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Wessex G-AYNC 'Sykes'

Can anyone tell me anything about this aircraft? What was it used for, and what happened to it?
G-AYNC
many thanks

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By: Newforest - 27th February 2008 at 15:20

You may be right, I am not the expert! Interestingly, G-AWXX was also owned by the Sykes Group Co. of Huddersfield. According to G-INFO, G-AYNC is owned by two owners in London, so maybe it does still exist?:confused:

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By: Auster Fan - 27th February 2008 at 13:38

Cannot trace that it is preserved, but David Burke would know wouldn’t he?:D The aircraft was c/n WA739 and presumably one of the 20 Mk. 60’s that Westlands produced for the civilian market.

I might be wrong and please correct me if I am, but wasn’t Bristow (and it’s overseas subsiduaries) the only operator of the Wessex 60? They certainly used them extensively in the North Sea in the 60s, 70s and early 80s.

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By: Newforest - 27th February 2008 at 09:23

Cannot trace that it is preserved, but David Burke would know wouldn’t he?:D The aircraft was c/n WA739 and presumably one of the 20 Mk. 60’s that Westlands produced for the civilian market.

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By: David Eyre - 26th February 2008 at 22:28

Registration history:
G-AYNC, VH-SJD, G-AYNC, G-17-1, G-AYNC, 9G-DAN

In Australia, as VH-SJD, it was operated by Mayne-Bristow Helicopters and based at Karratha (where I saw it) and also flew from nearby Point Samson. It operated under contract to Woodside Petroleum, carrying people and cargo to Woodside’s oil exploration ship. My Dad took a photo of it at Karratha, but I can’t find it amongst the thousands of negatives.

After being sold to Sykes, it operated in Accra, Ghana and then returned to the UK. It is believed (not confirmed) that it is preserved as 9G-DAN, at Turbine World, Honey Crook Farm, Redhill, Surrey.

Regards,
David

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By: Buster The Bear - 25th February 2008 at 20:25

It was based in Australia operating for a mining company. Returned to Bristow for major servicing, took up VH register at some point. 9G-DAN was another of its later identities. (Some of this is from memory).

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