Early dog walkers on Culburra Beach, fishers heading out to sea and doubtless the odd shifty lobster poacher were kept out of an exclusion zone policed on land by volunteers from the State Emergency Service and on the water by a couple of Marine Rescue vessels.

Such a delicate operation meant plenty of room was needed in case things went awry. The task at hand had been worked out in fine detail. The trusty navy workhorse, due to retire next week, was to lift the historic lantern off the Crookhaven Lighthouse, in the most tangible sign yet that the project to restore the historic maritime building was well under way.

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The success of the mission – yet another in the long history of this venerable helicopter helping communities – depended on the wind, the air density and the temperature. Inside, the Sea King had been stripped of most of its fittings in a bid to reduce its weight.

As it pulled up to hover over the lighthouse, its exertions could be detected in the plumes of brownish exhaust from its two engines. The first pass saw it pick up a test load of components that had been removed from the lantern and lower them expertly onto the reserve in front of the Marine Rescue Pilot House.

Then it was back to collect the lantern itself. After hovering over the lighthouse for several minutes in what appeared from a distance to be perfect flying, the might Sea King hoisted the lantern off the pedestal on which it had sat for a century. Within minutes it, too, was brought gently to rest near the pilot house.