RAF Wessex Help - down under
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Gentleman Aviator
First quick look at the (excellent) photos would suggest most recently on No 84 Sqn in Cyprus. Not only was it the last RAF unit to fly the Wessex, but the blue stripe aroung the body and the Union Flag under the nose was used as they were - in part - on UN duties......
Will check the logbook(s) for more history on those partivular Wessi; I was never lucky enough to get a Cyprus posting, but the numbers look familiar.....
Will check the logbook(s) for more history on those partivular Wessi; I was never lucky enough to get a Cyprus posting, but the numbers look familiar.....
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
No Cyprus posting, but lucky enough to be detached to there for three months when 72 had Wessex there. '69, based Nicosia, before the division of the island. I'll check logbooks when back home.
The most Wessi in one place for a long time I think. I wonder if one may be airborne at some point?
The most Wessi in one place for a long time I think. I wonder if one may be airborne at some point?
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There is or was one in the UK Herod and one planned
https://www.navywings.org.uk/aircraf...raft/wessex-5/
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WESSEX DOWN UNDER - XT606
Have great memories of flying XT606 when on 72 Sqn at Odiham and in Northern Ireland for Operation Marginal.
It was not out in Nicosia on the UN detachment when I did my 3 month stint in 1969.
Flew it a total of 35 times/49.10 hrs according to my logbook.
Flights of note were around London with Bill Oliver as captain undertaking work for the Trans Atlantic Air race 5 May 1969.
I flew it twice during practices for the display for HRH Pricess Margarets royal visit of Odiahm.(8 May 1970). Flew the actual dipslay in XR520.
Glad to see it is still alive and hopefully kicking in the future.
Have great memories of flying XT606 when on 72 Sqn at Odiham and in Northern Ireland for Operation Marginal.
It was not out in Nicosia on the UN detachment when I did my 3 month stint in 1969.
Flew it a total of 35 times/49.10 hrs according to my logbook.
Flights of note were around London with Bill Oliver as captain undertaking work for the Trans Atlantic Air race 5 May 1969.
I flew it twice during practices for the display for HRH Pricess Margarets royal visit of Odiahm.(8 May 1970). Flew the actual dipslay in XR520.
Glad to see it is still alive and hopefully kicking in the future.
Yep, XR511 features 18 times in my log book and XT606 43 times, including pulling a car out of the sea and being hit by a brick! Ah fond mems of norn iron.
Last edited by Mogwi; 20th Sep 2018 at 15:59. Reason: Dyslexia!
An interesting history behind these Wessex in NZ;
Wessex loggers grounded
meleagertoo,
No plans to fly them. Classic Flyers has a quite large fleet of airworthy aircraft. I've flown five of them. However, they also have quite a few static exhibits.
Wessex loggers grounded
"Classic Flyers" kinda implies they actually fly things.
Surely they're not...er....?
Surely they're not...er....?
No plans to fly them. Classic Flyers has a quite large fleet of airworthy aircraft. I've flown five of them. However, they also have quite a few static exhibits.
Gentleman Aviator
Haven't forgotten my promise to check log books, but I'm away from them for a week or so - will research a bit more when I can.
Many/most Wessex served in more than one theatre; for example the Middle East ones - Aden/Sharjah/Bahrein - mostly finished up in HK IIRC.
I first flew the Wessex in 1970, and (nearly 3000 Wessex hours later) finally flew one in 1995. That's from memory, I'll be more accurate when I dust off the logbooks. Walter the Wessex figures in all 3 Volumes - in and around a few other types - so I'm sure I can provide some more detail on the cabs in question.
Many/most Wessex served in more than one theatre; for example the Middle East ones - Aden/Sharjah/Bahrein - mostly finished up in HK IIRC.
I first flew the Wessex in 1970, and (nearly 3000 Wessex hours later) finally flew one in 1995. That's from memory, I'll be more accurate when I dust off the logbooks. Walter the Wessex figures in all 3 Volumes - in and around a few other types - so I'm sure I can provide some more detail on the cabs in question.
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I have just joined this forum and am the person who posted the photos of the 5 Wessex helicopter on the WONZ website. We are hoping to obtain as much of the histories of these machines as we can so that when we come to sell four of them they will have some provenance.
If you have histories and especially personal memories of any of these machines we would love to hear from you.
If you have histories and especially personal memories of any of these machines we would love to hear from you.
I have 606 in my log book when art SARTU. We have washed one of the aircraft with just water and it comes up quite well. Main wheels are back on all of them, will be working on the tail wheels this week and then we will be able to move them as we need to re-park them in a couple of weeks. The public are very impressed with them and its keeping us volunteers going all day.
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Kiwi, ask in the rotary section too, as the guy that owns the UK ones and the spares used to post in there.
Some useful threads
Wessex loggers grounded
8 Wessex Helis and Spares - No reserve auction
Anyone flown the Wessex?
Calling all ex-Wessex personnel
Some useful threads
Wessex loggers grounded
8 Wessex Helis and Spares - No reserve auction
Anyone flown the Wessex?
Calling all ex-Wessex personnel
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I have just joined this forum and am the person who posted the photos of the 5 Wessex helicopter on the WONZ website. We are hoping to obtain as much of the histories of these machines as we can so that when we come to sell four of them they will have some provenance.
If you have histories and especially personal memories of any of these machines we would love to hear from you.
If you have histories and especially personal memories of any of these machines we would love to hear from you.
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The engines are probably worth a bit in their own right, they are used often in tractor pullling, and most of the surplus units in the UK ended up States side for that very purpose.
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No Cyprus posting, but lucky enough to be detached to there for three months when 72 had Wessex there. '69, based Nicosia, before the division of the island. I'll check logbooks when back home.
The most Wessi in one place for a long time I think. I wonder if one may be airborne at some point?
The most Wessi in one place for a long time I think. I wonder if one may be airborne at some point?
I think making one flyable again would be a big ask as they have been sitting around for at least 12 years. They were in a warehouse so that helps. The management of the museum are always keen to see whether we can get aircraft to a stage where we can start them and taxi them if at all possible. We have an Aeromacchi that we can taxi around at airshows and also A Grumman TBF-1 Avenger. We are currently working on a second Avenger now and are about to receive a Wright R2600 engine that can be rebuilt into a runner so we will be taxiing this around sometime in the future. Never say never but probably not.
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
Now I have access to the logbook.,.
XR 511 doesn't figure.
XS 675. Last flown 22 Apr 1968. Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Mirfa, Sharjah. Duties not specified. 78 Sqn
XT 606. Last flown 1 Sep 1970. 30 min dry winching. 72 Sqn
XT 680 Not flown
XV 730 Not flown
XR 511 doesn't figure.
XS 675. Last flown 22 Apr 1968. Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Mirfa, Sharjah. Duties not specified. 78 Sqn
XT 606. Last flown 1 Sep 1970. 30 min dry winching. 72 Sqn
XT 680 Not flown
XV 730 Not flown
Last edited by Herod; 30th Sep 2018 at 07:12. Reason: Sqn No.
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Thank you for the info, Herod. Do you have any memories both, good and not so good, that you would be prepared to share ?
There is or was one in the UK Herod and one planned
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Gentleman Aviator
At last I can give the detailed response promised. And I can claim a full house, having got all five in my log books.
Here goes:
XR 511 First flew her on 72 Sqn in April 1971, which was also my first ever sortie (of lots!) in Northern Ireland. On that tour flew 511 fairly regularly until June 1973, then again on 72 from May 1981 to August 1983.
XS 675 78 Sqn in Sharjah, I flew this one between September 1970 and February 1971. This included an operational sortie in the Mussandam Peninsula on Christmas Day 1971, the first of a few Christmas Day flights. Most memorably, a trip to Al Ayn in (now) the UAE, where we parked in the courtyard of Jahili Fort in January 1971.
XT 606 72 Sqn - for me - from April 1971 to March 1973, then again from May to July 1981. Finally at Shawbury - No 2 Sqn - between March and June 1989.
XT 680 Only seem to have flown this once! 78 Sqn Sharjah in June 1970.
XV 730 This one seems to have followed me a bit. Flew on 78 Sqn in Sharjah from October to December 1970, then on 72 Sqn in June 1981.
Hope this helps, or at least is of some interest.
Here goes:
XR 511 First flew her on 72 Sqn in April 1971, which was also my first ever sortie (of lots!) in Northern Ireland. On that tour flew 511 fairly regularly until June 1973, then again on 72 from May 1981 to August 1983.
XS 675 78 Sqn in Sharjah, I flew this one between September 1970 and February 1971. This included an operational sortie in the Mussandam Peninsula on Christmas Day 1971, the first of a few Christmas Day flights. Most memorably, a trip to Al Ayn in (now) the UAE, where we parked in the courtyard of Jahili Fort in January 1971.
XT 606 72 Sqn - for me - from April 1971 to March 1973, then again from May to July 1981. Finally at Shawbury - No 2 Sqn - between March and June 1989.
XT 680 Only seem to have flown this once! 78 Sqn Sharjah in June 1970.
XV 730 This one seems to have followed me a bit. Flew on 78 Sqn in Sharjah from October to December 1970, then on 72 Sqn in June 1981.
Hope this helps, or at least is of some interest.