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Lynx helo gets new life at Raleigh
15 February 2016
A decommissioned Lynx helicopter has arrived at HMS Raleigh to add realism to First Aid training.
The helicopter was withdrawn from service in 2010 and has been added to the training resources available to HMS Raleigh’s School of Maritime Survival, which also includes a decommissioned Sea King helicopter and an indoor mock up of a ship.
The school trains around 2,340 students every year in basic and advanced First Aid.
Warrant Officer 1 Paul Bell, who is in charge of Maritime Survival training, said: “The great thing about having the Lynx is that it allows us to change and adapt our training scenarios.
"We can simulate a mass casualty accident involving a crash on the deck of a frigate or destroyer, which is the most likely scenario anyone serving on that type of ship would have to face.
"We can also use the Sea-King for a similar incident for anyone on course who is serving on larger warships, like HMS Ocean or HMS Bulwark, where the bigger helos would be operating as troop carriers."
The great thing about having the Lynx is that it allows us to change and adapt our training scenarios.
Paul continued: "Having assets like this means that the standard of our training delivered is massively improved. Our instructors are amazingly talented make-up artists and for every exercise half of the students will act as casualties with each one presenting very realistic wounds such as amputations, burns and broken bones.
"This ensures that should our students be in a situation where they have to put their training into practise they will have the confidence to do so.”
The Lynx helicopter was built by Westland Helicopter and was brought into service in 1978. It was initially ordered for service with the British Army and later adapted for the Royal Navy as the Mark 2. The Lynx now at HMS Raleigh was delivered to the Royal Naval Station Yeovilton in 1980 and became part of 702 Naval Air Squadron.
During its 30-years of service the helicopter acted as the Flight for nine Frigates and Destroyers. It last saw operational service in 2010 assigned to the destroyer HMS Edinburgh.
With the introduction of Wildcat, a new generation of ship borne helicopters into Naval service, all the existing Lynx Flights are being withdrawn.