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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Sikorsky S-55 / H-19 / HRS / HO4S / Whirlwind
    Latest Model:Whirlwind HAR.3
    Last Military Serial:XG588 RN
    Construction Number:WA.083
    Last Civil Registration:VR-BEP
    Latest Owner or Location:East Midlands Aeropark, East Midlands Airport (North Side), Castle Donington, Leicestershire / Leics, England

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    Dates

    Event

    Constructed as a Whirlwind HAR.3 by Westland at Yeovil, Somerset.

    30 September 1955

    First flight.

    Taken on Strength/Charge with the Royal Navy with s/n XG588.

    Transferred to HMS Albion.

    1957

    Transferred to HMS Warrior.
    Seconded to HMS Warrior for the Christmas Island Hydrogen Bomb tests and during the tests, code named Operation Grapple the aircraft flew as a plane guard and in the transport role.

    Transferred to RNAY Donibristle.
    Sent to Donibristle for overhaul.

    Transferred to 701 Squadron, Lee on Solent.

    Took part in the unusual trials with the Amphibious Warfare Unit lifting a 2CV pickup vehicle.

    To Bristows.

    Converted to RR Gnome power.

    To unknown owner with c/r G-BAMH (WESTLAND S55 SERIES 3, WA83).

    Used for aerial exploration and survey work in Nigeria and the Middle East.

    To unknown owner with c/r VR-BEP.
    Operated in Bermuda.

    To Warden Park College, Cuckfield, Essex.

    13 May 1986

    To East Midlands Aeropark, East Midlands Airport (North Side), Castle Donington, Leicestershire/Leics, England.
    View the Location Dossier

    Restored.
    Painted to represent a Royal Air Force Air Sea Rescue version.

    27 November 2011


    Photographer: Terry Fletcher
    Notes: On display at Aeropark Museum at East Midlands Airport
    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.
    Credits
     Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...
    Internet Sources
     Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom
    Individual Contributors
     Terry Fletcher
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