First delivered to the US Navy, Sea King 149916 was bought by Carson Helicopters in 2003 and registered as S-61A N3173U. The helicopter was upgraded to an S-61T in a joint program with Carson and Sikorsky. This updated the machine with an airframe structural refurbishment, composite rotor blades and glass instrumentation in the cockpit among the improvements. It was sold to Siller Brothers in May 2011.