Sea King farewell tour

The final three Belgian Air Component Westland Sea King Mk48 helicopters will be withdrawn from service by the end of March 2019.
Ian Harding

The final three SAR Westland Sea King Mk48s in service with the Belgian Air Component completed a formation farewell tour over east and west Flanders, Belgium, on December 19, 2018, just three months before the type was withdrawn from service.

The final three aircraft, operated by 40 Smaldeel at Koksijde Air Base, departed at 09:55hrs with special anniversary marked aircraft, serial number RS05, in the lead.

They were supported by a Koksijde-based Sud-Aviation SA316 Alouette III and a Beauvechain-based Agusta A109BA. A 40 Smaldeel NH90 NFH supported the return to Koksijde at approximately 12:45hrs.

The formation flew over ten important landmarks, including the Ijzer Tower (Yser) at Diksmuide (commemorating soldiers killed during World War One, the air traffic control centre at Semmerzake plus Gent, Zeebrugge and Ostend.

Belgium acquired five Sea King Mk48s from November 1976. Two aircraft (RS01 and RS03) were withdrawn from service in December 2008 and August 2013 respectively. The remaining three aircraft will be withdrawn from service between January and March 2019; RS02 on January 19, followed by RS04 on February 19, and finally RS05 on March 26, 2019. Ian Harding