Royal Navy’s Lynx helicopters go out of service

Staff and students from the Royal Naval Air Engineering & Survival Equipment School (RNAESS), based at HMS Sultan had a special way of saying goodbye to the Royal Navy’s Lynx helicopter fleet which is officially leaving service today.

440 of them gathered on the parade ground recently to spell out the word ‘Farewell’ to the Royal Navy’s Lynx helicopter fleet as it officially goes out of service today.

A flypast by HMS Sultan of four Lynx Mk8 aircraft was also arranged earlier as part of a five-hour flight from 815 Naval Air Squadron (NAS) at Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton as they traveled across Southern England to mark the retirement of the Lynx, after 41 years of service around the globe.

The RNAESS, which is part of the Defence College of Technical Training, is home to 764 and 760 NAS as well as academic and technical training facilities.

Commenting the flypast Officer Commanding RNAESS, Commander Mark Selway said, “This is an important day for everyone within the Fleet Air Arm, so we were delighted that the RNAESS was able to contribute to such a poignant event.

With the decommissioning of Lynx helicopters, the 815 Naval Air Squadron RNAS Yeovilton converted into a Wildcat squadron, which will provide a successor helicopter for Royal Navy destroyers and frigates.