Westland Seaking – Φώτο & Βίντεο

Συλλογή φωτογραφιών ενός Westland Seaking Mk7, The Westland WS-61 Sea King is a British licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-61 helicopter of the same name, built by Westland Helicopters. The aircraft differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines (derived from the US General Electric T58), British-made anti-submarine warfare systems and a fully computerised flight control system. The Sea King was primarily designed for performing anti-submarine warfare (ASW) missions. A Sea King variant was adapted by Westland as troop transport known as the Commando.

Πηγή: Westland Seaking Mk7 on Wiki

The Westland Seaking is a British-built helicopter that was developed from the American Sikorsky S-61. It is a versatile aircraft that can perform various roles such as search and rescue, anti-submarine warfare, troop transport, and maritime surveillance. The Westland Seaking first flew in 1969 and entered service with the Royal Navy in 1970. Since then, it has been exported to several countries and operated by various military and civilian organizations. The Westland Seaking has a distinctive shape with a large five-bladed main rotor, a four-bladed tail rotor, and a boat-like fuselage that allows it to land on water.
It can carry up to 28 passengers or 9 stretchers in its spacious cabin, or up to 2.5 tons of external cargo on a sling. It is powered by two Rolls-Royce Gnome turboshaft engines that give it a maximum speed of 232 km/h and a range of 1,230 km. The Westland Seaking has been involved in many notable missions and operations, such as the Falklands War, the Gulf War, the Bosnian War, the Iraq War, and the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami relief. It is also famous for being used by the Royal Air Force’s No. 22 Squadron for mountain rescue in Scotland and Wales. The Westland Seaking is still in service today, although it is gradually being replaced by newer helicopters such as the Merlin and the Wildcat.