Did you ever fly, or work on, Westland Whirlwind XK911?

[Bravo73]

If you did, then you might be interested in where the airframe has ended up!


http://www.schudio.co.uk/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/mutatebritain_30.jpg


http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3518/3998676677_f01fb91407.jpg


It is now an integral part of an art exhibition in West London. More details here: MuTATE BRITAIN (http://mutatebritain.wordpress.com/)

[XX514]

That brings back some memories! I never flew XK911 but did fly XK912 - on 18 November 1971 with Mad Max Speedy.

[Bath Bonnie]

That Whirlwind was parked outside on ground ajacent to an MOT workshop on the outskirts of Melksham upto a couple of months back, not in the best of condition but atleast mainly in one piece!
All the panels were present, most of the 'glass', but one of the panels covering the rotor shaft was loose.
It had been bought from a private owner and brought up to the yard, it was on eBay for about £8000 if I remember rightly, it had the teath and tusks already painted on it.
A Hunter from Brawdy which was bought by Delta jets, stripped and dumped on the fire dump and rebuilt again as a non flying exhibit now stands in its place, I hope that has a better fate!

[Rigga]

Wow! - I can't remember the last time I saw a piston-engined Whirly? Let alone a "Tube" one.


Apart from the front "Arty" bit - and the Legs - Has the Top been painted White or has this been cobbled together from a selection of spurious panels?

(I loved working on Whirly Mk10's 1975-80)

[Bravo73]

Apart from the front "Arty" bit - and the Legs - Has the Top been painted White or has this been cobbled together from a selection of spurious panels?

The top of the cab and the top of the tailboom (the TR shaft cover, I presume) are actually painted a yellow colour. A very similar yellow to the SAR Whirlwinds actually, so maybe the airframe is a composite of several aircraft.

After a quick bit of googling, it would appear that the same airframe made an appearance at this year's Glastonbury festival: Glastonbury 2009 - Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums (http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?p=1435832)

http://forum.keypublishing.co.uk/attachment.php?attachmentid=174774&thumb=1&d=1247519539

[David Clarke]

A brief history can be found here
UK Serials (http://www.ukserials.com/)
Just follow the link for XK

Dave

[leader12uk]

At least it has faired better than the Gazelle at the same location!!!!!The New Mutate Britain Exhibition One Foot In The Grove Is Launched - Telegraph (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/culturepicturegalleries/6268941/The-New-Mutate-Britain-Exhibition-One-Foot-In-The-Grove-Is-Launched.html?image=1)