Sea King helicopters, the first two of eight ordered from Sikorsky Aircraft, were warmly welcomed into the Canadian defence forces on this day in 1963.
At the time, the Sea Kings were valued for their ability to search for Soviet submarines. In the ensuing years, they’ve been re-outfiited for missions ranging from the first Gulf War, fighting pirates off the coast of Somalia and providing aid in Haiti.
Soon after delivery, Canadian technicians and maintenance workers pioneered the “beartrap” system to winch the aircraft down onto warships, an innovation that was copied around the world.
Gordon Gray was one of the first pilots to fly a Sea King. “We were going from flying a Model T to driving a Cadillac.” he said in an interview yesterday with Globe & Mail newspaper.
There have been many problems over the years, and 10 people died as a result. Just last month a crash in Halifax grounded the fleet temporarily.
But this golden anniversary is being celebrated In Halifax, Nova Scotia today, with the Navy Band in full form on the ground and a fly-by, overhead this afternoon.
The Sea Kings were to be replaced in 1993, but then Prime Minister Jean Chretien, cancelled the $4.8 billion procurement contract that was to provide 43 EH-101 helicopters.
In 2004 Ottawa signed contracts with Sikorsky worth $5 billion, to build 28 H-92 Cyclone helicopters, with a 2008 delivery date. But cost overruns and continuing delays that led to political wrangling over the cost have kept the Sea Kings in use.
So the questions remain; how much longer can they fly, and when will they be replaced?
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