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SAR Sea King callsign
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
Yes, sorry you are correct, it is Newquay and St Athan for this neck of the woods.
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
You are correct, very occasionally you can hear the CU Merlins on a SAREX which can involve various scenarios including cliff winching and boat work usually in Fal Bay.kylegreetkernow wrote:It is my understanding that RN Merlins will always be quite capable of SAR due to their deployments on RN ships and aircraft carriers, in fact they are already used for this purpose and train in that aspect quite often.
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
As Boscastle flood has been mentioned I have a slightly tangential request about the Canberra that flew over the village the next day .It was marked with yellow and black diagonal stripes on its underside and flew along the valley and over at right angles a couple of times.Am I right in assuming it was photographing?I would be grateful for any information on the aircraft and its 'mission' that could be regurgitated.
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
If the underside markings were like those in the last but one photo of viewtopic.php?f=18&t=88241, then it would have been a target tower TT.18 model from 100 Sqdn, not a PR model.
Cheers, Bob
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
Nick.M wrote:You are correct, very occasionally you can hear the CU Merlins on a SAREX which can involve various scenarios including cliff winching and boat work usually in Fal Bay.kylegreetkernow wrote:It is my understanding that RN Merlins will always be quite capable of SAR due to their deployments on RN ships and aircraft carriers, in fact they are already used for this purpose and train in that aspect quite often.
My brother was a Merlin mechanic in the Navy. When he was embarked on Ocean he was always telling me about SAR practice, nothing else to do it on RN ships, the Lynx can be fitted with a winch but well, not very roomy
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
That was what I saw ,it just seemed that the aircraft was 'having a look' by the number of passes it made and the directions of said passes and the steady cruising speed. At the time I thought it odd because I thought Canberras had been phased out and it seemed out of place for a target tug, also I'd never seen a Canberra overheard before.rh226 wrote:If the underside markings were like those in the last but one photo of viewtopic.php?f=18&t=88241, then it would have been a target tower TT.18 model from 100 Sqdn, not a PR model.
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
The Canberras were quite frequent over Devon and Cornwall, but of the PR9 variant in the times/couple of years before retirement. They used to use the callsign SURVEY 39 or MARHAM 39 and used to call up London Mil saying they were on photo sorties and routed down towards Newquay quite often. Not sure about the Canberra over Boscastle but by the profile it sounds like a photo recce of the damage but i doubt that in target towing colours. They were all phased out by then (The Yeovilton Canberras) and only the Blue B2 and the PR9s existed (i think).
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
Rich,
You are right, of course. I set finger to keyboard a trifle too quickly. All RAF and FRADU TT.18s went in the early '90s.
The description of the TT undersides remains intriguing, though.
You are right, of course. I set finger to keyboard a trifle too quickly. All RAF and FRADU TT.18s went in the early '90s.
The description of the TT undersides remains intriguing, though.
Cheers, Bob
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
Looks like chiv may keep SAR after all then
I think I may have kicked off quite the thread here, very interesting guys. Just as an aside, does anyone know what will happen to 771 after the retirement? I have heard that they will continue on in a different role, but I am skeptical of this
I think I may have kicked off quite the thread here, very interesting guys. Just as an aside, does anyone know what will happen to 771 after the retirement? I have heard that they will continue on in a different role, but I am skeptical of this
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
Chivenor will not have an SAR unit. North Devon will be covered by St Athen, which is opposite to what happens now as the south Wales area is covered by Chivenor.
As for 771 Sqn they evolved from Station Flight and were for military rescues in the days of Walrus & Sea Otter aircraft and the Dragonfly helicoptor. 771 as with Station Flight before them have always been responsible for all visiting aircraft. No doubt if disbanded one of the other resident squadrons will pick up the responsibility of guesting visitors.
As for 771 Sqn they evolved from Station Flight and were for military rescues in the days of Walrus & Sea Otter aircraft and the Dragonfly helicoptor. 771 as with Station Flight before them have always been responsible for all visiting aircraft. No doubt if disbanded one of the other resident squadrons will pick up the responsibility of guesting visitors.
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
Going back to the Canberra discussion I wondered if operator of the aircraft was RAE/A&AEE/QinetiQ , whatever it was at the time. A quick internet search showed a Canberra TT18 in raspberry ripple topside and yellow black underside. Presumably that wouldn't mean the aircraft was purely used for target towing and Boscastle may have provided an opportunity to test new equipment in a real life situation. Speculation admittedly but it wasn't an RAF/RN TT18 hence my thinking of other possibilities.
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
Chiv is being reconsidered, read the article Rich postedBuz41 wrote:Chivenor will not have an SAR unit. North Devon will be covered by St Athen, which is opposite to what happens now as the south Wales area is covered by Chivenor..
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
Having looked at pictures of RAE Canberra B.2T WK128 in various in-flight attitudes it does seem very possible that it could have been that aircraft or one very similar. I accept it could have been a coincidence its appearance over Boscastle that day, but the number , frequency and directions of overflights that morning seemed intentional in relation to the village. Thanks for the suggestions Red Hound et al and apologies for interrupting the Seaking thread.Red Hound wrote:Going back to the Canberra discussion I wondered if operator of the aircraft was RAE/A&AEE/QinetiQ , whatever it was at the time. A quick internet search showed a Canberra TT18 in raspberry ripple topside and yellow black underside. Presumably that wouldn't mean the aircraft was purely used for target towing and Boscastle may have provided an opportunity to test new equipment in a real life situation. Speculation admittedly but it wasn't an RAF/RN TT18 hence my thinking of other possibilities.
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
Yes I saw this item when it was featured on BBC Spotlight, but don't hold your breath. I predict that an SAR unit will not go to both Chivenor & St Athen, so I will put my money on the latter as the base.kylegreetkernow wrote:Chiv is being reconsidered, read the article Rich postedBuz41 wrote:Chivenor will not have an SAR unit. North Devon will be covered by St Athen, which is opposite to what happens now as the south Wales area is covered by Chivenor..
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
I'm not saying it will definetly go there, it's just a possibility. It probably will go to St Athan though.
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
RAE Llanbedr in south Wales were still operating there TT Canberras at this point. And it only being a short distance over the water for them my guess the crew were"having a closure look!!" When up on a sortie?!fencer wrote:Having looked at pictures of RAE Canberra B.2T WK128 in various in-flight attitudes it does seem very possible that it could have been that aircraft or one very similar. I accept it could have been a coincidence its appearance over Boscastle that day, but the number , frequency and directions of overflights that morning seemed intentional in relation to the village. Thanks for the suggestions Red Hound et al and apologies for interrupting the Seaking thread.Red Hound wrote:Going back to the Canberra discussion I wondered if operator of the aircraft was RAE/A&AEE/QinetiQ , whatever it was at the time. A quick internet search showed a Canberra TT18 in raspberry ripple topside and yellow black underside. Presumably that wouldn't mean the aircraft was purely used for target towing and Boscastle may have provided an opportunity to test new equipment in a real life situation. Speculation admittedly but it wasn't an RAF/RN TT18 hence my thinking of other possibilities.
Both of Llanbedrs Canberras were regular visitors in to St Mawgan for fuel.my guess is this day they did the same,just took a sight seeing detore on route
Back to the topic in question.
Almost certainly in the case of a downed pilot,and its quicker for a Merlin from Culdrose to be on seen,he will attend along with the SAR from newquay..or were ever it is based ... this is how it's been done for years.primarily station flight was there to provide SAR cover the the based pilots. They weren't contracted for civilian cover.but no doubt they did from time to time.
It all changed when the department of transport contracted them for coast guard SAR Work to.
Back to the future situation ,if a bus full of school kids and nuns! got stuck in flood water,and was in danger of being washed away. I could safely say that a Merlin crew would be one of the many that would attend anyway possible to assist there rescue.Just like at boscastle!!
Re: SAR Sea King callsign
I always knew that if needed Culdrose would provide SAR for civilians with Merlins - it is their duty to protect the citizens of this country - they wouldn't refuse.
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Re: SAR Sea King callsign
Hi buzzer and kylegreetkernow,
Both of you are most probably right!! At the end of the day, our Forces assets would do anything to rescue our civilian people - including myself!! --Paul
Both of you are most probably right!! At the end of the day, our Forces assets would do anything to rescue our civilian people - including myself!! --Paul
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