Ahhhh XW199 the first helicopter, indeed the first real aircraft I worked on in the RAF outside training! when it was on the OCU fleet. XW200 XW201 XW202 XW218 being the others, XW 218 replacing XW198 after it did a jig on the end of the lazy runway and beat itself to death..... It was bound to happen as Airfix produced the model of it..
As for the Bell 47, one autorotated at Cranfield and as it landed on heavy the bubble blew out in spectacular style, who needs emergency exits, when the cabin simply disappears from around you.
Whilst at Cranfield having left the RAF, I was suprised to see a couple of engineers frequently doing full burning and turning runs on a Gazelle, enquiring what will you do if you get ground resonance, the reply, "what's that?" didn't exactly give me much confidence... I didn't hang around.....
Last edited by NutLoose; 3rd Jan 2012 at 11:06.