Norway have used the Westland Sea King for SAR operations since the 70ties at least. Still use it, extremely good results, and very reliable. They ordered a lot of NH 90 for the new frigates and coastguard in the early 2000's, still not got more than half of them or whatever it is. They are pushed so hard that they need so much maintenance that there is no time to operate it. What a joke that is.
Then they ordered an Augusta helicopter for SAR, to replace the Sea King, think the number is AW101. Norway got one, and after a week they were going to test the engines, and was more or less done with the test, and the helicopter flipped over on the side, just outside the hangar. And then when you read Wikipedia, the AW101 helicopter sort of have a tradition for flipping over.
Bill
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