress.net/news/royal-canadian-air-force-retires-ch-124-sea-king-helicopters/
Ironman- Registered User
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Re: Sea King is going out in style
RCAF to conduct Sea King retirement formation flights
Posted on November 27, 2018; DND Press Release
Posted on November 27, 2018; DND Press Release
Ironman- Registered User
- Posts : 338
Join date : 2018-02-25
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