Westland Wessex HCC4 XV732

Westland Wessex HCC4 XV732

  • The Wessex was a British version of the Sikorsky S-58 helicopter, re-engined with a Napier Gazelle turboshaft engine
  • Two Wessex helicopters formed part of the Queen's Flight on 27th June 1969
  • First service flight on 2nd July 1969
  • During August 1970 XV732 assisted in two emergency operations at sea
  • Her Majesty The Queen made her first helicopter flight aboard XV732 on 10th August 1977
  • Transferred to No 32 (Royal) Squadron on 1st April 1995
  • Final Royal flight completed on 25th March 1998
  • Completed final flight on 31st March 1998, having accumulated 10,949 flying hours
  • Donated by the Ministry of Defence to the RAF Museum
  • Transferred to RAF Museum London on 26th March 2002 for display
  • Displayed as part of the Historic Hangars Collection at the RAF Museum
ManufacturerWestland Helicopters (United Kingdom)
Aircraft typeCivilian helicopter
Length 65ft 9in
Rotor diameter 56ft 0in
Height 16ft 2in
Weight 8,304lb (empty)/13,500lb (loaded)
Speed 132 mph
Ceiling height 10,000ft
Engines2x Bristol Siddeley Gnome turboshaft producing 1,350shp
Range 310 miles
Crew2 crew