Westland Wessex HU5
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- Опубликовано: 4 янв 2020
- Westland Wessex HU5, XT461, G-WSEX, is currently the worlds only airworthy Mk.5 Westland Wessex.
An integral part of the Fleet Air Arm SAR story, the Westland Wessex was the mainstay of UK aerial SAR operations for many years, entering service with the Royal Navy in 1961 and serving until its final variant operated by the RN, the HU5, was withdrawn from service in 1988.
Whilst a very effective platform for Search and Rescue, the Wessex was actually the first helicopter operated by the Royal Navy to be designed from the outset as an anti-submarine platform. It was also the first helicopter in the world to be produced in significant numbers with a free gas turbine for an engine. The free gas turbine is effectively a jet engine where the exhaust gases revolve a turbine wheel, which in turn provides drive to the gearbox. This replaced the older piston engines which had powered previous helicopters.
The design features which made the Wessex such an effective anti-submarine helicopter were also highly desirable in a Search and Rescue helicopter. Fitted with an early automatic pilot system, the Wessex could operate in day or night and in all weathers. The Wessex was also quieter and less prone to vibration than piston-engine helicopters, qualities which were invaluable to the rear seat crews who were attempting to treat casualties. The load carrying capabilities of the Wessex were also a marked improvement on its predecessor, the Whirlwind, which allowed the Wessex to carry a greater number of casualties. Finally, the Wessex's new Napier Gazelle engine allowed the aircraft to be started very quickly, enabling the crews to respond to emergency calls quicker than they had been able to do previously.
In the anti-submarine role, the Wessex was developed from the HAS1 (Helicopter Anti Submarine Mk1) into the HAS3, whose advances included a superior radar and avionics fit, a more powerful engine, a more advanced weapons system and improved navigation features. However, it was the HAS1 which continued to equip Fleet Air Arm SAR squadrons, as many of these modern and expensive technological advances were geared more towards Anti Submarine Warfare. The next step in the aircraft's evolution was the Wessex HU5 (Helicopter Utility Mk 5) which was initially produced to meet the requirement for a battlefield transportation platform capable of moving Royal Marines from the decks of assault ships into action. The HU5 was adopted by the Royal Navy's SAR force, entering service with 772 Naval Air Squadron in 1976 before 771 Naval Air Squadron followed suit in 1979.
The HU5 was the most capable version of the Wessex for Search and Rescue. It was powered by two Rolls Royce Gnome gas turbines, providing nearly double the power of the HAS1. This gave SAR crews an extra range of some 90 miles, hugely expanding the area of SAR cover which could be provided throughout the UK and out to sea. This extra power also gave more options to SAR crews in actually carrying out rescues, as this greater power margin allowed the helicopter to be operated in more challenging conditions.
The Wessex finally finished its long and distinguished service with the Royal Navy in 1988, being replaced in its Search and Rescue, anti-submarine and commando transport duties by the Sea King. Whilst perhaps best remembered for its roles in the Falklands War, the red and blue SAR Wessex saved countless lives across the UK for many years during its illustrious service career.
Westland Wessex HU5 XT761
Constructors Number WA483
First flight 3 Oct 66 by Mr LCE De Vigne
707 Sqn Culdrose (uncoded) 6 Feb 67
848 Sqn (“Z”) by 7 Mar 67
RFA Resource Flt 23 May 67
848 Sqn (“J”) 4 Sep 67
847 Sqn (“J”:”J/S”) 2 Jul 69
847 Sqn (“J”) 24 Feb 70
848 Sqn (“J/A”:”J/B”:”VU/B”) 10 May 71
848 Sqn (“VU/B”) 4 Aug 73
846 Sqn (“VU/B”) loan 30 Mar 76
771 Sqn Culdrose (“521/CU”) 1 Jun 79
845 Sqn (“(Y)P”) 6 May 82
Airfreighted from Yeovilton in Heavylift Belfast G-BEPS to Base Flt, Ascension Island(“(Y)P”), arrived 12 May 82
To UK in RFA Oliver 28 Nov 83
Marshalls of Cambridge 3 Jun 86 (refinish)
Royal Naval Aircraft Yard, Wroughton 6 Nov 86 (reserve for 771/772 Sqns)
Air Electrical/Engineering School, Lee-on-Solent by road 12 Apr 88 as GI Class GRB A2767
To Shepperton Film Studios by road 5 Sep 91
Air Electrical/Engineering School, Lee-on-Solent by road 9 Sep 91: Re-allocated May 93 as GI Class GR(2) A2678(2)
Air Engineering & Survival School Sultan, Gosport by road 6 Nov 95
Static display at International Festival of the Sea, Portsmouth 24 Aug 98
Air Engineering & Survival School Sultan, Gosport by road 2 Sep 98
Extant Dec 08 (allocated to RN Historic Flight)
2018 - Andrew Whitehouse.
Filmed at RNAS Yeovilton International Air Day 2019.
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Fantastic to see this great beast fly again
I grew up opposite Kent’s country cricket ground in Canterbury. The yellow ASR version was in there often. Spent many an hour as a kid on the edge of the pitch watching these land and take off. Shut my eyes and listen to this video, takes me right back. Can almost smell it, too. My first flight in a chopper was in a Wessex. Was also in one when it auto rotated.
Used to play on the un used ones of the yellow wessex and westfields at RAF manston as a eight year old(1981),that were on their sides for the raf fire service to practice on....us not meant to be there obviously!!!!.....u had to play sideways helicopter pilots trying to rescue the aircraft...before crashing to a firey death....but then then the killjoy raf fireman would would turn up,tell us off,and take us home to get a smacked arse by our parents!!!....lol.....great days!!!....
Whirlwind..lol...not the large shopping centre one mile away!!!.....
Very well done display by the crew.
wesssexs are the most beautiful helis ever
Edit: For those who are interested the Wessex left British Military service (all branches) in 2003
Wessexes were a common sight (and sound) in the Northern Irish skies during Operation Banner, great to see at least one still flying 👍🏻
Fantastic!!!
Beautiful to watch👍
It should be called, the Old Man's Nose Helicopter.
One of these appeared in Full Metal Jacket during the Battle of Hue. Granted, the whole movie was shot in London
That’s what brought me here 😀
Hackney marshes I have be up in a wessex whirlwind mk9 at LM
Lossiemouth HMS FULMAR 1970S
Las fuerzas militares de Uruguay por error retiraron de servicio a estos grandes helicópteros , pero ojalá pronto se consiga remotorisarlos y ponerlos nuevamente en funcionamiento , helicópteros como los Westland wessex Uruguay nunca volverá a tener , estos si son grandes helicópteros y fuertes ...
The Falklands helicopter.
Is this the Wessex they used in Prince Andrews episode of the crown ?
Yes it was, XT761. Nice to see a non CGI or static historic aircaft in The Crown for once.
What is the nose extension please?
I think to accommodate an engine upgrade. The Sikorsky S58 had a similar facelift for the same reason.
Late response I know, but for anyone interested, the engines (Rolls Royce Gnome) are inclined about 45 degrees nose down attached to a coupling gearbox at their rear (underneath the aircrews feet/ floor) so the nose bulge is there to funnel air to the engines from higher up, away from the ground to prevent FOD/ objects on or close to the ground from getting sucked into the engines.
Side note, my favourite a/c to have work on followed closely by the buccaneer ex.22, 72 and 208 sqns
This veteran sounds a little alike their modern descendant and heir: the Black Hawk.
So ugly only its mother could love it.....reluctantly.
HAR5 if you don't mind!
Robert - According to all references about it that I can find it's referred to as an HU.5, but also had some service in the SAR role. I don't think there were any HAR.5 Wessex, instead being HAR.2 - are these references (Including CAA register record) wrong/am I wrong?
Following from 'Key Aero' - This coupled de Havilland Gnome-powered machine made its maiden flight from Yeovil on 3 October 1966 in the hands of former Pathfinder Force Lancaster pilot Leo Charles Evan DeVigne DSO DFC. The following February, XT761 went to 707 Naval Air Squadron, a commando helicopter training unit at RNAS Culdrose. It entered front-line service with 848 NAS at Culdrose the following month, and in May 1967 was allocated to the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Resource Flight, spending much of the next decade operating in the Far East with 846, 847 and 848 Squadrons. In June 1979 it became a search and rescue machine with 771 NAS at Culdrose, but during May 1982 it was allocated to 845 NAS for service on Operation ‘Corporate’ in the South Atlantic and was flown from Yeovilton in HeavyLift Shorts Belfast G-BEPS to Ascension Island, where it joined the 845 NAS Base Flight.
Returning to the UK on the RFA Oliver in November 1983, XT761 went back into an SAR scheme, making its last service flight on 6 November 1986 from Yeovilton to the Royal Naval Aircraft Yard at Wroughton where it was stored as a reserve airframe for 771 and 772 NAS. Shortly after the type’s retirement from Royal Navy service, the helicopter was taken by road to Lee-on-Solent in April 1988 to become a ground instructional airframe with the Air Engineering School, moving with the unit to nearby HMS Sultan in November 1995. During December 2008 it was earmarked - along with Wessex HU5 XT771 - for the Royal Navy Historic Flight.
In May 2013, both aircraft were roaded to Culdrose before being sold to Somerset businessman and helicopter aficionado Andrew Whitehouse, operating as Historic Helicopters. The Wessex arrived at his new, purpose-built facility near Crewkerne on 6 July 2017 for restoration.
Steve.
@@HighFlight. Oh don't mind me? I flew in Wessex Mk1 of 771 Sqdn. Mk3 of 737 Sqdn (and Mk 31B here in Australian Navy) And the Mk5 on 772 Sqdn! Yes they were designated HU when operating in that role, but HAR or HAS when in those roles.