Steven H. McLain Posted February 25, 2025 Share Posted February 25, 2025 Des anybody have any information about the civilian Sea Kings? Looking for a book on the subject. Thank You in advance. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Tank Posted February 26, 2025 Share Posted February 26, 2025 There is Sikorsky/Westland Sea King: Aircraft in Detail by Nicolas Deboeck Squadron in Action H3 Seaking Illustrated by Lou Drendel FAMOUS AIRPLANES OF THE WORLD SERIES/KOKO fan A Italian and British specific books. Don’t know of any civilian or other books. Hope I am wrong. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andyf117 Posted February 26, 2025 Share Posted February 26, 2025 By "civilian Sea Kings", do you mean the 'stretched' S-61N originally used mainly for passengers, coastguard duties, and more recently commercial 'utlity' purposes? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Steven H. McLain Posted February 26, 2025 Author Share Posted February 26, 2025 Yes, the stretched version. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
andyf117 Posted February 27, 2025 Share Posted February 27, 2025 I think there was the occasional magazine article which featured them, probably back in the '80s in the likes of Air Pictorial, and Air International/Air Enthusiast- seem to recall seeing one about them entering BEA service on the Land's End-Scilly Islands route, and possibly another on their use in the North Sea oilfields... ....but those were few and far between, and as far as I'm aware nothing more substantial has ever been published on the S-61N. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
JohnEB Posted February 27, 2025 Share Posted February 27, 2025 (edited) I recall the Sea King story in the much-missed Air Enthusiast/Air International. Remember there were TWO long civil versions...the land only S-61L with wheels as well as the amphibious equipped S-61N. The Ns were obviously used in the off shore work, while most famously, the Ls were used by Los Angeles Airways in the '60s flying to LAX and Disneyland (Can you imagine being a kid and flying to Disneyland in a helicopter? I would have looked forward to the flight more than the visit). Now today, we see more civil Sea Kings..surplus H-3s, usually used for external lift or in fire fighting with external buckets as well as belly systems. Most are ex-Navy, a few ex-Air Force or Coast Guard "R" models (with rear loading ramp) are (were?) are also out there. It might be interesting to see if some of these are withdrawn as more surplus Black Hawks and Chinook enter the civil fleet. Also...some Ns and or Ls have been modified for external load work. One scheme had them being shortened by having the airliner "stretch" removed for added payload...making them the appropriate length of the H-3s. They were called Sikshortskys. Considering their widespread use, its surprising there aren't more kits of the type. Edited February 27, 2025 by JohnEB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winnie Posted March 3, 2025 Share Posted March 3, 2025 the LA County Sheriff is an actual SH-3H Sea King. The others pictured are all 61N or L and don't really carry the moniker Sea King. But you won't be ridiculed for calling them that. The bottom picture shows the Canadian Helicopters Ltd's fleet that went to Afghanistan. I currently work for that company nowadays. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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