Westland Wessex HC2, XR503 / WA/128, Defence Research Agency
This picture is © Martin Laycock and may not be used or published without permission.
Registration: XR503
Construction Number: WA/128
Military Unit: RAE Bedford
Model Westland Wessex HC2
Operator: Defence Research Agency
Airport: Boscombe Down (EGD / EGDM), UK - England
Airshow: Boscombe Down - Air Tournament International - 1992
Photographer: Martin Laycock
Date Taken: 13/06/1992
Date Submitted: 27/02/2010
Photographed in the static display during Air Tournament International 92 at Boscombe. This Wessex still wears RAE titles despite the fact that the RAE had been merged into the Defence Research Agency on the 1 April 1991. The research organisation of the Ministry of Defence later became known as the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) and later still, was part-privatised, resulting in the curiously named QinetiQ. This helicopter was last known to be allocated to the Defence Fire Training and Development Centre at Manston in Kent as a ground instructional airframe. Her original tail section has been replaced using the tail of XT463.
Picture ID:1217493