If you've spotted a different-looking helicopter flying around the Cornish coastline this week then all has been revealed.

Aircrew from the Royal Netherlands Navy have been here on training exercises for the last two weeks.

The crews and their two NH90 anti-submarine warfare helicopters, along with their associated groundcrew, have been the guests of , hosted by RNAS Culdrose in Helston.

The Dutch regularly come over to train from the air station, although this is the first time they have been back since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Lieutenant Commander Friso Feenstra, the detachment commander, said the crews use the deep waters off the Cornish coast to hone their sub-hunting skill set, and have worked alongside HMS Portland and a German Navy Corvette FGS Erfurt.

 

The unusual aircraft has been spotted in the skies above Cornwall Picture: Bob Sharples

The unusual aircraft has been spotted in the skies above Cornwall Picture: Bob Sharples

 

They also made use of the rugged and scenic coastline for confined area landing and winching practice, as well as night-flying training in the dark skies over the Lizard Peninsula.

A spokesman for RNAS Culdrose said: “As the home of the UK’s anti-submarine warfare helicopter fleet, it’s great to be working alongside our NATO allies who specialise in the same operations. It’s especially good to welcome the Royal Netherlands Navy back here at Culdrose.”

The group are from 7(NL) Squadron and 860 (NL) Squadron and are normally based at De Kooy Den-Helder Air Station.

If you've not seen the unusual aircraft up in the skies yet you have a couple of more days to look upwards, with the deployment due to come to an end on Saturday.