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02/27/2003 Archived Entry: "Helicopter crashes during take off"

SEA KING CRASHES DURING TAKE OFF: A Canadian Forces Sea King helicopter crashed this morning on the desk of the HMCS Iroquois as it was attempting to take off. Two men were injured.

"At the time of the accident the Iroquois was on its way to patrol the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf of Oman and the southern part of the Arabian Gulf with two Canadian frigates."

In every story I have ever written about the Canadian military I unfailingly mention the 40 year old helicopters. So aged that they require 30 hours of maintenance for every one hour of flying time. Read that sentence again if the disparity slipped by you. They are in essence the very symbol of the Canadian military. Used past the breaking point with little help in sight.