The case summed up The Sea King helicopter, which has been in Norwegian search and rescue service for 50 years, is to be retired. The helicopter lands for the last time in Bodø and will be displayed at the Norwegian Aviation Museum. Pilot and squadron commander of the 330 squadron, Svein Tore Pettersen, and the crew will also retire on this day. Before the Sea King can be shown to the museum public, the mast must, among other things, be emptied of oil and fuel. The Norwegian Aviation Museum plans to open to the public in the spring of next year. SAR Queen will take over emergency response in the country, but has had some challenges with landing at a hospital. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. After almost 48,000 missions, the king or workhorse of the Norwegian search and rescue service over 50 years is retiring. On Monday, Rygge air station became the last and fifth base to switch from Sea King to SAR Queen. And on Tuesday, the rescue helicopter landed in Bodø for the last time. In the city, the Sea King will be exhibited at the Norwegian Aviation Museum and thus an era is over. – It is a fantastic workhorse that is both pleasant to park, but also a bit sad, says pilot and squadron commander for the 330 squadron, Svein Tore Pettersen. A veteran also appeared on the last landing. – I have to say, I had a tear in my eye. An era is over, says John Skogøy. He is 22 years old and has 4,000 flight hours as a mechanic in the helicopter, and was also involved in picking up the first machine in England in 1972. – It has been a pleasure to be part of this. The Sea King lands for the last time in Bodø. Now it will go into the Norwegian Aviation Museum. – Good for our history But it is not just the helicopter that will be retired this Tuesday. This also applies to Pettersen and the crew who landed in Bodø. – It feels delicious in a way, but a little sad to leave the group. But it is definitely time, says the pilot. The helicopter will now enter as part of the collection at the Norwegian Aviation Museum. – I think it is good for our history and our country that we get the opportunity to have these machines at the flight museum in Norway. It harms the machine, it harms the population of the country and perhaps we who have flown it too, says Pettersen. Sea King took part in the rescue operation after an avalanche in Sydalsfjellet in Lofoten on Easter Sunday 2018. One man died in the avalanche. Photo: Eric Fokke / NTB The Sea King has been a great source of security once the accident happened. For people, the sound of the helicopter has meant a lot. – There is probably not a single object that has meant more to people in Norway, both in the air force, in the rescue service and to the public. So for us it is both a helicopter and an example of Norwegian cultural heritage, says director of the Norwegian Aviation Museum, Rolf Liland. – I would like to say almost in line with the Viking ship, if we are going to look a little further in time. Extra attention will be paid to Before the Sea King can be shown to the museum public, the mast must, among other things, be emptied of oil and fuel. – But apart from that, our goal and ambition is for it to be completely intact and accurate. As was the case with instruments, equipment, climbing harnesses and the full package, says the director. After almost 48,000 missions, the workhorse of the Norwegian search and rescue service for 50 years is to be retired. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB – They have a lot of aircraft here at the museum, but is there going to be a little extra flair on the Sea King? – Yes, the helicopter will be extra fancy. We will create a proper exhibition around it, of course. They expect to have a large opening for the helicopter sometime during the spring. – Sea King represents the entire rescue helicopter service. It is one of the many spearheads in saving lives in this country and taking care of people. – Today is a very, very big day. We have worked hard to get it here, says director of the Norwegian Aviation Museum, Rolf Liland Photo: Kåre Riibe Ramskjell / news Now it is the SAR Queen that will take over the country’s preparedness. But there have been a couple of challenges with the new helicopters. So far, they have not been sized for the landing sites at several hospitals. And the pilots fear punishment because they break the law when they land. Therefore, the helicopter has caused major disruption at, among others, Ullevål Hospital in Oslo and St. Olav’s Hospital in Trondheim. In the latter case, the helicopter has, among other things, broken an ambulance window and blown a director over.
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Sea King in place at the aviation museum – news Nordland
