The Flickr Xz589 Image Generatr

I have a minor compulsion. Whenever I add a new model I also need to have a figure to match, so my Ambulances have crews, etc. This, it seems, also applies to my aircraft models. Whereas for the Air Ambulance I could repurpose some “lifeboat crew” figures, when it comes to military pilots that’s a bit more of a stretch. Luckily I found a supplier of these Belgian figures, 1/72 scale and described as “F16/F18 pilots standing/boarding. I painted them into green flight suits and matching helmets and think they do the job quite well.

I have a minor compulsion. Whenever I add a new model I also need to have a figure to match, so my Ambulances have crews, etc. This, it seems, also applies to my aircraft models. Whereas for the Air Ambulance I could repurpose some “lifeboat crew” figures, when it comes to military pilots that’s a bit more of a stretch. Luckily I found a supplier of these Belgian figures, 1/72 scale and described as “F16/F18 pilots standing/boarding. I painted them into green flight suits and matching helmets and think they do the job quite well.

This is a 1/72 scale diecast model of a Spanish Navy Sea King helicopter, which I sourced on eBay for approximately £10. I have carefully dismantled, stripped and re-painted the model into grey and red. It has been finished with waterslide transfers to depict the Royal Navy Search & Rescue service livery.

This model now represents XV705, flying as callsign Navy/Rescue 177 from HMS Gannet, Prestwick. Together with XZ589, Sea King of RAF Search & Rescue (SAR), D Flight, 202 Sqn at Lossiemouth, they provided air SAR covering Scotland, large parts of the North Sea, south to the Isle of Man & Lake District, west to Northern Ireland and 200 miles west of Ireland. This is now a privatised service, contracted on behalf of HM Coastguard, to Bristow.

This is a 1/72 scale diecast model of a Spanish Navy Sea King helicopter, which I sourced on eBay for approximately £10. I have carefully dismantled, stripped and re-painted the model into grey and red. It has been finished with waterslide transfers to depict the Royal Navy Search & Rescue service livery.

This model now represents XV705, flying as callsign Navy/Rescue 177 from HMS Gannet, Prestwick. Together with XZ589, Sea King of RAF Search & Rescue (SAR), D Flight, 202 Sqn at Lossiemouth, they provided air SAR covering Scotland, large parts of the North Sea, south to the Isle of Man & Lake District, west to Northern Ireland and 200 miles west of Ireland. This is now a privatised service, contracted on behalf of HM Coastguard, to Bristow.

Two extra pictures here from my most recent photoshoot, and featuring my most favourite model of 2024, my way of celebrating Hogmanay and welcoming 2025. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to view my work over the year.

Let’s say that in this scene, the Sea King has been tasked to transport urgently needed blood products from Aberdeen to Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick.

Two extra pictures here from my most recent photoshoot, and featuring my most favourite model of 2024, my way of celebrating Hogmanay and welcoming 2025. Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to view my work over the year.

Let’s say that in this scene, the Sea King has been tasked to transport urgently needed blood products from Aberdeen to Gilbert Bain Hospital in Lerwick.

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.

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.

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.

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.

The base model, an eBay bargain adapted for my own needs. As my main area of interest are buses & coaches of Scotland, these emergency service models just need to close close enough to the real thing for me to be happy.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Westland Sea King HAR.3 XZ589 demonstrated at Cosford