A LYNX helicopter is in pride of place outside Portland Marina as a celebration of the site’s naval history.

The chopper has been loaned to the Osprey Quay site to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Lynx helicopter this year and the site’s former role as the Royal Naval Air Station HMS Osprey.

A ceremony will be held on Tuesday, July 12 at 10.45am outside The Boat That Rocks restaurant to officially unveil the helicopter with invited guests, including local dignitaries.

Members of the public are welcome to attend and be part of the ceremony, where it is hoped that Rear Admiral Tom Cunningham will play a key role in the unveiling.

Portland Marina manager Russ Levett said: “We’re celebrating the site’s heritage and giving people more things to look at around the marina so it’s a bit of a destination.”

Paul Swain, assistant manager at the marina, added: “We’re really happy to have the Lynx on site in a very prominent position.

“It acts as a marina gate guard and it’s really nice, we’ve a fair few people ask about its registration who have found out they’ve been linked to the helicopter.”

Former captain of HMS Osprey, Captain Bob Turner, served at the site several times during his naval career and first flew the Westland Wasp helicopter – the forerunner to the Lynx.

He said: “When I came back as the Captain of HMS Osprey in 1993 then the Lynx was the primary helicopter and I flew that as well.

“The Lynx is acknowledged to be the best light maritime helicopter in the world, simple as that.

“The reasons are because it can carry a variety of weapons and sensors, and has a remarkable agility for handling and flying from the decks of frigates and destroyers which can move around a lot, particularly at night.

“The Lynx is very good in that environment.

“Throughout its life the Lynx has been modified for greater performance and weapon carrying ability and it’s still at the forefront of maritime helicopter operations.”

He added: “HMS Osprey used to have the best helicopter operating airfield in Europe, with the highest number of helicopter movements per year by far.

“Obviously that all went when the navy moved out of the area but it’s great to see that space is now used not just for the Olympics but for supporting a growing marine and leisure industry.

“It’s great news because there were so many job losses in the area when the navy moved out, it’s great to see regeneration going on.”