Lawn ornament anybody?
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From: UK
Lawn ornament anybody?
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: UK
There is a great paintball place just North of Birmingham, that has a 'Vietnam' game, in which the object is to defend a downed helicopter in the jungle. They have a Whirlwind in RAF SAR colours as the main prop for the game!
Safice it to say that I was shot and killed within about 15 seconds of the game starting trying to get into the cockpit to make a great escape...
Safice it to say that I was shot and killed within about 15 seconds of the game starting trying to get into the cockpit to make a great escape...
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From: SW England
Do you think it'd be worth my while pointing out that calling it a jet helicopter is probably risking some kind of improper-advertising prosecution? Looks very much like that nose has never seen a Gnome.
Joined: Mar 2002
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From: UK
Yup,
There was a great article in Pilot a couple of years ago, all about them. Some great stories regarding the bullet-proof nature of the old-radial engine and the combustable nature of the magnesium fuselage!!
Well worth a read.
CRAN
There was a great article in Pilot a couple of years ago, all about them. Some great stories regarding the bullet-proof nature of the old-radial engine and the combustable nature of the magnesium fuselage!!
Well worth a read.
CRAN
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Gold Coast, Queensland
I think because of the droop in the tail, it is a Whirlwind Mk7 which had an Alvis Leonides radial, can't remember how many cylinders, 11 or 13 I think, with a cartridge starter in front. The Whirlwind Mk3 had a straight boom & a Wright Cyclone radial. The crank handle took 72 turns for 1 engine revolution which had to be done before the first start of the day. The starter had a blow out disk and could be neatly replaced by a 10 cent coin when necessary!
I had the pleasure of doing 300 exciting hours in these off both Bulwark & Albion & in Malaysia and lived to tell the tale!
I had the pleasure of doing 300 exciting hours in these off both Bulwark & Albion & in Malaysia and lived to tell the tale!
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Gold Coast, Australia
Nigel,
You (& I) would have flown this little gem, in the Duxford Museum
Re the Alvis Leonides Major 755/1 750hp, there were 9 cylinders, and you could hear each one fire up during the start....
Rumour used to be that you could walk across Portland Harbour on the wrecks of ditched Whirlwinds, without touching the bottom
ps 10 cent coin.......in the 60's
You (& I) would have flown this little gem, in the Duxford Museum
Re the Alvis Leonides Major 755/1 750hp, there were 9 cylinders, and you could hear each one fire up during the start....
Rumour used to be that you could walk across Portland Harbour on the wrecks of ditched Whirlwinds, without touching the bottom
ps 10 cent coin.......in the 60's
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: Gold Coast, Queensland
John
You suggesting I'm old enough to fly museum aircraft?!!
The 10 cents was Malaysian.
What is the rego? Seeing that low air intake reminds me how worrying it was when you dunked the front wheels in a Portland wave.
You suggesting I'm old enough to fly museum aircraft?!!
The 10 cents was Malaysian.
What is the rego? Seeing that low air intake reminds me how worrying it was when you dunked the front wheels in a Portland wave.
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Gold Coast, Australia
You suggesting I'm old enough to fly museum aircraft?!!
Yes.
It is XK936, and was with 845 from 1957-58, then 848 from 1958-62. Issued to 706NAS in 1966, it was with them until 1974. I last flew it in June 1969
Putting the wheels in the water: remember trawling with the Sproule net? I can still hear the soft Irish brogue of the Chief Aircrewman mildly suggesting that I go up a bit -
"me bl**dy feet are getting wet!!"
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From: Alderney or Lancashire UK
The aircraft on Ebay sat outside Botany Bay in Chorley as a museum piece, alongside a jet provost. Both went from there some months ago. Last time I looked at it it had a gas turbine, presumably a Gnome, in the nose.
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Gold Coast, Australia
but I have several hundred hours in XS863, the Wessex 1 alongside it in your photo.
Wunper sent me these photos from his family album, taken in 1957 with 700H. Trials (or training?) with the Sproule net:
Nigel..........
Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Alderney or Lancashire UK
Speechless two,
You are probably right about it being a different aircraft to the photo. The owner of this one owns and has owned a variety of aircraft including a jet ranger. An A109 regularly operates to and from this site as well so I assume he knows a jet helicopter when he sells one.
I notice it didn't reach its reserve so he's probably still open to offers.
You are probably right about it being a different aircraft to the photo. The owner of this one owns and has owned a variety of aircraft including a jet ranger. An A109 regularly operates to and from this site as well so I assume he knows a jet helicopter when he sells one.
I notice it didn't reach its reserve so he's probably still open to offers.
