Westland Wessex SAR helicopters Search and Rescue RAF Leuchars Fife Scotland UK GAV 1004
The Westland Wessex is a British turbine-powered version of the Sikorsky S-58 "Choctaw", developed under license by Westland Aircraft (later Westland Helicopters), initially for the Royal Navy, and later for the Royal Air Force. The Wessex was built at Westland's factory at Yeovil in Somerset. The Wessex was first used by the RAF in 1962, and did not finally retire until January 2003, being the main transport helicopter until the introduction of the Aérospatiale Puma. The bright yellow RAF machines used for air-sea or mountain rescue duties became especially famous and saved many lives. The Navy pressed the development of the into the improved , coming into service in 1967. It saw embarked service on the County Class destroyers. The HAS could be identified by a dorsal radome and strake extending behind the "hump". Wessex helicopters were also used by the Queen's Flight of the RAF to transport VIPs including members of the British Royal Family, from 1969 to 1998. Those Royal helicopters were designated and were essentially similar to the but with an upgraded interior, additional navigation equipment and enhanced maintenance programmes. A later version used by the Royal Marine Commandos was the 16 former RAF Wessex were supplied to Uruguay. The Uruguayan Navy received 5 helicopters in 1998, with the Uruguayan Air Force taking delivery of 11 helicopters in three batches from 2000 until 2003. Crew: Two pilots (civilian type 60 Wessex cleared for single pilot operation in UK) Capacity: 16 troops or 8 stretchers Length: 65 ft 8 in ( m) Rotor diameter: 56 ft 0 in ( m) Height: 16 ft 2 in ( m) Disc area: 2,463 ft² (229 m²) Empty weight: 8,304 lb (3,767 kg) Loaded weight: lb (kg) Max takeoff weight: 13,500 lb (6,123 kg) Powerplant: 2× Rolls-Royce Gnome turboshaft, 1,535 shp (1,150 kW) each Maximum speed: 133 mph (212 km/h) Range: 480 miles (772 km) Service ceiling 10,000 ft GAV 1004
Size: 6077px × 3999px
Location: RAF Leuchars Fife Region Scotland UK
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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