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Last Flight for Six H-3 Helos

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070121-03
Release Date: 1/21/2007 4:32:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Daisy Abonza, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Pacific

CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- Six H-3 Sea King helicopters attached to Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 85 performed their last operational flight Jan. 20, at Naval Air Station North Island.

The Sikorsky H-3 Sea King helicopter has been in service with military and civilian operators around the world for more than 40 years. Navy Sea Kings are being retired and replaced by the H-60 Seahawk helicopter.

“The transition will allow us to focus on one type of model series helicopter; for us that’s a good thing,” said Master Chief Aviation Warfare Systems Operator (AW/NAC) Michael Curry. “It will also allow us to focus more on our new training mission.”

The Navy decided to decommission the H-3 Sea King and move to the H-60 Seahawk to lighten the workload on its people after recognizing the amount of maintenance needed to keep them operational.

“I’m going to miss the H-3, but the new helicopters are much younger, faster, stronger and don’t vibrate," said Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 1st Class (AW/NAC) Kidd Douglous. "It’s going to bring us new missions as well as capabilities.”

HSC-85 has flown the Sikorsky H-3 Sea King helicopter to launch and recover mobile anti-submarine warfare targets and torpedoes for the last 34 years in four configurations. The squadron began with the SH-3A model, worked its way through the SH-3D and SH-3H, and most recently the UH-3H.

“The H-3 helos are phenomenal aircraft,” said Aviation Warfare Systems Operator 1st Class Todd Jarrells. “They are really nice to fly and real smooth; [and] I’m going to miss them quite a bit.”