British Army bids farewell to the iconic Lynx helicopter and here are some gorgeous photos of the type farewell tour

BRITISH ARMY BIDS FAREWELL TO THE ICONIC LYNX HELICOPTER AND HERE ARE SOME GORGEOUS PHOTOS OF THE TYPE FAREWELL TOUR

By Dario Leone
Jan 19 2018
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To mark the Lynx’s decommissioning from British Army service, the Army Air Corps have flown four of the last remaining airframes on a commemorative tour around England

The Lynx helicopter has had a long and distinguished career with the British Army stretching back nearly 40 years.

Described as a primary battlefield utility helicopter, the venerable Lynx entered service in 1978 and since then has been used to: destroy tanks, evacuate the wounded, gather intelligence, provide humanitarian support, rescue those in peril, wow the crowds at air shows and much more besides.

British Army bids farewell to the iconic Lynx helicopter and here are some gorgeous photos of the type farewell tour

The Lynx has the distinction of being the world’s first fully aerobatic helicopter with the ability to perform loops and rolls.

British Army bids farewell to the iconic Lynx helicopter and here are some gorgeous photos of the type farewell tour

In 1986, a specially modified Lynx set the current Fédération Aéronautique Internationale‘s official airspeed record for helicopters at 400.87 km/h.

British Army bids farewell to the iconic Lynx helicopter and here are some gorgeous photos of the type farewell tour

It’s proven itself across the globe in such exacting locations as: the freezing plains of Northern Canada, the steaming jungles of South East Asia and Central America, the sub-zero environment of the Arctic to the dust bowls of the Middle East and has supported British troops on active service in Bosnia, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Sierra Leone.

British Army bids farewell to the iconic Lynx helicopter and here are some gorgeous photos of the type farewell tour

However, as told in the British Army news release, age has finally caught up with the Lynx and although it’ll be a tough act to follow, Wildcat will replace the Lynx.

British Army bids farewell to the iconic Lynx helicopter and here are some gorgeous photos of the type farewell tour

The Wildcat, with its superior avionics engines and improved capability, will prove a formidable force over any battlefield of the future.

British Army bids farewell to the iconic Lynx helicopter and here are some gorgeous photos of the type farewell tour

To mark the Lynx’s decommissioning from British Army service, the Army Air Corps have flown four of the last remaining airframes from RAF Odiham in Hampshire, from where they are based,on a commemorative tour around England taking in some of the sites and locations to which the aircraft is most fondly associated: Middle Wallop, Upavon, Yeovil, Wattisham to name a few.

British Army bids farewell to the iconic Lynx helicopter and here are some gorgeous photos of the type farewell tour

The flight culminated in an impressive 4 ship ‘air procession’ along the length of the River Thames over Central London, then finally landing back at RAF Odiham.

Photo credit: Cpl Rob Travis / Crown Copyright


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Dario Leone

Dario Leone

Dario Leone is an aviation, defense and military writer. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviation Geek Club” one of the world’s most read military aviation blogs. His writing has appeared in The National Interest and other news media. He has reported from Europe and flown Super Puma and Cougar helicopters with the Swiss Air Force.

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