Sikorsky S-58ET

Sikorsky S-61N

G-BIMU Sikorsky S-61N MkII c/n 61752 - Bristow Helicopters 'Coastguard Rescue' - Leeuwarden AFB in Holland - 27 May 2009

The Sikorsky S-61N is a twin-engine medium utility helicopter with a sealed hull for amphibious operations that can accommodate a basic crew of two and up to 26 passengers. The Sikorsky S61N is based on the military SH-3A/S61B Sea King series originally developed in the late 1950s for all-weather operations. The Sikorsky S-61B prototype flew on 11 March 1959 and the type entered service with the U.S. Navy as the SH-3A Sea King in 1962. On 7 August 1962, the identical Sikorsky S-61N was flown first and the S-61N entered production the same year. Production ended in 1979.

The 1974-built Sikorsky S-61N c/n 61752 was test flown as N4024S. The helicopter was registered VH-CRU in Australia but was restored to the US registered as N4042S with Evergreen. In February 1979, the aircraft was noted as VH-CRU at Sydney-Bankstown and finally the aircraft was restored to the Australian register as VH-CRU with Commercial Aviation on 21 December 1979 and delivered to Australia. After the registration VH-CRU was cancelled the Sikorsky was registered N8511Z in the US. On 9 January 1981, the aircraft was registered G-BIMU in the UK with British Caledonian Helicopters Limited at London (Gatwick) Airport. BCHL - British Caledonian Helicopters Limited operated the G-BIMU "Loch Fyne" on the Gatwick-Heathrow Airlink Helicopter Service that was operated in the period 1978-1986. In autumn of 1987, BHCL was sold to Bristow Helicopters, with the sale completed in November 1987. Sikorsky S-61N G-BIMU was registered with Bristow Helicopters, Aberdeen, on 22 May 1990. In service with Bristow, the G-BIMU 'Stac Pollaidh' was operated and maintained on behalf of the UKMCA UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency on the HM Coastguard services and stationed at MRCC Sumburgh. After being replaced on 1 October 2007 in HM Coast Guard services at Sumburgh by the new Sikorsky S-92 helicopters, the G-BIMU was leased to CHC Scotia and relocated to MRCC Stornoway in the Hebrides as an interim aircraft while waiting for the CHC Scotia S-92s to be delivered. After Sikorsky G-BIMU returned from the lease early 2008, Bristow Helicopters directed the aircraft to Den Helder in the Netherlands. At Den Helder the G-BIMU is used by Bristow in company with Sikorsky S-61N MkII G-BDOC on their offshore SAR contract. On 1 January 2010, Bristow replaced Sikorsky S-61N MkII G-BDOC on the SAR contract by Sikorsky S-61N G-BPWB.Sikorsky G-BIMU was one of the participant of the SAR-meet at Leeuwarden AFB and was photographed during an exercise at the airbase on 27 May 2009.

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