CAE upgrades visuals on Royal Navy Lynx Mk8 full-mission simulator
Source: CAE, 22-May-13
CAE announced today at the International Training and Education Conference (ITEC), Europe’s leading showcase for military simulation and training, that the Royal Navy’s Lynx Mk8 full-mission simulator located at Royal Navy Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton is now in-service and ready-for-training following a major visual system upgrade. The visual system upgrade, which included the addition of [...]
Serco extend Sea King maintenance contract
Source: Serco, 30-Apr-13
Serco has been awarded a contract extension by AgustaWestland Ltd to assist them in maintaining the fleet of Sea King aircraft for the Ministry of Defence under their Integrated Operational Support Contract. The extension, which will run from April 2013 until December 2015, is worth over £7m for the two and a half year period [...]
Royal Navy pilot honoured for outstanding airmanship and courage
Source: Royal Navy, 25-Mar-13
The 3,074ft Beinn Sgulaird is approximately 10 miles north east of Oban and it turned out to be a formidable foe during the course of this rescue. Lieutenant Commander Sweeney brought years of Commando Helicopter Force experience in similar conditions in the Arctic and Afghanistan to bear, allowing him not only to reassure his crew, [...]
Memories of jungle campaign re-lived through Borneo veteran
Source: Royal Navy, 11-Mar-13
Roger Bigden read about the trip to Borneo and made contact with the Squadron through the ‘Junglie Association’ on their website www.junglies.org.uk. He came to visit 845 NAS at RNAS Yeovilton to share his experiences of the 1960s Borneo campaign, and to present the Squadron with a map and photographs from his time there. Roger [...]
Unique Anglo-French link-up hailed a success,after hunting pirates.
Source: Royal Navy, 11-Mar-13
A dozen-strong team from 217 Flight – observer/flight commander Lt Mike Curd, pilot Lt Chris Southworth, senior maintenance rating CPO Matthew ‘Cakey’ Eccles and seven technicians, plus two Royal Marines snipers – return to base at RNAS Yeovilton just before mid-day on Friday (8 March). The highlight of the deployment – for the ship and [...]
First Navy Wildcat makes maiden flight
Source: UK MoD, 29-Jan-13
The Wildcat has a more powerful engine, allowing it to be flown in extreme conditions all year round. It is also equipped with a more robust fuselage, a high-tech interactive display and a new radar system that provides 360-degree surveillance. The Wildcat HMA Mark 2 will carry Sting Ray torpedoes, a door-mounted, 0.5-inch heavy machine [...]
Royal Navy launches “60 years of SAR” at London Boat Show
Source: Royal Navy, 14-Jan-13
There is also the opportunity to get up close and personal with an Offshore Raiding Craft (ORC), as used by the Royal Marines. Measuring in at nine metres long and able to travel in excess of 35 knots, these craft were part of the Royal Navy’s commitment to keeping the public safe during the London [...]
Libya operation recognition for Naval Air Squadron personnel
Source: Royal Navy, 10-Jan-13
The 4 servicemen from 815 Naval Air Squadron are among 1,500 Royal Navy personnel to receive medals for their part in the NATO-led Libya operation. The aircrew and engineers, based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton, were presented with NATO Operation Unified Protector medals for their participation in the Libya operation while serving with 217 [...]
UK’s 847 Sqn completes Arizona hot-and-high training
Source: UK MoD, 28-Nov-12
After a gruelling month-long training package in the hot and arid deserts of Arizona, 847 Naval Air Squadron personnel, along with their Lynx Mk9A aircraft, have made the 6,000-mile (9,700km) return journey to RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset. Why did 847 Naval Air Squadron go all the way to the US Naval Air Facility at El [...]
Royal Navy’s 815 Sqn nurtures French links
Source: Royal Navy, 13-Nov-12
THE first Royal Navy Lynx helicopter to join a French frigate on a full counter-piracy deployment has arrived on board the ship in Toulon. As part of the initiative for the UK and French armed forces to work more closely together, the Lynx Mark 8 aircraft from Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton will deploy with [...]
Royal Navy helicopter deploys on French warship
Source: Royal Navy, 22-Oct-12
The helicopter from 217 Flight (a flight from 815 Naval Air Squadron), headed up by Flight Commander Lieutenant Mike Curd, will join FLF Surcouf at her base in Toulon on Monday for a four-week training period. In November they will then deploy on Op Atalanta for four months as part of an initiative for the [...]
Olympic airspace restrictions begin
Source: Royal Air Force, 16-Jul-12
Extra airspace restrictions around London and the Southeast, designed to ensure a safe and secure London 2012 Olympic Games, began on Saturday 14th July. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), National Air Traffic Services (NATS) and the Ministry of Defence have worked together to inform airspace users about the restrictions and how people can continue to [...]
Helicopter carrier opens to public ahead of Olympics duties
Source: Ministry of Defence, 16-Jul-12
The helicopter carrier HMS Ocean will berth at Greenwich this evening for her Olympics duties, and will be open to the public on Sunday, 15 July – a unique opportunity to tour the largest ship in the Royal Navy Fleet. After the training exercises earlier this year, HMS Ocean is returning to London for a [...]
854 Sqn bases Sea Kings at Northolt for Olympics
Source: Royal Navy, 16-Jul-12
Navy Sea Kings today flew into London as the military ring of steel for the Olympics tightened a fortnight before the Games begin. The helicopters from 854 Naval Air Squadron, normally based at Culdrose in Cornwall, will spend the next seven weeks flying from RAF Northolt in West London as part of the aerial shield [...]
AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat delivered to UK military
Source: AgustaWestland, 12-Jul-12
A ceremony was held today at the Farnborough International Airshow, in the presence of the Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP, to celebrate the successful delivery to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the new AgustaWestland AW159 Wildcat multi-role helicopter. The first AW159 Wildcat was accepted in April 2012 and [...]
UK – Marines learn about AW101s from the Royal Air Force
Source: Royal Navy, 04-Jul-12
More than forty aircrew and engineers are laying the foundations for the future of the Commando Helicopter Force by getting to grips with its new aircraft – learning from the RAF. In under four years, the Merlin, not the redoubtable Sea King, will be the mainstay of global operations by the force, the wings of [...]
UK – First live fire tests of Hellfire from Apache
Source: Royal Navy, 08-May-12
For the first time the tank-busting Hellfire missile has been fired in the UK as HMS Illustrious and the Army Air Corps let rip off the Scottish coast during the biggest military exercise of the year. Two Apache helicopters from 656 Squadron Army Air Corps fired one Hellfire missile each at a training target that [...]
UK – 845 Naval Air Squadron celebrates 50 years
Source: Royal Navy, 24-Apr-12
The celebrations were held on 17th April to tie in with the RNAS Yeovilton Air Day launch, which in turn will commemorate 30 years since the Falklands Conflict. After being welcomed by Commander (Cdr) James Newton DFC, 845’s current Commanding Officer, the guests received an insight into what the squadron has been up to in [...]
UK – National Maritime Museum Cornwall takes delivery of Sea King
Source: National Maritime Museum, 28-Feb-12
National Maritime Museum Cornwall has just installed its biggest object to date as part of the forthcoming blockbuster Search & Rescue exhibition – a 70ft long, 16ft high, 6 tonne Sea King helicopter which had just 1½ inches of clearance through the Museum’s doors. National Maritime Museum Cornwall’s new Search & Rescue exhibition is just [...]
Royal Navy Admiral visits Arctic helicopter training base
Source: UK MoD, 26-Feb-12
The Commander-in-Chief Fleet, Admiral George Zambellas, received a warm welcome last week, despite being 200 miles (322km) inside the Arctic Circle, when he visited the Joint Helicopter Command (JHC) training base in Bardufoss, Norway. The base, known as Clockwork JHC, provides survival and operational training and support facilities that enable aviation-capable units to survive, operate [...]
Royal Navy “impressed” by AW159 Lynx Wildcat
Source: Royal Navy, 22-Feb-12
The groundwork for the Navy’s next-generation helicopter has been completed after 20 days of demanding trials for the state-of-the-art Wildcat aboard HMS Iron Duke. The Portsmouth-based frigate sought the most challenging weather conditions around the UK a she took the Wildcat – successor to the long-serving Lynx – to sea to help write the rulebook [...]
AW159 Wildcat completes sea trials on HMS Iron Duke
Source: UK MoD, 20-Feb-12
The Royal Navy’s next generation helicopter, Wildcat, has completed 20 days of demanding trials aboard HMS Iron Duke, laying the groundwork for future operations. Wildcat landed nearly 400 times on the frigate’s flight deck by day and night in various weather conditions as the ship sailed off the coasts of southern England and northern Scotland. [...]
Helicopter base to welcome Olympic Flame into UK
Source: UK MoD, 06-Feb-12
The London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) today announced that the Olympic Flame will arrive in the UK at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose in Cornwall on 18 May 2012. In addition to being close to the start point of the Torch Relay at Land’s End, the arrival of the [...]
Wildcat begins sea trials aboard frigate HMS Iron Duke
Source: UK MoD, 12-Jan-12
Wildcat, the Navy’s next-generation helicopter, has begun its most extensive trials yet, joining a frigate at sea for the first time. The successor to the trusty Lynx, which has served the Navy and the Army admirably since the 1970s, will spend the next month flying on and off HMS Iron Duke in the English Channel [...]
AgustaWestland give assistance to new SAR Exhibition
Source: National Maritime Museum, 04-Jan-12
Search and Rescue, the new blockbuster exhibition from National Maritime Museum Cornwall invites you to enter the world of the rescue services where ordinary people lead extraordinary lives, risking their life to save yours. Opening on 16 March 2012, the exhibition takes you on an interactive, stimulating and emotive journey into the role of the [...]
Lynx Wildcat makes first deck landings
Source: Royal Navy, 23-Dec-11
Being guided down on to the flight deck of HMS Iron Duke, this is the first appearance of the Fleet Air Arm’s next-generation helicopter on the back of a Royal Navy warship. On a very wet December day, a Wildcat landed aboard the frigate in Portsmouth Harbour for three days of trials in and out [...]
2012 Olympics military helicopter support details announced
Source: UK MoD, 16-Dec-11
The extent to which Britain’s Armed Forces will support the security effort for next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games in London was announced today by the Defence Secretary, Philip Hammond. While the safety and security operation for the Games remains for the police to lead on, the Government has agreed that the Ministry of Defence [...]
UK: RNAS Culdrose trainer upgraded to Christie Matrix StIM projectors
Source: Christie Digital Systems, 17-Nov-11
The full flight simulation system at Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose in the UK, where training facilities for the RN Sea King helicopters are based, has upgraded its visual system technology with the new Christie Matrix StIM™ WUXGA DLP® LED projectors. The upgrade dramatically advances the capabilities of their training and simulation facilities, allowing [...]
Royal Navy’s new Wildcat makes first landing at sea
Source: UK MoD, 09-Nov-11
The Royal Navy’s next-generation helicopter, the Wildcat, has landed on a ship at sea for the first time. On 7 November, the aircraft touched down on the flight deck of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) aviation trials ship Argus off England’s south coast, at the start of four weeks of tough trials for air and [...]
Black Cats conclude 2011 display season at Duxford
Source: Royal Navy, 26-Oct-11
We opened our 2011 display season at the Duxford Spring air show in May, so it is fitting to end at the same venue. Nearby residents of Duxford airfield will agree that we disturbed a wonderfully peaceful autumnal Sunday afternoon with our distinctive slapping blades and high-pitched gas-turbine engines, but we’re sure that the spectators [...]
First female completes helicopter fast-roping instructors course
Source: Royal Navy, 06-Oct-11
Leading Aircrewman Sarah Christenson from 820 Naval Air Squadron, a Merlin helicopter squadron based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, has become the first ever female to successfully complete the helicopter fast-roping instructors course. Fast-roping is a technique used to deploy lightly-equipped troops rapidly into confined areas where helicopters cannot land. The technique involves the [...]
10 years of Merlin on the front line
Source: Royal Navy, 03-Oct-11
The Navy’s largest and most powerful helicopter is celebrating ten years on the front line – as aircrew at Culdrose have been given a chance to glimpse into the future of the Merlin. A prototype of the Merlin Mk2 made its debut at the Cornish air station – which has been home to the first [...]
Royal Navy Sea King crews home from Libya
Source: Royal Navy, 26-Sep-11
Royal Navy personnel, who by using Sea King Airborne Surveillance and Control helicopters helped Army Air Corps (AAC) Apache helicopter launch strikes against Gaddafi’s forces in Libya, have returned home from operations. Nearly 50 members of 857 Naval Air Squadron touched down at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall on Friday, 23 September 2011, [...]
UK: 820 Naval Air Sqn wins four trophies
Source: Royal Navy, 20-Sep-11
The Culdrose-based squadron can rightly call itself ‘the best of the best’ after bagging all four major naval aviation trophies for its global deeds over the past 12 months. 820 – motto tutamen et ultor, safeguard and avenger – has been at the forefront of the fight against the scourge of piracy, smuggling, drug trafficking and [...]
Royal Navy observer marks 6,000 flying hours
Source: Royal Navy, 14-Sep-11
A Lynx helicopter flight commander embarked on Type 45 destroyer HMS Daring has achieved 6,000 hours of helicopter flight. Fleet Air Arm Lieutenant Commander Joe Harper clocked up his six-thousandth helicopter flying hour whilst taking off at night from HMS Daring’s flight deck. The 6,000 hours have been achieved during 32 years of constant service [...]
QinetiQ and Northrop Grumman produce VTUAS solution for Royal Navy
Source: QinetiQ, 14-Sep-11
Faced with lean budgets and an increasingly complex and dangerous defence and security environment, the UK urgently needs to be able to continue to produce clever, robust solutions for less money. One such area where an innovative, affordable solution may one day unseat more expensive technology programmes falls within the Royal Navy’s ability to provide [...]
UK SAR pilot achieves 7,000 hours
Source: Royal Navy, 01-Sep-11
A helicopter pilot based at HMS Gannet in Prestwick – the UK’s busiest helicopter search and rescue unit – has become one of the Royal Navy’s most experienced flyers. For Lieutenant Commander Roger Stringer (49), who lives in Mauchline near Ayr in Scotland, completed his 7000th flying hour at the controls of a Sea King [...]
Royal Navy Sea Kings complete 1,000th Afghanistan mission
Source: UK MoD, 24-Jul-11
The Royal Navy’s Sea King Mk7 Force completed their 1,000th operational mission in Afghanistan this week Sea King helicopter squadrons from Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose have been operating from Camp Bastion since 2009 and have contributed to the confiscation of significant amounts of IED-making equipment, arms and drugs, and the detainment of suspected [...]
Black Cats display team given green light for 2011 airshows
Source: Royal Navy, 30-May-11
The award-winning Black Cats – the Royal Navy’s official helicopter display team – have been given the go-ahead for the 2011 air show season. The display contains two helicopters flying close, fast passes, dramatic synchronised manoeuvres and close-formation in rearwards flight. Since announcing the 2011 display programme in March, the Black Cats have been busy [...]
Royal Navy helicopters exercise with USA’s newest aircraft carrier
Source: UK MoD, 29-May-11
Helicopters from 849 Naval Air Squadron have been taking part in a major maritime exercise this week with the United States aircraft carrier USS George H W Bush off the west coast of Cornwall. The exercise, codenamed Saxon Warrior, is an important part of the co-operation between the UK and the US militaries, and has [...]
British Army Apache fires first Hellfire missile at sea
Source: Royal Navy, 18-May-11
British Army Apaches have fired Hellfire missiles for the first time whilst flying from a Royal Navy warship. A significant milestone in proving the capability of Apache to operate and strike from the sea, 30mm cannon and Hellfire missiles were successfully fired against seaborne targets in a long-planned exercise near Gibraltar. In total, 550 rounds [...]
Royal Navy Sqns continue to make significant contribution in Afghanistan
Source: Royal Navy, 09-May-11
Since the beginning of the conflict in Afghanistan, the Royal Navy has played a significant role in operations. Today there are three Naval Air Squadrons, two Commando Units and a great number of support personnel based at Camp Bastion. The Sea King Mk 4’s from 845 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons (NAS) have been heavily [...]
Three Sea King pilots reach flying milestones in Afghanistan
Source: Royal Navy, 09-May-11
Camp Bastion in the heart of the Afghanistan desert is home to thousands of coalition service men and women. Three of them have been serving with Joint Helicopter Force (Afghanistan), flying Sea King Mk4 helicopters from 845 and 846 Naval Air Squadrons. Lieutenants Nick Plenty and Ally Macleod and Petty Officer Aircrewman Richard Symonds have [...]
British helicopter crews see themselves through enemy sights
Source: Royal Navy, 13-Apr-11
Pilots and aircrew from the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) recently got to see their helicopters from an enemy perspective when they were allowed to target aircraft with Taliban weaponry. During two days arranged by the CHF’s Intelligence Cell, the naval airmen were instructed in the use of Man-Portable Air Defence Systems, similar to those faced [...]
Royal Navy “Black Cats” display team release 2011 schedule
Source: Royal Navy, 22-Mar-11
The Royal Navy helicopter display team, the Black Cats, have announced their 2011 season. Following on from a very successful 2010 season, the 2011 programme for RNAS Yeovilton-based team, is shaping up to be just as exciting. Lt Chris Chambers, last year’s No 2 Black Cat Pilot, has assumed the role as the Lead Pilot [...]
UK’s Sea King Helicopter Force wins award for engineering excellence
Source: Royal Navy, 12-Mar-11
Against particularly strong competition, the 2009/10 winner of the Rolls Royce engineering efficiency trophy has been given to the Navy Command Sea King Helicopter Force based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose. Unusually this year, the highly coveted Trophy has been awarded to the whole Force rather than to an individual unit, in acknowledgement of [...]
AW awarded £76M Lynx Wildcat training facility contract
Source: AgustaWestland, 08-Mar-11
AgustaWestland, a Finmeccanica company, is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) to design and develop an integrated training solution which includes the building and equipping of a new modern training centre for the AW159 Lynx Wildcat helicopter. The state-of-the-art training centre will be located at [...]
German Army, USAF and UK Royal Navy to speak at military conference in UK
Source: Defence IQ, 21-Feb-11
Defence IQ confirms representatives from the German Army, US Air Force and UK Royal Navy as speakers at the International Military Helicopter conference, taking place 11th-13th May 2011 at the Olympia Conference Centre, London. Dedicated to the military helicopter community, this conference is scheduled to address the current capabilities and future requirements of participating nations, [...]
814 Naval Air Squadron takes part in NATO’s Exercise Proud Manta
Source: Royal Navy, 08-Feb-11
A Royal Navy helicopter squadron is taking part in NATO’s largest Mediterranean anti-submarine exercise, Proud Manta, for the first time. Merlin Mk1 maritime patrol helicopters from 814 Naval Air Squadron (also known as ‘The Flying Tigers’) have flown 1,400 miles (2,250km) across Europe from Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Helston, Cornwall, to Sicily in [...]
Updated helicopter simulator helps aircrew prepare better for Afghanistan
Source: Royal Navy, 24-Jan-11
Two of the Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC) Squadrons based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose are currently tasked for operations in Afghanistan. Between deployments the crews undergo a thorough training programme, building on their maritime experience and adapting to new procedures and skills necessary for the hostile environment of Afghanistan. A vital part of [...]
New commanding officer for Britain’s 815 Squadron
Source: BBC, 24-Jan-11
Cdr Louis Wilson-Chalon, 44, from Yeovil, will now be in charge of 815 Squadron, based at RNAS Yeovilton. Mr Wilson-Chalon was inspired by his father who was a flight test engineer that helped to build the Lynx helicopter at Westland’s Yeovil factory more than 40 years ago.
CAE renews Royal Navy Lynx and Sea King training contract
Source: CAE, 20-Jan-11
CAE today announced it has been awarded a series of military contracts for the defence forces of more than 12 countries valued at more than C$140 million. Among the contracts are: the design and manufacture of a C-130J weapon systems trainer and other training devices for Lockheed Martin; a contract from Boeing Training Systems and [...]
Royal Navy takes delivery of first BAE Systems’ Q-Sight helmet-mounted display
Source: BAE Systems, 22-Nov-10
BAE Systems has delivered the first order of a new helmet-mounted optical sighting system to the Royal Navy, addressing a mission-critical need for increased air door gunner situational awareness on helicopters. BAE Systems, prime contractor for the Lynx PT, earlier this month delivered 12 Q-Sight™ Gunner Remote Sighting Systems (GRSS) that are qualified for use [...]
Heli-Power 2010: RN evaluates Q-Sight for Lynx gunners
Source: Shephard, 18-Nov-10
The Royal Navy (RN) is carrying out an operational evaluation of a new helmet-mounted optical sighting system that will be issued to Lynx Mk8 helicopter door gunners.
UK: 847 Naval Air Sqn returns to Sierra Leone
Source: Royal Navy, 22-Oct-10
A detachment from 847 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) has returned to Sierra Leone after a five year absence. Amongst the detachment personnel were veterans of Operations Palliser and Silkman in 2000, and members who had last visited for Exercise Vela in 2005. For many Sierra Leone nationals the British Armed Forces, and more specifically those [...]
Royal Navy profiles Culdrose-based squadrons In Afghanistan
Source: Royal Navy, 21-Oct-10
Based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose are three helicopter squadrons which specialise in Airborne Surveillance and Control (ASaC). 849 Naval Air Squadron is the HQ and training squadron, with 854 and 857 squadrons forming the “front line” or operational squadrons which deploy on operations, currently to Afghanistan. The airborne surveillance and control capabilities of [...]
UK military spending cuts – the future of helicopters on carriers
Source: HeliHub.com, 19-Oct-10
Prime Minister David Cameron has today announced a range of cuts to Britain’s defence ahead of the main UK budget announcements tomorrow, which are expected to issue a major reduction in spending on all government departments. Today’s military announcement targets an 8% spending cut and centres on aircraft carriers, if which there are currently three [...]
Busy summer for Royal Navy SAR
Source: Royal Navy, 05-Oct-10
The summer period not only drew many crowds to Cornwall, but brought about several interesting jobs for the Search and Rescue crews of 771 Naval Air Squadron, based at RNAS Culdrose. In August alone, a total of 34 rescues were conducted – the busiest month of the year. On call 24 hours a day, every [...]
Royal Navy tests Merlin’s sensors and weapons
Source: Royal Navy, 30-Sep-10
A detachment of Royal Navy aircrew and engineers have spent a week thoroughly testing the Merlin helicopter’s sensors and weapons to ensure that aircrew are ready for any operational deployment that they may be tasked with. The weapon and sensor trials were carried out at the British Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre situated on Inner [...]
British Army helicopters embark on Royal Navy flagship for exercise
Source: Royal Navy, 30-Sep-10
A detachment of Apache attack helicopters from the Army Air Corps has landed onboard the Royal Navy’s fleet flagship HMS Ark Royal to take part in Exercise Joint Warrior in October 2010. Apaches are used extensively by the Army Air Corps in land operations but over the next few weeks they will train to broaden [...]
British Commando Helicopter Force get to grips with new gun
Source: UK MoD, 30-Aug-10
Crews in the Commando Helicopter Force (CHF) have got their hands on a new and improved door gun ahead of 16 Air Assault Brigade’s deployment to Afghanistan in October. 846 Naval Air Squadron began training aircrew on their new FN Herstal M3M .50-inch-calibre (12.7mm) door-mounted weapon system while supporting 16 Air Assault Brigade during their [...]
British helicopter carrier hosts USMC
Source: Royal Navy, 26-Jul-10
HMS Ocean is currently participating in Exercise Kearsarge – a US led exercise being conducted off the coast of North Carolina, in support of the deployment training package for the United States Navy’s Amphibious Ready Group. As a result, the Royal Navy’s largest helicopter carrier has been operating with some of the US Marine Corp’s [...]
HMS Gannet’s SAR team record busiest 24 hours
Source: Royal Navy, 26-May-10
In the mist and drizzle of a shrouded West Coast of Scotland the Royal Navy’s helicopter search and rescue duty crew of HMS Gannet have had their busiest 24-hour period of the year so far with no less than five call-outs. Going on call at 0900hrs on the morning of Wednesday 19 May, the crew [...]
Black Cats team launch 2010 season at Duxford Air Show
26-May-10
The Black cats kicked off their season for 2010 at the Duxford Spring Air Show in Cambridgeshire. As this was the first event of the season, hopes were high that the weather would hold and the display would flow. Luckily both did! The crowds had already gathered to see the various visitors turn up on [...]
824 Naval Air Squadron wins flight safety award
Source: Royal Navy, 20-May-10
824 Naval Air Squadron, based at Royal Navy Air Station Culdrose near Helston in Cornwall has been awarded the Fleet Air Arm’s Bambara Flight Safety Shield. This annual award was given to 824 NAS in recognition of the Squadron’s commendable Flight Safety ethos throughout the last year. The shield was presented by Rear Admiral Tom [...]
UK: Safety Trophy For Commando Helicopter Force
Source: Royal Navy, 14-May-10
It was with a tremendous sense of pride that Royal Marines and Royal Naval personnel of the Commando Helicopter Force were presented with the Fleet Air Arm’s Bambara Flight Safety Trophy for 2009 from Rear Admiral T Cunningham Chief of Staff Aviation. This coveted prize is awarded annually to the Fleet Air Arm unit that [...]
77 Royal Navy helicopter crew members receive Afghanistan Operational Service Medals
Source: Royal Navy, 06-May-10
77 Royal Navy Sea King crew members from 857 Naval Air Squadron have been presented with their Afghanistan Operational Service Medals by The Prince of Wales. Naval Officers and Ratings from the Squadron marched from Wellington Barracks past Buckingham Palace and up the Mall to receive the Operational Service Medal at a Royal medal presentation [...]
UK: Minister Visits The Commando Helicopter Force at Yeovilton
Source: Royal Navy, 07-Apr-10
Mr Quentin Davies MP, (the Minister for Defence Equipment and Support) took time out from an extremely hectic schedule, which included a visit to AgustaWestlands aircraft factory in Yeovil, to receive a Command update from Captain Jon Pentreath RN, CO Commando Helicopter Force on the Force’s current operations in Afghanistan. The main purpose of the [...]
UK: Progress on new helicopter facilities at RNAS Culdrose
Source: UK Ministry of Defence, 06-Apr-10
Defence Estates (DE) is overseeing an important project to build bespoke new facilities for the four Sea King helicopter squadrons based at the Royal Navy Air Station (RNAS) Culdrose in Cornwall. Construction work is well underway on the first of two new buildings at the base, which will co-locate key engineering and maintenance areas with [...]
British Sea King helicopter pilot receives Distinguished Flying Cross
Source: Yeovil Express, 05-Mar-10
LIEUTENANT Commander Gavin Simmonite, of RNAS Yeovilton, was last week presented with the Distinguished Flying Cross by the Queen during a ceremony at Windsor Castle. (Photo Crown Copyright/MoD)
Lieutenant Commander from 750 NAS clocks up 7,000 hours
Source: Royal Navy, 03-Feb-10
One of the Royal Navy pilots at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose has clocked up more than 7000 hours in the air. Lieutenant Commander Nick Lee of 750 Naval Air Squadron passed that milestone recently and received a congratulatory cake from Lieutenant Commander Nick Armstrong, the Commanding Officer of the Squadron, to mark the occasion. [...]
Still flying high after 5,000 Hours bolted to the ground
Source: Royal Navy, 29-Jan-10
Lietenant Commander Gordon Cook Royal Navy, the Officer Commanding the Lynx Simulator based at RNAS Yeovilton, has recently clocked up 5,000 flying hours over his long and varied Naval career. Lt Cdr Gordon ‘Gordo’ Cook, who lives in Weymouth, joined the Navy as an Observer in February 1985 and after successful completion of flying training [...]
Gallantry Award for Culdrose Aircrewman from 771 NAS
Source: Royal Navy, 22-Dec-09
Chief Petty Officer Aircrewman Dave Rigg, serving in 771 Naval Air Squadron based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall, has been awarded the Queen’s Gallantry Medal for his part in a dramatic rescue operation far to the southwest of Land’s End
UK Government assures future of RNAS Culdrose
Source: Falmouth Packet, 18-Dec-09
The announcement by the Secretary of State for Defence concerning the future plans for UK military helicopters will have a positive effect on operations at RNAS Culdrose.
HMS Gannet Smashes through 400 SAR Sorties during 2009
Source: Royal Navy, 08-Dec-09
Historically, no helicopter search and rescue unit has achieved 400 call outs in a year and passing this milestone is a tangible illustration of the high tempo under which the Prestwick-based unit operates.
