Fly Navy! - early 1980s (updated again 7th July!)

[747woody]

Here are a few scans of slides from the early 1980s

First, a few Sea Harriers. Here 4/5ths of 800 NAS return to the deck of HMS Hermes, spring 1983.



An 800 NAS Sea Harrier FRS1 at rest on the deck of Hermes, spring 1983.



"Mum"! HMS Hermes herself at Rosyth on a murky day in February 1983, with several 814 NAS Sea King HAS5s running on deck. They were conducting a VERTREP (Vertical Replenishment).



A few Sea Kings. Several Sea King HAS2s of 706 NAS on their ramp at Culdrose, late 1980.



XV648, the first time it was dark blue! 706 NAS ramp, late 1980.



Sea King HAS2 of 819 NAS winching personnel from the Dutch submarine Potvis, in the Clyde Estuary.



Sea King HAS2 of 819 NAS on the island of St Kilda, August 1982. This one is fitted with a SACRU (Semi Automatic Cargo Release Unit - I think!) for load lifting.



XV647, a HAS5 of 814 NAS, the first light grey Sea King, seen at Gatwick after painting, about to depart back to Culdrose, September '84.



........and again, operating off the deck of HMS Illustrious a few months later.



819 NAS HAS2 about to land on the Dutch ship Zuiderkruis in late 1982.




Plenty more when I have time to scan them!

[PeteM]

Lovely photos, thanks for sharing them. Nice to see some Sea Kings in their original colours

[F-86]

Great set, really like the sub shot. Thanks for posting.

[tommercer]

Beautiful, you'd never guess they were slides

[KevinJ]

Great shots and scans, would love to see more!

[747woody]

Thanks for the comments chaps, just a couple more this evening.

819 NAS HAS2 at Otterburn, June '82.



and a 706 NAS one on the back of RFA Engadine, early 1981.

[docman]

Some nice scans there! The dark grey scheme seemed to suite the Seakings. Any more from your time at sea?

[Lomcevak26]

Excellent - many thanks for posting.

[st24]

Great stuff. Loving the low level blue HAS2, oh to have that do the "loop".....

[Graf Zeppelin]

Nice one Chris!

[747woody]

A few more. How to refuel your helicopter in flight, RN style. RFA Engadine, Spring '81.



.... and why you might need to! (deck's not big enough for a Sea King).



Another blast from the past! 845 NAS Wessex HU5 carrying out a Vertrep between Hermes and an RFA (Fort something?!) Spring '83.

[TonyO]

Chris, these are tremendous, but that last Wessex is

[capercaillie]

Top class posting As Tony says last Wessex shot is stunning.

[Chas2]

Lovely to see operational shots ( even if they are from the "Fisheads"). Nice shooting, chas2.

[747woody]

Some more Sea Harriers (all '83 and '84).

Getting ready to launch (yes, it was cold!), Hermes, somewhere off the coast of Norway, March '83.



Going off the ski jump on Hermes.



Another one airborne (taken with a manual 300mm f5.6 lens - manual focus, manual exposure!.........)



Same lens (at 1/500 sec, or less - light wasn't very good! Hence not very, er, sharp!)



Recovery. An 899 NAS jet, with an 800 NAS one behind, coming back to Illustrious, spring '84.

[CH2]

Fantastic, many thanks for posting up.

[747woody]

Cold 814 NAS Sea King HAS5 on Hermes in a Norwegian fjord, spring '83



A rare sight of the "enemy". They don't usually make it this easy to find them! (it's actually a friendly one)
Alternative title "Can you tell what it is, yet?"!



Unusual Hermes visitor, SH-2F Seasprite from HSL-34 at NAS Norfolk.



Unusual Culdrose visitor



750 NAS Jetstream T2 a long way from home - and the sea! RAF Gatow, Berlin.

[hedgerowops]

You have got some very nice shot's, the Sea King on the fiord is my favourite.
Chris

[Hamble Flyer]

Nice shots there 747Woody - by deduction - think I may know you! 84/85 Flt by any chance?

[747woody]

think I may know you!

EEK!!!!

Have PM'd you!

[POD]

Superb, keep them coming!!

Kev.

[flynavy]

Thanks you, these are just beautiful, I agree with Pete, those Sea kings in their Blue look so great, I remember them, and those large numbers were great to see, which one was which

and so good to see in situ. Culdrose or out at sea,

What was that red cross on the Sea King near the end on the Fiord,? havnt seen that one.
and I love the 3 ship harrier shot, with the midle one like a hanging vulture, such a great angle.

Please keep posting these!, these made my week, ive been back again and again to view


Greg

[747woody]

Thanks for all the great comments.

Been busy and haven't had a chance to scan any more yet - but I will!

What was that red cross on the Sea King near the end on the Fjord

Think it was on standby for a Casevac for the exercise.

[Mike Dodd]

Thanks for posting such a selection of lovely images, anymore in the pipeline?

[Bill16STN]

Lovely - PLEASE keep 'em coming!!!!