Established January 15th 1822, His Majesty's Coastguard (HMCG) forms part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency responsible, via the Secretary of State for Transport to Parliament, for the initiation and co-ordination of all maritime search and rescue (SAR) within the UK. Iniatially using military helicopters for urgent marine rescues from the 1940s, the Coastguard received their first dedicated helicopters from a private contractor in 1983. Operating off the coast of Scotland this helicopter service was known as the UK Gap SAR service, effectively filling the gap where military SAR service was not available. Fixed-wing aircraft were subsequently contracted for pollution control work.

G-MCGJ @ RIAT 2022

G-RESF @ Lee-on-Solent 2025

G-MCGO @ Lee-on-Solent 2022

G-OSRA @ RIAT 2022

G-SCIR @ RIAT 2022

G-UASB @ Lydd 2024