What is it about the Wessex that makes people so fond of it?
Avoid imitations
Never saw that bit of the map, must be well south of Bessbrook. I'll ask someone who went there one night if he recognises it ...... 
Whatever happened to the Wessex Nose Design Department at Westland?
From their prodigious output over the years, I can only imagine hundreds of design engineers, supported by hundreds of prototyping technicians developing the products that were produced by further hundreds of classically trained artisans.
Each novel development further guaranteed never ending production due to the astonishing self-destructive powers of magnesium!
They were a great machine though.
From their prodigious output over the years, I can only imagine hundreds of design engineers, supported by hundreds of prototyping technicians developing the products that were produced by further hundreds of classically trained artisans.
Each novel development further guaranteed never ending production due to the astonishing self-destructive powers of magnesium!
They were a great machine though.
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I have only just discovered this site! Why did we love the Wessex 5? I flew it for 21 years or so off and on and it never ceased to amaze me how much abuse it could take. EOLs even possible without using any collective, engine failures that you did not notice unless you were looking at the time.(Ask many students!) Bouncing off trees and the ground at speed and best of all if you ran out of official power in a tight corner, just keep pulling and tell the engineers when you got back! Not many people know that a WX 5 also became probably the first helicopter to down a jet fighter. In 1982, post Falklands there I was thumb in bum on a Friday lunchtime, yes, I know that is a stupid time to fly when the Guinesss is calling, at 2000 feet in cloud when we hit a Sea Harrier. He had to return to Yeovilton damaged, and we landed at the Fox and Hounds in Charlton Adam to have a celebratory pint or two. Tough old bird? Oh yes!
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Wessex 5
Very true! There was a HUGE bang, violent yaw to the left, amazing nose dive and subsequent regain of control. Refused quicky GCA back to VL as suspected major mechanical failure, broke cloud at 200ft and landed at the Fox and Hounds, borrowed a fiver from the barmaid and drank it! The Harrier pilot, an american on exchange, knew what had happened as his windscreen filled with Wessex! We broke that frame that holds the pylon on by the fold hinge and took the top off the Harrier fin. It sounded better the first time though!! Tough old bird or what?
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Delighted to see you are still full of bulls**t. Your pre QHI course Whirlwind 9 acquaint taught me so much of how not to do it I remain eternally grateful. I have to agree the Wessex was a tough old bird but the only variant worth considering was the Wessex 3. Never been an autopilot to match it before or since.
Originally Posted by snarlie
I have to agree the Wessex was a tough old bird but the only variant worth considering was the Wessex 3. Never been an autopilot to match it before or since.
Fun days: LS Edge, he of climbing up the outside and knocking on the pilot's window while in a 30' autohover at night
Tying the non flying pilot's shoelaces together, behind the cyclic. "You have control"
Fuel state chicken: 12 minutes
"Roger, remain in the port wait"
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I think you may be confusing the Mk 3 with the Mk1 - the autohover height was 40`and when did you ever have a voltage spike that wasn`t beefer induced?
Last time I saw Leading Edge was as HLO on a North Sea helideck although that was a few years ago.
Last time I saw Leading Edge was as HLO on a North Sea helideck although that was a few years ago.
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Did any of you Wessex drivers work with 772 at Portland? Anybody remember the tame Bootneck grabbing left seat time whenever he could, vintage 1974?
A belated thank you to those who helped him on his way.
A belated thank you to those who helped him on his way.
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Wessex 5
Do you think I should drop Brad in it? Cato was less dangerous. Pip Pip old chum!
PS anyone know how to put photos in these posts? I seem to be missing the attachments button that is alledgedly at the bottom of the page.
PS anyone know how to put photos in these posts? I seem to be missing the attachments button that is alledgedly at the bottom of the page.
Follow this link for easy instructions on how to post images. The icon that you're looking for is this one:
HTH
Originally Posted by Snarlie
I think you may be confusing the Mk 3 with the Mk1 - the autohover height was 40`and when did you ever have a voltage spike that wasn`t beefer induced?
706's WxIII's nearly always had voltage spikes when moving to the ASW phase of AFT. Surface corrosion would often set in in the 6 weeks that the system wasn't used was the excuse.
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Wx 31B (RAN) was 125ft/30ft. I was under the impression that the W3 FCS was a duplex system and so reliable that, when fitted to the SK50, was made simplex. Certainly in my time on RAN SK's I cannot recall an FCS failure - went like it was on rails from 200ft to 70ft and back - all this in the South China Sea.
GAGS
E86
GAGS
E86
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Wessex 5
Look all you Pingers. As I understand it, no AS helicopter, in spite of all the millions of dollars/pounds spent on them has ever successfully used their sonars/autopilots/LS Edge to find and sink a submarine. All the while, all over the world since the parting of the Suez Canal, the Junglies have been doing an effective job in all sorts of areas, combining the operational effectiveness of old and underfunded aircraft with a joie de vivre unmatched by Pingers or Stovies.Will all you silent Junglies please stand up and tell us your stories? (Runaway ups and downs - stalling inlet guide vanes - being sick whilst drunk on the top of Snowden etc).I am bored to death with the minutiae of autopilots. Most of us managed perfectly well with an ASE. For goodness sake, you know you are too low when you hit what is beneath you. AS helicopters are as effective as throwing rolled up newspaper out of train windows to keep elephants off the line. I do it all the time, and it works. Have you ever seen an elephant on the line? No. No replies from the Indian subincontinent please. Oh god - I wish I had chosen my moniker more carefully! Some of you may have guessed who I am - be gentle.
My Wx III groundschool notes are still in the attic if not already recycled by the mice into a nest
In amidst the paper pulp was a mint condition, untouched, Nigerian licence, circa 1979, all set for renewal! Praise the Lord !! (obviously Scottish mice have more sense than you might imagine
Anyway, back to the Wessex.....
