Royal Navy Sea King HC 4 "Commando" helicopter T Shirt

This T Shirt features one of my original photo images of a Sea King HC4 in action - please click through on the T shirt above to view the range of size, style and colour options and order if you wish via RedBubble.

RNAS Yeovilton - Wed 21.1.09

A brief stop at RNAS Yeovilton produced these two images




Royal Navy Sea King HC4 ZF124 "L" of 845 Sqd - the low winter sun really shows off the details in the colour scheme. This Sea King c/n WA974 was delivered new to the Royal Navy in 1987 and initially served with 772 Sqd based at RNAS Portland coded "24.

When RNAS Portland was closed and 772 Sqd disbanded it joined the Commando helicopter fleet at Yeovilton. In recent years 845 Sqd have operated on deployment to both Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Sea King in the background is the very old XV676, coded "ZE" - this MK6CR aircraft is an old HAS 6 version and still has its float sponsons but has lost all its ASW kit and is now used as a flight trainer for the busy HC4 fleet, taking some of the hours off the frontline HC4 helicopters. XV676 delivered to the RN way back in 1970.



Hawk T1A XX198 is now almost 31 years old having been delivered to the RAF back in April 1978. I first saw it at RAF Valley in August 1981 when it was serving with 63 Sqd of 2 TWU coded "198" painted in green/grey camoflague.

Today it flies with the Royal Navy FRADU based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall - some Royal Navy Hawks used to carry "Royal Navy" titles but these have now gone. It was busy flying circuits this morning using the local call sign "YEOVIL 61". FRADU usually have a couple of RN Hawks detached to Yeovilton and they operate from the old Sea Harrier apron on the south side of the airfield.

Yeovilton - Friday 5th October 2007

A bright sunny autumn day at VL with 5 of the based Tutors busy in the circuit.

Tutor G-BYVK of 727 sqd

About midday JEDI 1 & 2 called up declaring an emergency - one aircraft had sufferred a bird strike. A few minutes later and two Harriers could be seen approaching 09.

ZG859 lands after a bird strike

The first to land was Harrier GR9A ZG859 "91A" wearing no squadron marks - I'm told a bird hit the canopy and then the intake lip whilst over Dartmoor. Upon landing it was met by a host of fire trucks.

Harrier ZD410 in 4 sqd 95 Years c/s

It's buddy ZD410 landed a few minutes later wearing special 4sqd tail colours celebrating 95 years of 4 sqd from 1912 - 2007.


I was also lucky to see a Commando helicopter force role demo - a large number of guests assembled out the CHF hangers and watched a gun fight with flash bangs and smoke. A pair of Sea King HC 4 helicopters appeared and fast roped troops to fight back. It looked to me as if one of these troops fell very badly from a great height. An ambulance arrived and it took maybe 30 mins before the casualty was moved - let's hope he is not badly hurt.

Meanwhile the two Sea King HC4 lifted a Land Rover and trailer - the pick up point was right near me on the Southern boundary and these two fly fast and low over my head.

Sea King HC4 ZD476 "WZ" comes in to lift a Land Rover

Harrier ZD410 departs Yeovilton

Mid afternoon saw Harreir ZD410 depart leaving it's bird hit partner ZG859 "91A" at VL


After the Commando demo display Squirrel ZJ278 "78" was brought out of the CHF hanger and departed to the South.

DHFS Squirrel ZJ278