I visited a firm in Liverpool today and spotted this rather battered Wessex in the next compound. It seems to belong to a company called Laser Combat Liverpool, but I can’t identify the fuselage at all despite a fair bit of digging on the internet. Any of the experts out there know any more?
Just off Dunnings Bridge Road near Copy Lane cop shop, for those who know the north end of Liverpool.
Apologies for the rather poor quality. This picture was taken on my phone, and it’s a pretty hefty crop as well.
By: viscount - 12th April 2017 at 20:28
Members of the Merseyside based ‘North West Air News’ (nwan) forum have been out and using ‘Scouse’s’ clues have got a better look (and clear photos) of the Wessex – with photo confirmation that is indeed XS885/512:DD.
http://derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/24360/wessex-sighted-industrial-premises-liverpool
NB. The ‘smiley’ being a ‘Dee Dee’ code when initially typed.
By: viscount - 12th April 2017 at 20:24
Members of the Merseyside based ‘North West Air News’ (nwan) forum have been out and using ‘Scouse’s’ clues have got a better look (and photos) of the Wessex – and photo confirmation that is indeed XS885/512:DD.
http://derbosoft.proboards.com/thread/24360/wessex-sighted-industrial-premises-liverpool
Mods, please delete, it seems I can’t’.
By: Scouse - 6th April 2017 at 11:07
Thanks for the feedback. From looking at pictures out in cyberspace, I’d agree that the airframe is XS885. Next time I’m up that way, in the next few days, I’ll be armed with a proper camera and my nicest ‘please can I photograph your helicopter’ smile 🙂
Watch this space.
By: Lee Howard - 5th April 2017 at 22:17
It is XS885, ex-Culdrose. It had gone from the SFDO to Predannack but was then returned to Culdrose in a bid to hopefully preserve it due to its rarity value. Unfortunately it was pretty much beyond redemption by that stage and the decision was taken to dispose of it. Thankfully, IWM Duxford have a near pristine example on display in 815 NAS colours. Beautifully restored.
Watch out for a Haynes Manual on the Wessex coming later this year!
By: Sabrejet - 5th April 2017 at 15:10
Other differences include the starters. Mk1 Avpin and cartridge, MK 3 LP air.
Spoilt on Mk.2: all-electric 🙂
By: Paul Holtom - 5th April 2017 at 14:54
A good picture of the sonar in this thread!
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?141822-Wessex-helicopter-instruments-id-amp-pic-request
MM, can you help with any of the outstanding queries?
I’ll have a look Smirky. I never worked on the MK3, however I know a man who did. He is ex HMS Hampshire and Fife flight. The name Humphrey was given to the aircraft when on Hampshire flt.
By: Paul Holtom - 5th April 2017 at 14:40
Other differences include the starters. Mk1 Avpin and cartridge, MK 3 LP air.
By: Sabrejet - 5th April 2017 at 12:27
It’s a Mk 1 Wessex. The mk3s were always extra dark sea gray and yellow. Sonar in the cabin and a radome above the cabin. My first squadron out of training in 1973 was 771 then at Portland. We only had the mk1. 737 Squadron on the other side of the runway had all the mk3s and parented the county class destroyers ships flights.
I bow to your expertise: my 3 years were solely on Mk.2s, so anything without Gnomes was just considered strange.
:eagerness:
By: smirky - 5th April 2017 at 09:26
It’s a Mk 1 Wessex. The mk3s were always extra dark sea gray and yellow. Sonar in the cabin and a radome above the cabin. My first squadron out of training in 1973 was 771 then at Portland. We only had the mk1. 737 Squadron on the other side of the runway had all the mk3s and parented the county class destroyers ships flights.
A good picture of the sonar in this thread!
http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?141822-Wessex-helicopter-instruments-id-amp-pic-request
MM, can you help with any of the outstanding queries?
By: Jagx204 - 5th April 2017 at 09:12
Looks like XS885 formerly of Predannack https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/XS885 doesn’t look like the past few years has been kind to it.
Rob
I would agree with that assessment, XS885 was advertised for sale by eBay very recently and was noted road running some days later.
It was transferred from Culdrose to Predannack, then returned back to CU, the eBay pics included in the sales blurb were taken at the later location.
There are not many HAS1’s left, even fewer (if any) other than XS885 in such a distinctive scheme….
By: Paul Holtom - 5th April 2017 at 08:49
It’s a Mk 1 Wessex. The mk3s were always extra dark sea gray and yellow. Sonar in the cabin and a radome above the cabin. My first squadron out of training in 1973 was 771 then at Portland. We only had the mk1. 737 Squadron on the other side of the runway had all the mk3s and parented the county class destroyers ships flights.
By: smirky - 5th April 2017 at 07:32
Yes, my mistake:stupid:
By: Sabrejet - 5th April 2017 at 06:14
Or as HAS Mk.3: both had Gazelle.
By: smirky - 4th April 2017 at 22:27
Clearly a HAS1 or HAS3, you can see the Gazelle engine exhaust holes and doesn’t half look like XS885 which was up for sale recently.
By: Bosun - 4th April 2017 at 21:25
Looks like XS885 formerly of Predannack https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/XS885 doesn’t look like the past few years has been kind to it.
Rob
It is a Wessex Mk1 or 3 and the colours are of 771 NAS (Ace of Spades) SAR Squadron at Culdrose
By: farnboroughrob - 4th April 2017 at 21:02
Looks like XS885 formerly of Predannack https://abpic.co.uk/pictures/registration/XS885 doesn’t look like the past few years has been kind to it.
Rob
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April 4, 2017 at 8:42 pm