What is it about the Wessex that makes people so fond of it?
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 221
Likes: 1
From: Gosport, UK
Nice SB
Worked on all those Bristow 60'S,not sure about the 55 but probally did,I was in Warri 77 for a few months, who is the 'Grunt' coming out of the bush in the 55 shot? looks like Jimmy Peebles, but he was not there at that time unless I'm mistaken,or maybe Martin Holmes, Bills young nipper!! sorry Martin.
Regards
Stace
Worked on all those Bristow 60'S,not sure about the 55 but probally did,I was in Warri 77 for a few months, who is the 'Grunt' coming out of the bush in the 55 shot? looks like Jimmy Peebles, but he was not there at that time unless I'm mistaken,or maybe Martin Holmes, Bills young nipper!! sorry Martin.
Regards
Stace
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
From: In the shadows
Bast0n - no, he's got the correct serial number. XT760 is underwater at the RN Diving School, Horsea Island, Portsmouth, having arrived there by road on 18 November 1997. It actually has the rear fuselage from XT604 which was an HC2.
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Sydney
Hope you don't mind this contribution - not from a pilot's perspective, but this is what makes me fond of the Wessex:
As a small child in the 1960s I spent several happy family holidays staying at the 'Hearts Content' bungalow at Praa Sands in Cornwall. Always a cause of huge excitement and frantic waving from the whitewashed wall at the front was the sound of an approaching Wessex flying low along the beach on it's way to or from Culdrose, and the mental image sits right there amongst the happy memories of wooden surfboards and raspberry mivvies!
Pretty sure I remember Whirlwinds doing a similar thing, too.
As a small child in the 1960s I spent several happy family holidays staying at the 'Hearts Content' bungalow at Praa Sands in Cornwall. Always a cause of huge excitement and frantic waving from the whitewashed wall at the front was the sound of an approaching Wessex flying low along the beach on it's way to or from Culdrose, and the mental image sits right there amongst the happy memories of wooden surfboards and raspberry mivvies!
Pretty sure I remember Whirlwinds doing a similar thing, too.
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 328
Likes: 0
From: Yorks
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,413
Likes: 0
From: England & Scotland
OK - £12k for XV720. So, who has the best story to tell about how they would use the aircraft such that a rich philanthropist happening on this thread will feel compelled to buy it for you?
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 63
Likes: 2
From: devon
Maybe doing 4 hours of training using XV720 ( 2 instrument sorties, a general handling sortie and a night navex) on 1st JANUARY 1969 could persuade a philanthropist that I was soft in the head and needed expensive rehabilitation!
Honestly can't recall how we celebrated Hogmanay just over the border in Northumberland in those days (can anyone?), but was really gobsmacked to find out from my bog-look that we ran a flying programme so intensive that day - but then we were the 1BR Corps helicopter bulwark against the Soviet onslaught.
And then in 1973 the boss decides we all need to go formation flying on 1st January- only volunteer to come with me was a cadet pilot from the ATC, possibly he needs the philanthropist more than me......
Honestly can't recall how we celebrated Hogmanay just over the border in Northumberland in those days (can anyone?), but was really gobsmacked to find out from my bog-look that we ran a flying programme so intensive that day - but then we were the 1BR Corps helicopter bulwark against the Soviet onslaught.
And then in 1973 the boss decides we all need to go formation flying on 1st January- only volunteer to come with me was a cadet pilot from the ATC, possibly he needs the philanthropist more than me......
Last edited by lsd; 7th February 2012 at 20:06.
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 912
Likes: 1
From: UK
Does anybody know something about the origin of the painting of Wessex 60 G-ATCA by " A. Hindle " that I understand hung in the Bristow board room at Redhill in years gone by?
I believe the artist was a Bristow pilot ??
I believe the artist was a Bristow pilot ??
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Wessex 31B Royal Australian Navy
G'day all...I am new to the forum, but also have a keen interest in the Wessex. Don;t quit know why, but a great looking aircraft me thinks
Anyhow here is a pic of RAN Wessex Mk31B at the Eden Wharf in Southern NSW in 1986(RAN Official) This aircraft was evetually destroyed at the fireground at HMAS Albatross in Nowra NSW after being struck off charge. I can remember clearly watching the Wessex at airshows at Nowra in the 70's and 80's. They were quite a fixture here in their day, constantly flying up and down the coast. A real workhorse.
Anyhow here is a pic of RAN Wessex Mk31B at the Eden Wharf in Southern NSW in 1986(RAN Official) This aircraft was evetually destroyed at the fireground at HMAS Albatross in Nowra NSW after being struck off charge. I can remember clearly watching the Wessex at airshows at Nowra in the 70's and 80's. They were quite a fixture here in their day, constantly flying up and down the coast. A real workhorse.
