Lifeboat Engine SARO lifeboat

john998

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VOC Member
This is the SARO Mk3 airborne lifeboat pictured in South Africa in the early 1950s.
I think this is the one with the Vincent engine. They did not last long as a new
idea called the Lindholme system, using containers strung together on a long rope
was found to work better. They dropped from a Shackleton aircraft.
This boat is I believe in the SAAF museum in Pretoria. John.
 

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clevtrev

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According to Stephen Brewster Daniels in his book Rescue from the Skies, the South African Air Force purchased three lifeboats, one of which was destroyed after launching, and the parachutes failed. He goes on to say the airborne lifeboats were discontinued in favour of helicopters, this was 1960.
 
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