After more than 50 years of service, 200,000 flight hours, 48,000 missions flown and nearly 50,000 lives saved, the Sea King helicopter has become something of a national icon in Norway.
So it’s no wonder that it was a bittersweet moment when the Sea King finally passed on the proverbial torch to the newly acquired Leonardo AW101, known as the search-and-rescue (SAR) Queen in Norwegian service, on Dec. 7, 2023.
A grand ceremony marked the occasion at Rygge Air Base, home of Royal Norwegian Air Force 330 Squadron in southeastern Norway, with prominent guests including Major-General Rolf Folland, chief of the Royal Norwegian Air Force; and State Secretary John-Erik Vika.
The ceremony concluded with a formation flyby by the last four operational Sea Kings and an AW101. As the formation passed over the squadron hangars, the AW101 broke off from the formation and landed, symbolizing a changing of the guard.
The four Sea Kings then set off on their final flight, with three destined for museums at Gardermoen, Sola and Bodø, and the final one set to become an instructional airframe at Bardufoss in northern Norway.
As the Sea King bows out and settles in for a well-deserved rest, the AW101 comes online as the primary SAR helicopter in Norway, with 15 helicopters spread out on five bases across the country.
The AW101 presents a formidable leap in technology according to Folland. Filled to the brim with state-of-the-art technology, the AW101 will be able to fly further and faster than the Sea King, while carrying a much bigger payload.
