Type: Wessex HU5

Serial: # XS 481

Current Location:
Aeroventure. South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum

Website:
http://www.southyorkshireaircraftmuseum.org.uk/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/112020578821360/

Side number: 522

History and how she looks now in Doncaster.
http://www.helis.com/database/cn/14354/ 

Notable Flights

25.7.79
Air Day incident, as described in Rescue Pilot chapter 9 “Summer Days, Doctors and Displays” when a joke by a Royal Marine nearly caused the loss of the aircraft.

16.12.79
After nearly eight hours in the saddle for the SKOELOS SKY rescue the day before (in another helicopter – see Rescue Pilot chapter 1 “A Greek Play”) we started at 0715 and spent another 4 hours 30 minutes today looking for wreckage after the sighting of a lifebuoy in the sea. Visibility down to 1/2 mile in rain. Vectored to the search by an RAF Nimrod, nothing found.

5.3.80
Scrambled with a Fireball for another Wessex with problems.

Photos

XS 481

522 (XS481) taking part in the Culdrose Air Day 1979. I’m flyng XS487 as the #2.

XS 481

522 (XS481) leading the other Wessex HU5s of 771 Naval Air Squadron 1980. I’m flying 23 as the tail end charlie.

XS 481

Explosions below, fighter jets above, and with smoke pouring out of the cockpit I can’t even see my own instrument panel.