Westland Sea King HAR.3
Westland Helicopters · United Kingdom · first flew 1977 · helicopter
The Sea King HAR.3 was the RAF's dedicated search-and-rescue variant, identifiable by its all-yellow scheme, prominent rescue hoist, and the absence of anti-submarine equipment carried by the naval HAS models.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Large rescue hoist on the starboard door frame; no dipping sonar housing beneath the fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High-visibility yellow paint scheme — entirely unlike the grey HAS.1 anti-submarine variant
- Large rescue hoist on the starboard door frame; no dipping sonar housing beneath the fuselage
- Extended nose radome housing Bendix RDR-1400 weather and search radar for over-sea navigation
Yellow paint and rescue hoist make it unmistakable among Sea King variants; the HAS.1 anti-sub variant is grey with a sonar housing beneath the fuselage, and the HC.4 Commando is camouflaged with a larger forward cabin door and no sonar or hoist.
Specifications
- The Westland Sea King HAR.3 has a length of 22.15 m (73 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18.9 m (62 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 230 km/h (143 mph).
- Typical crew: 2 pilots + 2 crew.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The RAF ordered the HAR.3 as a replacement for the Whirlwind and Wessex in the SAR role, entering service in 1978 with 202 Squadron at Finningley and subsequently operating from stations ringing the UK coast. The type flew over 30 years of coastal SAR before being retired in 2015–16 when the UK contracted out SAR to Bristow Helicopters.
Variants
The HAR.3A added updated avionics and an improved FLIR system in the 1990s; both marks were exclusively SAR aircraft with no weapons capability.
Where you'll see it
Flown by the RAF from Boulmer, Chivenor, Coltishall, Leconfield, Lossiemouth, and Valley, the HAR.3 became an iconic symbol of UK coastal rescue, its yellow livery instantly recognisable along British coastlines for nearly four decades.
Related aircraft
- Westland Lynx AH1
- Westland Lynx HAS.3
- Westland Sea King HC.4 Commando
- Westland 30
- Bell 214ST
- Mi-26 Halo
- Mil Mi-26
- Sikorsky S-76
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