TF-SIF (Dauphin 2)

Sif, also known as TF-SIF, is an Aerospatiale SA365N Dauphin 2 helicopter used by the Icelandic Coast Guard from 1985 to 2007.[1] It took part in several high profile rescue operations around Iceland during its 22-year career[1] and is credited to have been involved in the rescue of around 250 lives.[2] It is named after Sif, the golden-haired goddess from Norse mythology and is the third Coast Guard aircraft to bear the name.[3] Since 2008, it has been on display at the Icelandic Aviation Museum.[4]

SIF
Sif in March 2004.
Other name(s) TF-SIF
Type Aerospatiale SA365N Dauphin 2
Manufacturer Aérospatiale
Construction number 6136
Registration TF-SIF
Owners and operators Icelandic Coast Guard
In service 1985-2007
Total hours 7056.5
Status On display
Preserved at Icelandic Aviation Museum

History

Sif was ordered from Aérospatiale in June 1984 as a replacement for TF-RÁN which November 1983 crash in Jökulfirðir resulted in the deaths of four Coast Guard airmen.[5][6] Due to delays in delivering the helicopter, another Dauphin was leased from Aérospatiale from 1984 to 1985 and went by the same name.[7][3][8] The new Sif arrived in Iceland on 19 November 1985.[9][10] It was the sole specialized rescue helicopter in Iceland until Líf arrived in June 1995.[11]

On 14 March 1987, nine crewmembers of the fishing vessel Barðinn GK were rescued aboard Sif after the ship stranded in the bay of Dritvík at Snæfellsnes.[12]

On 12 February 1988, the crew of Sif rescued 11 crewmembers of the fishing vessel Hrafn Sveinbjarnarson III GK 11 that stranded close to Grindavík.[1]

On 14 June 1990, Sif rescued the two-man crew of a Piper PA-34 Seneca that had to ditch the aircraft 29 miles west of Keflavík after running out of fuel.[13]

On 20 February 1991, Sif rescued 8 sailors from the fishing vessel Steindór GK after it stranded under the cliffs of Krísuvíkurberg.[14]

In May 2001, the tail of Sif was severely damaged after the helicopter was caught in a severe wind conditions while flying over Snæfellsnes.[15]

On 19 December 2006, Sif rescued 12 crewmembers of the cargo ship Wilson Muuga after it ran aground south of Sandgerði. During the rescue operation, eight sailors from the HDMS Triton went into the sea after their rigid inflatable boat overturned in rough seas. Seven of the men where rescued by Líf while one died.[16]

On 16 July 2007, while on a training mission, Sif made an emergency landing in the sea between Straumsvík and Hafnarfjörður and was damaged beyond repair. The four crew members were unhurt.[17][18][19] Following the incident, the helicopter was donated to the Icelandic Aviation Museum.[4]

Notable captains

Further reading
  • Útkall Alfa TF-SIF, 1994. (in Icelandic): Book by Óttar Sveinsson about several rescues involving the helicopter.[20] In 2022, stories from the book was featured in the 14th episode of the docuseries Útkall on the television channel Hringbraut.[21]

References
  1. Sigtryggur Ari Jóhannsson (20 July 2007). "Fyllist lotningu við hvininn frá þyrlunni". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). p. 1, 11-17. Retrieved 21 March 2021 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  2. "TF-SIF Aerospatiale SA.365N Dauphin 2". flugsafn.is (in Icelandic). Icelandic Aviation Museum. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  3. "Sif - Kona þrumuguðsins". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 14 March 1985. pp. 18B–19B. Retrieved 21 March 2021 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  4. "TF-SIF á Flugsafn Íslands á Akureyri". Icelandic Coast Guard (in Icelandic). 21 June 2008. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  5. "Dauphin-þyrla keypt fyrir Landhelgisgæsluna". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 23 June 1984. p. 2. Retrieved 21 March 2021 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  6. "Minnast áhafnar þyrlunnar TF-RAN sem fórst fyrir þrjátíu árum". Icelandic Coast Guard (in Icelandic). 8 November 2013. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  7. "TF SIF notuð til leitarstarfa í fyrsta skipti". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 29 November 1984. p. 4. Retrieved 21 March 2021 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  8. "Þyrlunni skilað til Frakklands". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 28 July 1985. p. 56. Retrieved 21 March 2021 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  9. "Nýja þyrlan komin". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 20 November 1985. p. 3. Retrieved 21 March 2021 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  10. "Bylting í útbúnaði björgunarþyrlu hérlendis". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 4 December 1985. p. 5. Retrieved 21 March 2021 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  11. "Fjölmenni fagnaði LÍF". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 24 June 1995. p. 4. Retrieved 21 March 2021 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  12. "Áhöfninni bjargað um borð í þyrlu". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 15 March 1987. pp. 1–2. Retrieved 21 March 2021 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  13. "Hékk í loftneti vélarinnar sem var að hverfa í hafið". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 15 June 1990. pp. 48, 4. Retrieved 21 March 2021 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  14. "Mannbjörg er Steindór GK strandaði". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). 21 February 1991. pp. 24–25, 48. Retrieved 22 March 2021 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  15. "Viðgerð kostar 30 til 50 milljónir króna". Fréttablaðið (in Icelandic). 7 June 2001. p. 4. Retrieved 21 March 2021 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  16. Hjálmar Jónsson (20 December 2006). "Mjög erfiðar aðstæður voru á strandstað". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). pp. 6, 30–32. Retrieved 21 March 2021 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  17. "Áhöfn slapp ómeidd eftir að TF Sif féll í sjóinn". Vísir.is (in Icelandic). 16 July 2007. Retrieved 21 March 2021.
  18. Friðrik Ársælsson (18 July 2007). "Loft var ekki í öllum neyðarflotum". Morgunblaðið (in Icelandic). p. 6. Retrieved 21 March 2021 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  19. "Engan sakaði þegar TF-SIF brotlenti á sjó". Fréttablaðið (in Icelandic). 17 July 2007. p. 1. Retrieved 21 March 2021 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  20. Sigurður Helgason (22 November 1994). "Björgunarafrek þyrlusveitar". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). p. 17. Retrieved 24 June 2022 – via Tímarit.is. open access
  21. Ingunn Lára Kristjánsdóttir (14 June 2022). "Bakkaði þyrlu í gegnum gljúfur í þoku". Fréttablaðið (in Icelandic). Retrieved 4 February 2023.
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