Helicopter Museum, Weston-s-Mare visit 02/03/16

[graham]

On a freezing cold, gale force winds day, the thought of a couple of hours indoors was very enticing. Entrance fee is just £7, great value. This was my first visit for nearly ten years and when I compare the shots I took then with those I took today, you can see quite easily how the collection has grown. In fact my only criticism is that the helis are packed in so tightly now, it is almost impossible to get a decent shot of anything.

Here's what was inside, I'll sort out the photos tomorrow. I also took some shots of the stuff stored outside from the new road that runs parallel with the museum. I ticked stuff off on a list I took with me so what I saw is in alphabetical order by manufacturer as per that list. Some appear to have dual identities and I logged about a dozen that weren't on the list.

G-AZYB (OO-SHW) BELL 47H
66-16579 BELL UH-IH IROQUOIS
G-BIGP BENSON B8M GYROCOPTER
G-ASCT DITTO
XG452 (G-BRMB) BRISTOL BELVEDERE HC1
XG462 DITTO
G-ALSX BRISTOL SYCAMORE 3
XL829 BRISTOL SYCAMORE HR14
G-BAPS CAMPBELL COUGAR
G-AWRP CIERVA GRASSHOPPER 3
ZH647 EH INDUSTRIES EH-101
F-WQAP EUROCOPTER SA365N DAUPHIN
XE521 FAIREY ROTORDYNE
XJ928 (G-AOUJ) FAIREY ULTRALIGHT
G-ASTP HILLER UH-12C
67-16506 HUGHES OH-6A CAYUSE
D-HAOY KA-26
G-ORVB McCULLOCH J-2
81+00 MBB Bo105M
SP-SAY Mi-2
09147 Mi-4
96+26 Mi-24
51-16622 PIASECKI HUP-3
2007 PZL-SWIDNIK SM-1
1005 PZL SWIDNIK SM-2
G-OTED ROBINSON R-22
XL811 SARO SKEETER AOP12
G-ARVN SERVOTEC GRASSHOPPER 2
S-881 SIKORSKY UH-19B BOOM INSIDE, FRAME OUTSIDE
A-41 SUD AVIATION ALOUETTE 2
F-OCMF SUD AVIATION SA321F SUPER FRELON
CDL SUD AVIATION SO1221S
G-AVKE THRUXTON GADFLY HDW-1
WG719 WESTLAND DRAGONFLY HR5
XW839 LYNX WG13
ZE477 LYNX 3
G-LYNX LYNX 800
XX910 LYNX HAS2
XP165 SCOUT AH1
XT190 SIOUX AH1
XT443 WASP HAS1
XM330 WESSEX HAS1
XM328 WESSEX HAS3
XV733 WESSEX HCC4
ZS782 WG25 MOTE DRONE
G-BGHF WG30-100
G-BKGD WG30-100
G-ELEC WG30-200 OUTSIDE
G-HAUL WG30-TT300
XK940 WHIRLWIND HAS7
XD163 WHIRLWIND HAR10
XR486 WHIRLWIND HCC12
G-AODA WHIRLWIND SRS 3
5N-ABW (G-AOZE) WIDGEON SRS 2

THE ONES BELOW WERE NOT ON THE LIST BUT ALL WERE INSIDE ON DISPLAY, ANY HELP WITH TYPES APPRECIATED...;0)
N5840T OUTSIDE BY CAFE GARDEN WG30
MM80927 AB-206C
05-1482 OH-50D GYRODYNE
G-ATFG BRANTLY
G-TIGE AS332 SUPER PUMA
G-BYMP CRICKET MK1
128
XA868 BOOM ONLY WHIRLWIND HAR1
G-EHIL EH-101
G-WBAT WOMBAT GYRO
618
G-BVWL AIR & SPACE 18A

[filair]

Hi Graham.I think the "new road" is the old runway!

[graham]

Hi filair, you may well be right, the new road is very wide in places, far wider than needed for regular traffic

[denwil189]

Never been to the Museum, but will be going on Friday 8th March, looking forward to seeing the collection, thanks for the update list Graham.

[graham]

You'll certainly enjoy it Den. Parking is free and there's a good café on site

[filair]

On the 19th and 20th March they have a spotters weekend when the "hulks"are viewable.

[graham]

Are there any others apart from those visible from the road filair? There are loads of helis on the official list that are marked as "complete" and "stored" so I assume there's another facility somewhere?

[filair]

Hi Graham,there are some Skeeters in containers there which were opened up last year.
Also a couple of things by the large hangar which may not be visible from the road,but these were partly covered up.
There was one frame on its side which you may not be able to see too well from the road as well.
I don't know if they keep anything anywhere else though.

[graham]

OK, thanks

[graham]

Apart from the stuff outside which I photographed from the road, there are also two derelict frames under plastic sheeting just beyond the fence by the carpark. No idea what they might be.

[filair]

One of them is the remains of a Harrier that was used for some trials.
I cannot recall what it was but I think it was suspended for whatever it was used for.
It used to be with the Bristol Aero Collection,it was not possible to see it uncovered last year.

[graham]

Cheers Bob, I must get around to posting the photos

[graham]

Lads, these are the frames visible outside from the road that runs parallel to the museum buildings. The reggies have very kindly been tied up for me by the chaps over on Civilian Aviation, so many thanks to them. I'll post the photos then the reggies after.

Photo # 1
IMG_7471 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

Photo # 2
IMG_7470 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

Photo # 3
IMG_7469 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

Photo # 4
IMG_7468 by Graham Brown, on Flickr

Photo # 5
IMG_7467 by Graham Brown, on Flickr


Photo # 1
WG-30 Test Rig 022

Photo # 2
L S-881 Sikorsky S55
C G-ANFH Whirlwind 3
R XR526 Wessex HC2

Photo # 3
L G-ANJV Whirlwind 3
C XG596 Whirlwind HAS7
R S-881 Sikorsky S55

Photo # 4
L XS149 Wessex
R XT472 Wessex

Photo # 5
XS486 Wessex

Cheers lads, hope that sheds some light on those frames outside. The Bristow's Wessex in the maintenance area is G-AVNE