Sea King Mk50A

A formation of Sea Kings fly over Mt Pleasant, Canberra, during their final flight. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King Mk50A

Royal Australian Navy Sea King helicopters from 817 Squadron making their final flight before decommissioning. Mid Caption: To mark the end of an era. The Sea King helicopters will be retired after 35 years’ service and 817 Squadron decommissioned after 48 years’ continuous service at a traditional ceremony in Nowra on Friday 16 December 2011. The Royal Australian Navy’s Sea King helicopters are being retired after 35 years of remarkable service to Australia in times of conflict, peacekeeping, natural disaster, search and rescue and national celebration. As well as retiring its current aircraft, 817 Squadron will also decommission after 48 years of continual service, during which time it has operated the Wessex and Sea King helicopters. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King Mk50A

Three RAN Sea-Kings fly over Sydney Harbour in formation, for their final farewell before decommissioning on Friday 16th December 2011. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King Mk50A

Three RAN Sea-Kings fly over Sydney Harbour in formation, for their final farewell before decommissioning on Friday 16th December 2011. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King Mk50A

Three RAN Sea-Kings fly over Sydney Harbour in formation, for their final farewell before decommissioning on Friday 16th December 2011. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King Mk50A

Shark 22 takes off from number one spot which is on the forward flight deck of HMAS Kanimbla. It is one of three Sea King MK50A helicopters from 817 Squadron embarked on HMAS Kanimbla for Exercise RIMPAC 2010. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King

Seaking 22 lands at the Tandikat sports field to embark nine personnel, from HMAS KANIMBLA that had been assisting ashore during OPERATION PADANG ASSIST. HMAS KANIMBLA deploys to Sumatra, Indonesia as part of the Australian emergency response effort established in the wake of the Indonesian earthquakes. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King

Seaking 22 lands at the Tandikat sports field to embark nine personnel, from HMAS KANIMBLA that had been assisting ashore during OPERATION PADANG ASSIST. HMAS KANIMBLA deploys to Sumatra, Indonesia as part of the Australian emergency response effort established in the wake of the Indonesian earthquakes. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King

Seaking 10 takes off from Tandikat sports field after disembarking eight personnel to assist ashore from HMAS KANIMBLA during OPERATION PADANG ASSIST. HMAS KANIMBLA deploys to Sumatra, Indonesia as part of the Australian emergency response effort established in the wake of the Indonesian earthquakes. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King

Seaking 10 takes off from Tandikat sports field after disemabarking eight personnel to assist ashore from HMAS KANIMBLA during OPERATION PADANG ASSIST. HMAS KANIMBLA deploys to Sumatra, Indonesia as part of the Australian emergency response effort established in the wake of the Indonesian earthquakes. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King

Seaking 10 takes off from Tandikat sports field after disemabarking eight personnel to assist ashore from HMAS KANIMBLA during OPERATION PADANG ASSIST. HMAS KANIMBLA deploys to Sumatra, Indonesia as part of the Australian emergency response effort established in the wake of the Indonesian earthquakes. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King

Seaking 10 lands at Tandikat sports field whilst disembarking nine personnel to assist ashore from HMAS KANIMBLA during OPERATION PADANG ASSIST. HMAS KANIMBLA deploys to Sumatra, Indonesia as part of the Australian emergency response effort established in the wake of the Indonesian earthquakes. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King MK 50A

An Australian Sea King helicopter hovers above HMAS SUCCESS during flying operations in the Pacific as part of the extensive combined operations at sea for Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2008. (Photo: Corporal (CPL) Ricky Fuller)

S61A-4 Nuri

A Malaysian Air Force Sea King or S61A-4 Nuri Helicopter about to take off from Tioman Island. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King

A lone standing tree passes as Seaking 10 flies over the region of Padang, Sumatra, Indonesia. Observing from a birds eye view, the epicentre of the earthquakes that recently devastated the towns and villages of the island. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King

A Royal Australian Navy Sea King Helicopter from No. 817 Squadron at Camp Rocky in Rockhampton, Queensland during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King

A Royal Australian Navy Sea King Helicopter from No. 817 Squadron departs from Camp Rocky in Rockhampton, Queensland during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2011. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King Mk. 41

German Sea King helicopter from FGS Berlin during Operation Sumatra Assist. FGS Berlin sailed from the home port of Wilhelmshaven on the 15th of November 2004 and was deployed to Operation Enduring Freedom off the coast of Africa when the ship received orders to sail for Banda Aceh on the 29th of December. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sea King

An Australian Sea King helicopter prepares to land on HMAS SUCCESS during flying operations as part of the extensive combined operations at sea for Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2008. (Photo: Australia DoD)