Pictures: Santa flies over North Devon as a Sea king returns to local skies

Santa has been seen in the skies above North Devon and Torridge today (Friday) as he swapped his sleigh for a very familiar yellow helicopter.

The Christmas Santa Fly-by saw the man in red soar above most of the region’s main communities on board an iconic Sea King helicopter, continuing a festive tradition revived by the team at Historic Helicopters in Chard, Somerset.

Their first stop was at Little Bridge House children’s hospice in Fremington, landing to deliver a sackful of presents before taking to the skies again to repeat the delivery for youngsters on the children’s ward at North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple.

A spokesperson for the Royal Devon Hospitals Charity said: "How lovely to see the big yellow Sea King flying high above North Devon again today! Patients and staff were thrilled to see the famous helicopter touch down at North Devon District Hospital with a very special passenger…. Father Christmas! 

"Thank you so much to Historic Helicopters and the wonderful team on the Caroline Thorpe children’s ward for making the magic happen."

The crew then headed towards Braunton and the former RAF Chivenor, once home to the yellow Sea King search and rescue helicopters, whose appearance in local skies caused excitement and nostalgia among those who remember them so fondly for the many lives saved.

Santa and his team then followed the coastline, passing over Saunton, Croyde, Woolacombe, Ilfracombe and Lynton before making their way into Somerset, with a final stop for the day at Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.

If you would like to share any of your Santa Christmas Fly-by pictures, please add them to this post on the North Devon Gazette Facebook page.

Festive tradition

The flight has become something of a festive tradition and was resurrected by the Historic Helicopters team in 2020 after a rubbish year with Covid.

It was something many of the engineers and pilots were familiar with as it was a regular fixture when some of them were stationed at the then RAF Chivenor Search and Rescue flight.

Visit the Historic Helicopters Facebook page for videos from the flight today.