Wessex instrument panel

I noticed your request last night and emailed The Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group, the very nice people who now own the Mk1 at Doncaster.
Amazing what you can acheive by asking the right people.
They replied within a few hours with the pictures below. I hope they are what you are looking for cos I wouldn’t want Radpoe Meteor scrambling about in his weakened condition. I’m sure that he was going to ask permission of course…………… 😀

Incidentally, it is worth recording that the problems came from within the museum movement last year. The scrappings at Cosford are a prime example. If Jon had not saved the Prince at the last moment, that would have also been a victim (albeit it would have survived, just not in the same shape!).

Bruce

The problems at Cosford are a prime example of the museum movement coming together and doing what they can afford to do, given the limited funds at their disposal. British Airways were content to let all the aircraft be scrapped until the rest of the museum movement refused to allow it and took on what they were able to afford. Sadly, there were still some that “got away” and they are now lost forever.
The biggest problem facing the museum movement at the moment is lack of proper funding.

Blade tracking

I have to agree with Lindy’s lad on this one. I’ve carried out hundreds of tracking operations on Whirlwind and Wessex helicopters. The method was both safe and effective.
Assisting the droop stops with a wooden pole was another regular event and carried out from a small servicing platform on the side of the Whirlwind, however the operation wasn’t carried out with the rotor at full RPM, it was close to shut down when the stops were supposed to go in of their own accord (about 80rpm I think) so the aircraft had a fair old wobble to it with 2 blades sat nicely on their stops and the third playing silly b*****s. It had to be done though, the alternative was to risk the rogue blade chopping the tail off if the rotor brake wasn’t so good – and they really weren’t so good.
I’ve not changed a main leg on a hovering helicopter but once had to land a Whirlwind on some hastily piled flour bags from the catering flight when the nose leg dropped out.
Health and safety? When there’s all them rotating bits just by your head you act very safely indeed believe me.

Latest

Police in West London are concerned at the large number of people lined up outside Harrods apparently waiting to show their behinds in the window.

Well done TVOC – a fantastic acheivement!

Discendo Duces, Why don’t you send more details to the BAPC Secretary so he can bring it up. [email]secretarybapc@btconnect.com[/email]

158 views and no posts? disheartening really…

Don’t be disheartened Peter, 158 people were interested enough to view your post but were unable to answer your question, so what’s the point of posting a reply?
I’m afraid that like the other 158, I don’t know what they are either but hopefully someone will come along soon who does. Be patient my friend.

First to fly with Turbine Engine??? or last one in RAF Service (Looks like CFS badge on the side).

First to fly with the turbine engine was XJ398 and the last to fly in RAF service was XP345 with 84 Sqn in Cyprus. Both of these historic aircraft are owned by the Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group at Doncaster Aeroventure. They still run the Gnome engine in 398 from time to time.