PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Any Borneo Whirlwind veterans here?
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Old 23rd May 2012, 15:54
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Fareastdriver
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: UK
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The top picture XR 456 is post confrontation as it was operated by 230 Sqn until they left Borneo in late 1966. Being ex RAFG you can see the Zwikky pump mounting on the lower starboard oleo.
The next picture was definately confrontation time because XP 329 was a reverse swop and came with 230 to Odiham.
The last is, I believe, XD183. The was the highest hours Whirwind and most of it was in the Far East. It went out as a Whirwind 2, came back to be converted to a Whirlwind 4 then came back again to be converted to a Whirwind 10. It had over 5,000 hrs on it and we were pushing the idea of flying it back to the UK. Unfortunately it had an engine rundown during Basatu Padu, the last major exercise in Malasia, and got bent in a coconut plantation. It was probably repairable but the MU was running down so it was presented to the Singapore or Malayasian Air Force as a metalwork trainer.
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