Westland Sea King HAS Mk6

Registration: ZA133
Country of origin: UK
Built: Yeovil, England, 1981
Manufacturer: Westland Helicopters
Constructor's Number: WA894
Engine: Two Rolls-Royce H.1400-2 Gnome turboshaft engines, 1,660 shp (1,240 kW) each

Type: Anti-submarine helicopter

Note: The Sea King family became an aviation icon, serving with the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force and several overseas operators for decades. ZA133 saw action in the Falklands conflict of 1982, and later supported NATO operations in Bosnia and the Gulf..

Details: The Westland Sea King is a British built version of the Sikorsky S-61 helicopter. It differs considerably from the American version, with Rolls-Royce Gnome engines, British-made anti-submarine warfare systems and a computerised flight control system. Westland produced a total of 330 Sea Kings of various marks for naval, search and rescue, and transport operations for the British Armed Forces and overseas customers. Its distinctive silhouette and versatility made it a mainstay in conflicts and humanitarian missions around the world.

The Sea King HAS Mk5 is an anti-submarine warfare version for the Royal Navy, which entered service in 1981 with MEL Sea Searcher radar in the enlarged dorsal radome, AQS902 acoustic processing system with provision to use sonobuoys.

ZA133 first flew as an HAS Mk5 on 3rd April 1981 and was delivered on 14th May 1981 to the Naval Aircraft Storage Unit (NASU) at RNAS Culdrose before entering service with 826 Naval Air Squadron later that year. In 1982 ZA133 served in the Falklands conflict aboard HMS Hermes and RFA Fort Austin. In 1983 ZA133 was with 824 Squadron carrying out Sea Searcher radar trials. ZA133 was known as 'Arthur'.

In 1988 ZA133 was converted to HAS Mk6 at RNAY Fleetlands with improved avionics, new sonar processor, improved tactical displays and better communications equipment. By 1990 ZA133 was with 810 Naval Air Squadron as a MK6 and later with 820 Naval Air Squadron. In January 1993, 820 were dispatched aboard RFA Olwen and RFA Fort Grange to support the NATO forces in Bosnia as part of Operation Grapple. The squadron was used to ferry men and supplies. In 1996 ZA-133 was in Scotland at Prestwick and Benbecula with 819 Sqn on NATO anti-submarine exercises.

In September 1999 ZA133 was embarked aboard the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious. 820 Sqn participated in relief operations in Mozambique, aboard RFA Fort George, and for Operation Palliser in Sierra Leone.

On 3rd April 2006 ZA133 with a total of 8129 flight hours was placed in storage at HMS Sultan in Gosport for use for ground instruction. It was donated to the Helicopter Museum in April 2025 where it arrived on 15 August 2025.