Whirlwind Helicopter
sycamore, I replied ! Looks like there is a problem so if you send me another PM with your e-mail we may be able to establish two way contact.
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..
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..
Gentleman Aviator
That brings back memories of hovering the Mk10 in manual throttle over Holyhead harbour, during SAR training
"Well, it wasn't bad enough to chop you! It wasn't even quite bad enough to refly ...... but it was F***in' awful!!!"
Whereupon I was sent solo (!!) with the caveat "..and don't take the computer out!" .... like I was going to!
Unsurprisingly, I went SH (or SRT as it was called in them days.)
Herod - we enjoyed 'drums' together on the 21 September 66 !!
Bill McEachern took over from John Dixon and we served together again on 1563Flt/84 Sqn Akrotiri. Bill set something of a record for the Whirlwind for endurance. He took one solo on CT and flew to South Stack, selected computer out and wound the rotor rpm down to the 190s and slope-soared !!! He was so long away that we were getting concerned.
So many names spring to mind from that period (60s/70s)MP Nobby Clarke, Dave Whitely, (?) Spikins, at Valley, Chick W-H , George Puddy (my boss at TH and 84, Frank Barnes, Cedric Simons at TH.
One of the surprises at Th when I arrived, was recognising the boss of the Instructors Flt/Sqn - Pete Rover, then a Lt Cdr, last seen as an RAF Flt Lt Navigator on Valettas in Aden.- a small (and changeable) world.
Bill McEachern took over from John Dixon and we served together again on 1563Flt/84 Sqn Akrotiri. Bill set something of a record for the Whirlwind for endurance. He took one solo on CT and flew to South Stack, selected computer out and wound the rotor rpm down to the 190s and slope-soared !!! He was so long away that we were getting concerned.
So many names spring to mind from that period (60s/70s)MP Nobby Clarke, Dave Whitely, (?) Spikins, at Valley, Chick W-H , George Puddy (my boss at TH and 84, Frank Barnes, Cedric Simons at TH.
One of the surprises at Th when I arrived, was recognising the boss of the Instructors Flt/Sqn - Pete Rover, then a Lt Cdr, last seen as an RAF Flt Lt Navigator on Valettas in Aden.- a small (and changeable) world.
Remember a profusion of blue signs something along the lines of "Aircraft Spotters not admitted"? Never bothered my mates and me, always got to log everything on the airfield and in the hangars, was never chucked out.
Ah, happy memories of the pre-Harrier Whirlwind training at Ternhill in ’71. To get us fast-jet types used to ‘hoovering’ they gave us 6 hours of dual helicoptering, ending up with engine-off landings, and operating into and out of small woodland clearings.
After no more than half an hour of briefing on how it worked we were each issued with a rather jaundiced-looking QHI. Having carried out the boring bits, he cranked up, took off, and moved a discreet distance from the parking lot, handing over control immediately in the hover.
Great Sport! Because we didn’t have to bother with all the technical aspects, checklists, emergencies, etc., we could just concentrate on the handling.
After no more than half an hour of briefing on how it worked we were each issued with a rather jaundiced-looking QHI. Having carried out the boring bits, he cranked up, took off, and moved a discreet distance from the parking lot, handing over control immediately in the hover.
Great Sport! Because we didn’t have to bother with all the technical aspects, checklists, emergencies, etc., we could just concentrate on the handling.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
O-D. Bill Barrell's name is/was on the side of XP 299, on display at Hendon. I came across it at Cosford way back (1990?) . It shocked me, since it was the first time I'd seen an aeroplane I'd actually flown (25.10.66) exhibited in a museum. Now, I accept it as a matter of course. As an old friend once said "Anno Domini, old chap"
Re post 65: It's - Brendan - Spikens, sadly no longer with us. Nor is George Puddy
And turning to TTH and computer out in the WW10, a chap called Brian Bultitude (who was sadly wiped out on the M6), would fly much of the sortie computer out. His rationale was if you can fly it without the computer, you can do it with it 'In'.
O - D
And turning to TTH and computer out in the WW10, a chap called Brian Bultitude (who was sadly wiped out on the M6), would fly much of the sortie computer out. His rationale was if you can fly it without the computer, you can do it with it 'In'.
O - D
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What a fascinating thread, and also a tribute to those no longer with us, but not forgotten, I salute them all.
Avoid imitations
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The French exchange officer QHI who instructed at Shawbury on the Whirlwind 10 during my time as a student (Jean V) had flown most of his time in early Alouettes and had apparently never flown an aircraft with a fuel computer before (and he spoke very little English). His students hardly ever got to fly computer in!
However, after one student engine off landing, which had unusually been flown “computer out”, a slight mishandling of the flight idle stop/throttle combination when trying to get the Gnome engine wound up again from ground idle (rather than the usual flight idle) resulted in a spectacular plume of flame from the jet pipe and an unserviceable engine. A new entry appeared in the Flying Order Book within hours, banning computer out EOLs.
By coincidence, I worked for a short time with the previously mentioned Bren Spikins, in the Far East, when we were both civilian pilots. I was unaware that he was no longer with us.
However, after one student engine off landing, which had unusually been flown “computer out”, a slight mishandling of the flight idle stop/throttle combination when trying to get the Gnome engine wound up again from ground idle (rather than the usual flight idle) resulted in a spectacular plume of flame from the jet pipe and an unserviceable engine. A new entry appeared in the Flying Order Book within hours, banning computer out EOLs.
By coincidence, I worked for a short time with the previously mentioned Bren Spikins, in the Far East, when we were both civilian pilots. I was unaware that he was no longer with us.
Last edited by ShyTorque; 31st Oct 2021 at 22:30.
S T
Bren was a QHI on the HKAAF at one stage.
Ternhill story circa 1964: Saturday night in the bar lots of studs, many staff and ladies. QHI with low centre of gravity is telling a joke about the French and is standing with his back to another group in which the French wife of a Wing Co on JCSS was present. She clearly found the punch line too much to take and took off a stiletto heeled shoe and belted said QHI with it (v painful) QHI turns to stop the assault and grabs the lady's arms. Wg Co sees his wife wrestling and punches QHI - all this happening faster than I can write it.
Result: Wg Co sent to 'graveyard slot' at Cosford and QHI gets 2 1/2 years in Hong Kong !!! famous low CofG comes in handy in mess rugby (which is fairly close to QHIs real name but there were lots with same monica in rotary world, just as there were Prices)
Old Duffer
Bren was a QHI on the HKAAF at one stage.
Ternhill story circa 1964: Saturday night in the bar lots of studs, many staff and ladies. QHI with low centre of gravity is telling a joke about the French and is standing with his back to another group in which the French wife of a Wing Co on JCSS was present. She clearly found the punch line too much to take and took off a stiletto heeled shoe and belted said QHI with it (v painful) QHI turns to stop the assault and grabs the lady's arms. Wg Co sees his wife wrestling and punches QHI - all this happening faster than I can write it.
Result: Wg Co sent to 'graveyard slot' at Cosford and QHI gets 2 1/2 years in Hong Kong !!! famous low CofG comes in handy in mess rugby (which is fairly close to QHIs real name but there were lots with same monica in rotary world, just as there were Prices)
Old Duffer
Let’s have a little trundle through some of the Whirlwind names not already mentioned.
Peter Wilson
Geoff Cocks
John W Price, Henry Trevor Price, John P Price
Charlie Very
Geoff Cairns
Geof Bradshaw (note spelling)
Situ
Ron King
Sycamore (who has a real name!!)
John Dicken
John C Pate USAF
Bill Easterbrook
Bransby Roland Oliver (Bill to most)
Don Sissons
Les Fuggle (M Nav and probably the first licensed crewman)
I’m not sure if I can include John Dowling ‘cause he had a Dragonfly, Sycamore, Belvedere pedigree.
Tony Edwards
Chunky Lord
That’ll do for starters
O-D
Peter Wilson
Geoff Cocks
John W Price, Henry Trevor Price, John P Price
Charlie Very
Geoff Cairns
Geof Bradshaw (note spelling)
Situ
Ron King
Sycamore (who has a real name!!)
John Dicken
John C Pate USAF
Bill Easterbrook
Bransby Roland Oliver (Bill to most)
Don Sissons
Les Fuggle (M Nav and probably the first licensed crewman)
I’m not sure if I can include John Dowling ‘cause he had a Dragonfly, Sycamore, Belvedere pedigree.
Tony Edwards
Chunky Lord
That’ll do for starters
O-D
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O-D has already mentioned Bill Barrell. I remember him from when he was OC 84 Sqn B Flight Nicosia in the early 1970s. Other Whirlwind pilots that I recall on 84 B:-
Mike Lloyd
Dave Turner
Keith Dunning
Dave Cardus
John Garnons Williams
Brian Tomlins
Barry Hobkirk
Nigel Furness
Jim Bellingall
Chester Armstrong
Hamish ?
Mike Lloyd
Dave Turner
Keith Dunning
Dave Cardus
John Garnons Williams
Brian Tomlins
Barry Hobkirk
Nigel Furness
Jim Bellingall
Chester Armstrong
Hamish ?
Ah !, the nostalgia of names. Very few of those above that I don't recognise. Brian Bultitude gave me my introductory Whirlwind ride in April 64, at TH, I then went on to S&R training at Valley - Nobby Clarke, Stan Sollitt, Trev Trewanack, Gene Batten, Ricky Windon and Roy Bates. Much the same faces when I went back as an instructor.
'Hamish ?' might Hamish Cormack.
Finn Gordon initials DFM, which probably had some amusing uses
Jim Cheatham, David Collinson, Dick Holmes and so it goes on.
About a decade ago, I asked the then RN commandant at DHFS if I could have the course photos so as to compile a book, similar to a couple produced by Gordon Moulds for the Lightning and Phantom OCUs and sold for service charities. In his response he declined saying helicopter pilots were now guaranteed privacy - next day, TV had a lengthy interview with one of those!!
Old Duffer
Finn Gordon initials DFM, which probably had some amusing uses
Jim Cheatham, David Collinson, Dick Holmes and so it goes on.
About a decade ago, I asked the then RN commandant at DHFS if I could have the course photos so as to compile a book, similar to a couple produced by Gordon Moulds for the Lightning and Phantom OCUs and sold for service charities. In his response he declined saying helicopter pilots were now guaranteed privacy - next day, TV had a lengthy interview with one of those!!
Old Duffer
Avoid imitations
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