NZ3619 Kaman SH-2G(I) Seasprite (MSN 147) of 6 Squadron, Royal New Zealand Air Force (operated for Royal New Zealand Navy), hot-refuelling aboard HMAS Adelaide (L01), off the Western Australian coast – 2 March 2017. Deployed aboard the Royal New Zealand Navy frigate HMNZS Te Kaha (F77), during Exercise OCEAN EXPLORER 17. This airframe has an interesting history – built in 1964 for the US Navy as a UH-2B Seasprite, with serial 151310, later converted to UH-2C, then rebuilt in 1975 as an SH-2F. Served with USN until 1 June 1993 and stored at AMARC Davis-Monthan AFB on 4 June 1993. Had 9570 hours on airframe. On 14 May 1998 it was sent to Kaman at Bloomfield, Connecticut for rebuild as SH-2G(A) for the Royal Australian Navy. Reassembled at NAS Nowra, NSW. Entered service with 805 Sqn, RAN on 24 February 2004 as N29-151310. RAN Seasprite Project was cancelled 20 March 2008 and aircraft was returned to Kaman. Converted to SH-2G(I) for Royal New Zealand Air Force (operated for Navy). On 27 March 2014, it was registered N705KM to Kaman Aerospace Corporation, Bloomfield, CT. It was delivered to the RNZAF as NZ3619.
On board HMAS Canberra
On board HMAS Canberra
On board HMAS Canberra
RNZN SeaSprite coming alongside the USS George Washington
RNZN SeaSprite on the USS Abraham Lincoln
RNZN SeaSprite on the USS Abraham Lincoln
RNZN SeaSprite on the USS Abraham Lincoln
RNZN SeaSprite on the USS Abraham Lincoln about to launch
A U.S. sailor on the flight deck of the USS George Washington signals the pilot of a New Zealand navy SH-2G Seasprite helicopter during operations in the Timor Sea for exercise Talisman Sabre 2015, July 10, 2015.
RNZN SeaSprite coming alongside the USS George Washington
