XZ592

XZ592 was built by Westland in 1978 as a Sea King HAR.3, constructor's number WA858. The HAR.3 was the RAF's dedicated search-and-rescue version and replaced the Whirlwind HAR.10 from 1978. Among its later postings was C Flight of 22 Squadron at RAF Valley, where it flew as Rescue 122.

RAF Sea Kings left the rescue role in 2015 as civilian helicopters under the Coastguard took over. The flight at RAF Lossiemouth stood down on 1 April that year. Morayvia, the Kinloss heritage charity, had run a campaign to save one, with two online petitions to the Ministry of Defence.

In early June 2015 the MoD's disposal agency confirmed the sale of XZ592 to the charity. The cost, including delivery, was put at about £30,000. Morayvia's chairman, once rescued at sea by a Sea King himself, described it as a tribute to the crews.

A donated low loader carried the helicopter 620 miles from Gosport. It reached Fochabers on 15 July 2015 with its blades and undercarriage removed. Later that month it was paraded through Buckie, Elgin, Lossiemouth and Forres.

Former 202 Squadron engineers from Lossiemouth refitted the wheels, rotor blades and tail in about three hours, and a crane lifted it into the Kinloss site. An Elgin valeting firm then cleaned up its yellow finish. It is close to complete, but has no engines, hoist or camera.

Displayed at Morayvia's Kinloss site in RAF search-and-rescue yellow. It lacks engines and the rescue hoist.