Moray’s recently acquired Sea King helicopter has now been fully restored to its former glory and has taken up residence at its new home.
Following a huge public campaign to secure one of the aircraft for the region, the Morayvia charity announced in June that it had managed to acquire a Sea King to display at its Kinloss base.
The copter will serve as a tribute to the RAF search and rescue heroes who patrolled the area for four decades until the fleet was decommissioned this year.
Last month the Sea King landed in Moray, and was paraded through some of its busiest towns so the people who supported the campaign for its preservation could glimpse it up close.
However, due to road safety concerns only the main body of the copter was able to be transported, and it was only over the weekend that the project to fully assemble the machine went ahead.
The £30,000 Sea King had to be lifted by a crane into the base.
Former 202 Squadron engineers from RAF Lossiemouth, who had worked with the helicopters on a daily basis prior to their deactivation in April, helped piece it together.
The men took three hours to attach the wheels, rotor blades and tail section to the copter.
The Save a Sea King campaign attracted backing from a number of high-profile individuals and already the Lord Lieutenant of Moray, Lt Col Grenville Johnston, has visited the base to inspect the craft.
Morayvia chairman Mark Mair said: “It was a great sight, seeing it finally coming into the centre at Kinloss.
“It really is looking quite the part now.
“We had an unannounced visit from Lt Col Grenville Johnston, who was a hugely important supporter of ours, and he said it was outstanding to see it here.”
He added: “We were lucky to have those ex-202 Squadron engineers as well, it was special watching them put the Sea King back together.
“They would have worked with the helicopters right up until their last day in use.”
The Sea King is currently being scrubbed and polished by Elgin firm Eco Wash Valeting to restore its original dazzling yellow hue.
Members of the public should be able to visit the Morayvia science and technology centre to see the copter themselves within the next few months.