By: Simon Beck - 22nd October 2012 at 01:43
Excellent reply and I thank you for your input here.
But it begs one question? What evidence is there that
the 141602 s/n was in fact reissued?
It would indicate that the 58-265 airframe was purchased
outright by Westland and that these funds were allocated
to the 58-444 airframe, hence the same BuNo. Just
speculation based on how the US numbering system works.
By: Dr. John Smith - 18th October 2012 at 20:52
Wessex XL722
Sikorsky HSS-1, c/n 58-265: del USN as HSS-1, 141602 for initial flight acceptance trials before being dismantled and shipped to Westlands for reassembly and use as UK Gnome engine and flight trials.
[BuNo #141602 re-used on HSS-1 / UH-34G, c/n 58-444; to Vietnam AF and w/o Mar 21, 1968]
XL722 Westland Wessex prototype Ex USN 141602. Westland c/n WA.1 Delivered by sea, re-assembled at the dockside and flown to Yeovil 24 June 1956 as G-17-1. Acquired serial XL722 in July 1956. This aircraft was test-flown for a time with its original 1525hp Wright R-1820-84 engine
To A&AEE Boscombe Down, then Lee-on-Solent. Re-engined with Napier Gazelle 11 and f/f in this configuration 17 May 1957. Re-engined with 1450 shp Napier Gazelle 13 in Sept 1957. To instructional airframe A2514 on 25 July 1961 To Staravia, Ascot by mid 1964, scrapped by 1968
sources
http://www.helis.com/database/cn/284/
http://www.aviastar.org
http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries17.html
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October 16, 2012 at 7:40 pm