And of course the wonderfully "crossed over" wiper system ensured that if one pilot's wiper stopped working the
other pilot had his feet swimming in hydraulic oil. So who should fly it?
Answers on a postcard to the Yeovil Glue Factory......
Some more good dits on Wessex systems....
When the RAF decided they wanted the Wessex (which became the Mk 2), they based the requirement on the already-in-service Junglie Mk 5.
[off at a tangent here - why was the Mk 5 before the Mk 2? In them days if the RAF and the FAA had the same type, FAA would have odd numbered Mks and RAF even numbers. As the RN already had Mks 1 & 3, RAF got Mk 2 - and subsequently Mk 4 for TQF]. Back to the dit.
The Mk 5 had the folding tail, to save space below deck. RAF thought such a thing dangerous, Cue following dialogue:
RAF: We really like the Wessex Mr Westland, but we'd like ours without the folding tail.
Mr W: But that's the way it comes.
RAF: But we really really really want ours without the tail fold.
Mr W: OK - but it'll cost yer.
Very soon, RAF discovers you can also save space in hangars -
quelle surprise! Cue following dialogue:
RAF: Excuse me Mr Westland, we really love our Wessex (Wessi?) but would love them even more if you could retrofit them with the folding tail.
Mr W: OK - but it'll cost yer.
So pay twice for what you could have had for nothing!
Next dit: was once talking to someone at Yeovil about rotor-blades, and the magnificent ones on the Sycamore, crafted by wizened old men in brown dust coats, a box of formers and a Surform. With these skills they imparted taper, washout and all those other P of F things which I can no longer remember.
The trusty NACA 0012 section of the Wessex blade only had washout.
Teeters: So how is the washout introduced?
Mr W: A process called Cold Dry Torsion.
Teeters: Wassat??
Mr W: Well, we secure one end of the blade, and apply torsion to the other until we get the required level of washout.
Teeters: So you put one end in a vice, apply a crowbar to the other end, and then heave.
Mr W: Err
