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The H-3 Sea King (also known as Sikorsky S-61) is a twin-engined helicopter used by Brazil, Egypt, Spain, Malaysia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States for anti-submarine warfare, cargo[?], and search and rescue missions. In the United States Navy this aircraft has been replaced by the SH-60F Sea Hawk[?] for ASW and S&R, although variants are still used for cargo purposes. Six SH-3H Sea Kings are used by the United States Navy Reserve[?] for anti-submarine warfare.

A "Sea King" is also used as the official helicopter of the President of the United States.

The Canadian Navy[?] purchased 41 Sea Kings in 1961. Since then twelve have crashed, killing eight people. Each Sea King requires over 30 hours of maintenance for every hour flying. Efforts to replace the helicopters have stalled under accusations of political favoritism, and the Canadian Sea Kings are unlikely to be replaced until mid-2006.

Canadian Sea King pilots have composed a "theme song" for their service, sung to the tune of the 1970s pop hit "Seasons in the Sun" beginning

Goodbye papa, please pray for me

My helicopter's crashing in the sea.