I instructed on the RAF Puma HC1 OCU for a couple of tours. We used to get a fair number of ex Wessex pilots coming through. The first start up they experienced, the standard “Puma lateral dance” always caused them great concern. The Puma’s forward slanting main rotor mast, and very basic oil filled main rotor dampers allowed the main blades to swivel forwards, so they were no longer at 90° to each other. The mass imbalance caused the whole aircraft to rock left/right until the spin drier effect sorted it all out. Very worrying for pilots with time on the ground resonance prone Wessex.
A certain 72 sqn pilot at Odiham decided to authorised a Wessex sortie with a recently arrived, fresh out of the OCU young pilot. During start up they ended up with the aircraft lying on its side in dispersal after ground resonance set in. During the unit inquiry it was discovered that the flight had been authorised as “Pre Northern Ireland Shake Down” training. A legend was born, plus a new song written for the SH Song Book!
”There’s a Wessex on the ground (on the ground)
With it’s rotors going round (going round)
And it jumps up and down and shakes itself to bits
And gives its passengers the $hits, $hits, $hits!”
