The pic at #55 of XP328 shows it as a 110 Sqdn a/c with the `dustbin `air filter fitted .It was formerly coded `B` on 225 Sqdn before
disbanding in Nov`65..It added about 100 lbs extra weight,and brought the C of G further forward,and if it got wet, it had a bypass that could be opened,but only before you got wet,otherwise a `slug` of mud would go down the engine...so we flew with it open ...
At # 58,I don`t remember wearing an immersion suit on 103 Sdn. as I did SAR at both Seletar and occasionally Butterworth,only an LSJ ,and that `blooody uncomfortable` back-pack dinghy...I remember once doing training /bumbling,probably ,with the winchman in the water,that a large `Vulcan` sized shadow appeared underneath the aircraft,,,the winch-op frantically shouted `UP,UP UP` as he winched in...from a somewhat heigher perspective it appeared to be a pretty big Manta Ray..!!
Over 20 years flying helos I had 1600+ hrs on 92 Whirlwinds of different Mks, 1xMk3-(Wright 1300 Cyclone),5xMk7(Alvis Leonides),1xMk9 (Gnome),the rest were Mk10s...one hydraulic failure,3 f/landings(2 engine failures,1 t/r failure) ...
From further back in the thread,I flew XJ729 the day after RAF Whirlwinds were `grounded` officially,as we had the aircraft at HQSAR Wing,and were doing a blade change on it,but `clipped` a `tip` with the tracking flag,so it was replaced overnight...Next day tracking done successfully,but `somehow we got a dose of ground resonance, recovery required an immediate leap into the air ,for 5 minutes``...OC SAR Wing Eng was not amused...so we had a "meaningful discussion" in my office...I had the coffee and biscuits....
Anyway,here`s one I prepared earlier in my `miss-spent `youth.....rebuilt and flying a month later..
