Lynx down

[Sans Bateau]

Our thoughts this morning must go out to the crew and their families of the RAF Lynx helicopter, missing 20 miles south of Lizard point. It was, it's self, returning from a SAR misson. As reported on the news this morning.

It should be a reminder to us all that the rescue services risk their own lives, regularly, responding selflessly to SAR calls at sea.

Very brave men.



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[Sybarite]

Absolutely.

John

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[ccscott49]

Hear, hear. Had to use these boys once, brave lads.

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[Nauti Fox]

A sad loss.Very profesional and always willing to push the limits.RIP.


<hr width=100% size=1>No dear,the water goes in the other one.

 

[Talbot]

Whilst echoing your condolencies, please note that it was a Royal Navy Lynx rather than RAF.

The RAF version would have no capability in this area at all, whereas the latest version of the RN Lynx is a very capable maritime platform with equipment that is not only important for its normal mission, but also of enormous benefit for this particular SAR mission.

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[kds]

God Bless their families.
Ken

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.canongrange.co.uk>Bed and Breakfast, cathedral Green Wells, Somerset Canon Grange</A>

 

[jamesjermain]

From BBC RAdio Cornwall this morning:

Wreckage and aviation fuel are found in the area where a Royal Navy helicopter disappeared 20 miles off the Cornish coast.

No mention of survivors. It's very sad. Conditions at the time were good. I wonder what happened?

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[bob_tyler]

Deepest sympathy to all involved.

Does an RNAS ASR Lynx carry an EPIRB? If not perhaps that could be the reason for the problem in finding it.

If it doesn't, why not? Not suitable for aircraft perhaps? Geoff Hoon too mean to supply one?

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[bob_tyler]

See here:
http:// news.bbc.co.uk/nolavconsole/ukfs_news/hi/bb_rm_fs.stm?nbram=1&news=1&bbwm=1&nbwm=1&bbram=1

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[MarkV]

Wasn't aware the RAF flew Lynx, can you explain further?

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[Talbot]

doh! mean army instead of RAF,

You can tell them apart cause army have skids instead of wheels, and are painted greenish instead of blue!

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[snowleopard]

a problem with the url, try <A target="_blank" HREF=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/4080943.stm>this</A>.

there seems to be some doubt about the authenticity of the call they were responding to.

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[Talbot]

your URL doesnt work because you have left a space between http:// and the rest of the message

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[Danny_Labrador]

Apparently a Naval vessel heard the noises of people shouting in the water and reported a “man overboard”. So far no person reported missing after checking with other vessels in area - British and French.

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[copterdoctor]

The Lynx probably carried a beacon for the aircraft plus liferaft. The usefulness of this kit would depend on how the aircraft hit the water.
I cannot remember the figures but the Lynx sinks at an unbelivable rate. I do mean unbelivable, when told the figures we sent the instructor away to check his facts, he was right.



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[aitchw]

I understand that the services have lost a Lynx to some kind of technical failure every year since it was commissioned. It's shaping up to be an echo of the unresolved problems with the Chinook. No doubt those cynical b******s at the MoD will blame the pilot whatever just as they did when all the security brass went down in Scotland all those years ago.

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[StugeronSteve]

The reports seem to suggest that the chopper broke up, rather than landed. Although you would asume that a beacon would be mounted in a manner that would enable it to find its own way to the surface.

<hr width=100% size=1>Think I'll draw some little rabbits on my head, from a distance they might be mistaken for hairs.

 

[John_N]

This is a matter which needs to be seriously addressed. Would the hydrostatic release not operate in the event of a rapid descent? If an EPIRB were not fitted it is scandalous, especially in view of the fact that they are mandatory for commercial vessels under GMDSS regulations.
Can anyone confirm whether EPIRBs are fitted to these aircraft?

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[ccscott49]

EPIRBS are fitted to all our helicopters out here. We even have them in our lifejackets now.

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[l'escargot]

Loss confirmed

LONDON (Reuters) - Four bodies have been found near the wreckage of a Royal Navy helicopter which disappeared off the coast of Cornwall, says the Ministry of Defence.
"We have located four bodies in the vicinity of the wreckage," a Ministry spokesman told Reuters on Thursday.

The helicopter, which was based at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset, disappeared from radar screens around 1900 GMT on Wednesday.

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