Dalmatian Pelican

This is the first time the Dalmatian Pelican has been sighted in the UK, first sighted in Cornwall on the 10th May 2016. The bird normally resides in a range from South Eastern Europe to India and China. I managed to catch up with the bird early morning on Thursday 26th May.

Kennall Vale

Kennall Vale is a wildlife reserve managed by Cornwall Wildlife Trust. The site was used in the 1800's as a gunpowder manufacturing area. Some of the many buildings and structures remains including leats, parts of water wheels etc. But as you wander around you can see nature is slowly taking the site back.

The Final Day for Royal Navy 771 Search and Rescue Squadron

Today we finally waved goodbye to the iconic Search and Rescue Sea King helicopters. The three remaining Search and Rescue Sea Kings departed RNAS Culdrose today on their final flight.

The much-loved red and grey aircraft have flown from RNAS Culdrose since 1988. Brave aviators have used them every day to save thousands of lives in some of the most hazardous conditions imaginable. 771 Naval Air Squadron and its ‘Ace of Clubs’ helicopters will never be forgotten.  

Aircraft taxy to the duty runway

Ground crew assisting with launch preps

Three remaining aircraft await their crews

The final flypast

Aircraft number Two Four

Over Helston on approach to RNAS Culdrose for the last time

Aircrew inspection prior to the flight

Fitting Tribute to 771 Royal Navy Search and Rescue Squadron

A fitting tribute to everyone who served on 771 Royal Navy Search and Rescue Squadron. Sea King MK5 Search and Rescue Helicopter side number two seven (XV673) was given a new coat of paint and is now on permanent display just inside the perimeter fence at RNAS Culdrose. An excellent reminder of the Royal Navy Search and Rescue Service which over time has saved approximately 15,000 lives

Penlee Lifeboat and Newquay SAR helicopter train together for first time

Good conditions for photography and the exercise was not to distant from the coast. The new helicopter and crew certainly seemed to work well with the lifeboat crew so should bode well for the future.

Winchman below the SAR Helicopter

Lifeboat and Helicopter training in Mounts Bay

Winching exercise, large downdraft from helicopter

Newquay based SAR Helicopter with St Michael's Mount in background

The new Bristow S92 Sikorsky Search and Rescue Service for Devon and Cornwall

At about 0900 on 1st January 2016 Bristow Helicopters took over Search and Rescue tasking from 771 Squadron at RNAS Culdrose. Bristow Helicopters will be running the service with state of the art Sikorsky S92 aircraft. It was a wet day for the handover as reflected in the images!

S92 Sikorsky Bristow Helicopter arrives at RNAS Culdrose

S92 Sikorsky Bristow Helicopter arrives at RNAS Culdrose

S92 Sikorsky Bristow Helicopter departing RNAS Culdrose

S92 Sikorsky Bristow Helicopter departing RNAS Culdrose

S92 Sikorsky Bristow Helicopter departs RNAS Culdrose having assumed responsibility for future SAR operations