Falkland Islands

[Targan]

Originally Posted by Rainbow Six

That's certainly possible but the notes on the plate state that the Lynx is fully operational and actively carrying out patrols, which doesn't suggest it's mothballed?

The photo was taken to celebrate the aviation assets on South Georgia being returned to operational status? Maybe they finally had the fuel and spares to start 'em up and fly 'em back to Stanley.

[Legbreaker]

Fatal flaw to that theory.
The notes specifically state the aircraft hasn't been there long.

[Targan]

Tricky. Trying to match up available canon data when it doesn't really make any sense. I'm just throwing ideas out there, is all. Maybe it'll make more sense to me after another Blanton's on the rocks. Well, that's my excuse anyway

[Rainbow Six]

Here's a theory...

Two Lynxes are mothballed on South Georgia. They're mostly operational, but are missing vital parts (or pilots).

A third Lynx (the one in the plate), fitted with long range fuel bladders, is despatched from the Falklands with the neccessary parts (or crew) to restore the two mothballed helos to a fully operational state. This ties in with the line about it having recently arrived in the islands. The photo was taken during this period?

Perhaps when all three are operational they all move to the Falklands?

Like Targan says it's tricky though...there's a few "what if's" in there.

Personally, I'm inclined to think it makes more sense if we accept it as a typo of sorts and change all reference to the South Georgia islands to the South Atlantic Islands, leaving it to one's own choice whether the helos are on the Falklands or South Georgia. (As far as I know technically there's no such place as the South Georgia Islands anyway - it's either the Island (singular) of South Georgia or the South Sandwich Islands...)

[Fusilier]

Originally Posted by Rainbow Six

Personally, I'm inclined to think it makes more sense if we accept it as a typo of sorts and change all reference to the South Georgia islands to the South Atlantic Islands, leaving it to one's own choice whether the helos are on the Falklands or South Georgia. (As far as I know technically there's no such place as the South Georgia Islands anyway - it's either the Island (singular) of South Georgia or the South Sandwich Islands...)

You aren't alone on that. There are several geographical errors in the different books so I'm assuming that this was just another one.

[Rainbow Six]

Originally Posted by Fusilier

You aren't alone on that. There are several geographical errors in the different books so I'm assuming that this was just another one.

It would be the most logical explanation...

[Sanjuro]

If you want to stick with canon (geographical errors notwithstanding) you could say that at least two of the helos were from a ship that suffered damage; perhaps the helos were airborne on ASW work and the helideck/hangar was hit? Admittedly, that creates the questions of whose submarine and who won, but it is a logical reason for those Lynxes being there.
One of the things I like about this website is the fact that I can use words like "notwithstanding"...