With the decommissioning of Royal Navy Lynx helicopters set for March 31, 2017, the last Lynx to deploy – Flight 208 – returned home together with HMS Portland on March 10.
Commander (Cdr) Phil Richardson the Commanding Officer of 815 Naval Air Station welcomed 208 Flight back into the fold amongst their family members, friends and colleagues.
“They are the last Lynx deployed after a very successful history of Lynx helicopters being embarked and integrated within the Royal Navy’s Frigates and Destroyers. Their success and experience will be transferred across to the Wildcat as 815 completes its transition to this new aircraft type. Welcome home 208 Flight – last of the Lynx,” Cdr Richardson said.
Flight Commander Lieutenant (Lt) Laura Cambrook landed back home at 815 Naval Air Squadron, Royal Naval Air Station (RNAS) Yeovilton having deployed on 20 June 2017 on HMS Portland.
“It’s really great to be back after a very demanding but exhilarating deployment where we achieved 190 hours of flight. It’s been a very successful deployment and poignant too and I will miss the Lynx, she rattles a lot, is small and agile; it’s just a great little helicopter that so many of us love to fly,” Lt Laura Cambrook said.
“The Wildcat is going to take over that mantle really well in a much, much more capable aircraft”.
The Navy Lynx helicopters are scheduled to conduct a five-hour farewell flypast on March 17, RNAS Yeovilton announced.
The flypast will be followed by a formal decommissioning ceremony the following week in Yeovilton before 815 converts into a Wildcat squadron, providing the Lynx’s successor for destroyers and frigates.