Anyone flown the Wessex?
It looks excellent Lee, well done
https://haynes.com/en-gb/westland-wessex-manual
Haynes Wessex Manual due out early next month, with thanks to several PPRuNers for their help in its preparation. :-)
Haynes Wessex Manual due out early next month, with thanks to several PPRuNers for their help in its preparation. :-)
May I politely suggest that the cover image and page 111 skeleton image, excellent as they are, shows a drawing of a 'dipping sonar' quite unlike the Type 195 sonar fitted to the HAS3 which is the subject Wessex. If not too late, that really could do with being corrected?
Sea King image, but the 195 is the same as the Wx3
Sounds good enough to me apart from John's sonar point (and there are bound to be a few other minor problems) - so I think I'll order a copy. Sneaking a peek inside the book on Amazon it looks very comprehensive - thank you Lee - come up and take a bow!
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When they used to be in Northern Ireland, i seen many an impressive turn of agility used to evade the scum on countless occasions, she was indeed a good tree topper
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Chaps
Thanks for the comments about the book. I had wanted to post a separate thread with thanks to all who helped from this forum, but I appear to be on moderation...
Regarding the cover shot, this wasn't my choice. The image was an archive one which had originally been drawn for FLIGHT many years ago. Unfortunately, and despite much trawling through many archives, I failed to find a suitable cutaway of a Mk.1 or one of the Gnome-powered variants which I would have much preferred. I suspected it would get criticised for being a Mk.3.
I did, however, choose the cover colours to try and cover both RN and RAF variants!
Lee
Thanks for the comments about the book. I had wanted to post a separate thread with thanks to all who helped from this forum, but I appear to be on moderation...
Regarding the cover shot, this wasn't my choice. The image was an archive one which had originally been drawn for FLIGHT many years ago. Unfortunately, and despite much trawling through many archives, I failed to find a suitable cutaway of a Mk.1 or one of the Gnome-powered variants which I would have much preferred. I suspected it would get criticised for being a Mk.3.
I did, however, choose the cover colours to try and cover both RN and RAF variants!
Lee
Chief Bottle Washer
Quite why you feel 'hard done by' because you
1. chose to flaunt the forum rules (posting Private Messages online and receiving a short restriction of posting on one thread, not as you maintain a ban on PPRuNe generally)
2. repeatedly complain online about moderation (prohibited under the T&Cs that you agreed to)
3. advertise your books in contravention of the same T&Cs
4. encouraged members to share reminiscences privately through PMs and emails instead of posting online for ALL to read and enjoy, which is the raison d'être of PPRuNe,
is a sign of your singular and selfish outlook. Not all can afford to purchase your book in order to read dits that you have garnered here for free.
And note that there is nothing preventing you from posting a seperate thread to thank members and PPRuNe for their assistance, and to share the stories that you received via PM and emails here for all to enjoy
Originally Posted by Lee Howard
From the emails I've received from other PPRuNe members about how you've treated me, it seems you've done this to others, too, and got something of a poor reputation for doing so. I can only assume that that you get some form of kick out of exerting this 'power' over people. All very sad.
And one last note: you said that 'not everyone can afford to buy' my books? On military wages/pensions? You seem to think that we authors sleep on piles of banknotes earned by stealing the sweat of poorly-paid aircrew memories? If so, you really don't have a clue.
And one last note: you said that 'not everyone can afford to buy' my books? On military wages/pensions? You seem to think that we authors sleep on piles of banknotes earned by stealing the sweat of poorly-paid aircrew memories? If so, you really don't have a clue.
And then you wonder why you got moderated.....................
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Wessex Manual
Just got a copy today ... what a splendid job Lee Howard has done - not a surprise I suppose considering his other publications, but still a joy to have such a treasure trove of memories of the dear old Wessie.
Lee has asked me to pass on his thanks to all those who gave their time and have helped and contributed to the book as he has been unable to do so publicly.
Lee has asked me to pass on his thanks to all those who gave their time and have helped and contributed to the book as he has been unable to do so publicly.
jayteet
As the only protagonist I know who's driven both double deckers (admittedly not from the top deck!) and the fine old Wessex, the bus loses out every time.
John E's memory is good for those figures, and I seem to remember a rotor span of 56ft and a height of 14ft 6in just like a Routemaster. The HU5 had an overload to 14000lbs with a running take off and when it went out of service wuth the RN a basic of pushing 10000lbs, hence a very limited usefulness.
The missiles were SS11 (A Tank) and AS12 (A Ship). Both wire guided, so no heroics as the aimer had to steer the sight with one hand and the missile with the other. The bunting and lobbing was done with the 2" RPs. Not strictly necessary but fun anyway.
Lu Z, it's a twin turbine S58 remember, not the S61 which became the Sea King. Got a good video of one of them doing a little more than the 30deg limit of bank too.
As the only protagonist I know who's driven both double deckers (admittedly not from the top deck!) and the fine old Wessex, the bus loses out every time.
John E's memory is good for those figures, and I seem to remember a rotor span of 56ft and a height of 14ft 6in just like a Routemaster. The HU5 had an overload to 14000lbs with a running take off and when it went out of service wuth the RN a basic of pushing 10000lbs, hence a very limited usefulness.
The missiles were SS11 (A Tank) and AS12 (A Ship). Both wire guided, so no heroics as the aimer had to steer the sight with one hand and the missile with the other. The bunting and lobbing was done with the 2" RPs. Not strictly necessary but fun anyway.
Lu Z, it's a twin turbine S58 remember, not the S61 which became the Sea King. Got a good video of one of them doing a little more than the 30deg limit of bank too.
Having just had a visit from HRH Thr Prince of Wales to the C'wealth Games here on the Gold Coast, I was reminded of this photo when he visited RNAS Culdrose for the Air Show (1972?). Didn't do much but the WxV with dayglo panels over the camouflage finish was quite unusual for the time.
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A was the first Wessex 5 we got in the IFTU & then it went into 848 Squadron. For unknown reasons it was 10 knots slower than the others & carried 100 lbs less. For that reason it was given to our CO, Lt Cdr Geoff Andrews to fly, so he couldn't go faster than us in formation! Some 2 years later in Singapore a civilian salesman selling a vibration gadget, forgotten its name, picked up the fault which Westlands couldn't, our engineers fixed what the gadget said & low & behold A gained 10 knots & 100 lb payload! The basic weight was well below 10000 lbs, don't remember the figure, the max weight was 13500 lbs, no overload allowed. It could easily pick up a 4000 lb Lamdrover & have plenty of fuel.
In Borneo the Wessex was often overloaded because of the confrontation problems & flown faster than vne. 2 rotor blades lost pockets which Westlands said was constant over weight flying! I'm sure we didn't! A great helicopter loved by the squadron! Don't know how to add photos!
In Borneo the Wessex was often overloaded because of the confrontation problems & flown faster than vne. 2 rotor blades lost pockets which Westlands said was constant over weight flying! I'm sure we didn't! A great helicopter loved by the squadron! Don't know how to add photos!
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The SS11 was not fired by the flying pilot but a trained SS11 pilot in the left seat, not easy to be accurate as we didn't get much practice. The left window was removed in the back so the crewman could pull the string on the machine gun to cock it & when jammed.
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As a SS11 aimer, I remember being trained at Culdrose chasing a white dot on a wall of a building.
Memory a bit vague now as that was 52 years ago - scary or what!!!
Never got to fire one for real but remembering having great fun at Castlemartin ranges with Jerry Knapp letting loose 2" rockets and the gpmg
TC
Memory a bit vague now as that was 52 years ago - scary or what!!!
Never got to fire one for real but remembering having great fun at Castlemartin ranges with Jerry Knapp letting loose 2" rockets and the gpmg
TC
In the 1970s we flew a couple of our Pumas to Compiegne to visit a French Army Puma squadron. They also had an Allouette squadron equipped with the SS11.
They had a simulator outside the hangar which gave you all the experience in real time of firing one. The dot on the screen would react as per the real thing and you had the local scenery behind.
They, and we, used to track the buses going in and out of the nunnery about two kilometres away.
They had a simulator outside the hangar which gave you all the experience in real time of firing one. The dot on the screen would react as per the real thing and you had the local scenery behind.
They, and we, used to track the buses going in and out of the nunnery about two kilometres away.
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Wessex location Falklands war
Hi chaps, can anyone settle an argument on the location of this Wessex Helicopter during the Falklands war, Mount Kent and Mount Challenger have been suggested, the helicopter seems to be getting loaded and no one is overly anxious, any help on the location would really be appreciated.
Bye for now Jimmy
Bye for now Jimmy
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Can anyone confirm the story, that in the early sixties, in Borneo, during the confrontation, an armed RN Wessex, fought off an attack by an Indonesian P51 Mustang, and chased it back over the border.
Or have I been dreaming ?.
It was a story I heard at the time.
Or have I been dreaming ?.
It was a story I heard at the time.
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You have been dreaming! We didn't have the means to attack a P51 plus it was a fair bit faster than our 90 kt cruise, so chasing a P51 was not an option! On 2 occasions near the border, I had a P51 fly up my right hand side to formate! I think he may have had his flaps down! After a cheery wave he flashed off over the border. I certainly never heard your story either before my time or during.
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Georg1na.
The Indonesians had some P51 & Mitchel bombers. Being petrol engined & not turbine engined, the RAF & RAAF fighters only had heat seeking missiles designed to shoot down jet engined aircraft & not petrol engined. Consequently the fighters were often requipped with machine guns. A few pilots told me the Indon aircraft used to fly next to them knowing they couldn't be shot down. I may be old with fading memory but I think I can still remember a P51 without the help of some Tiger!
The Indonesians had some P51 & Mitchel bombers. Being petrol engined & not turbine engined, the RAF & RAAF fighters only had heat seeking missiles designed to shoot down jet engined aircraft & not petrol engined. Consequently the fighters were often requipped with machine guns. A few pilots told me the Indon aircraft used to fly next to them knowing they couldn't be shot down. I may be old with fading memory but I think I can still remember a P51 without the help of some Tiger!