Westland Wessex HC.2 XR500/A- No.78 Squadron Royal Air Force Sharjah Air Base Trucial States 1:72 Corgi Model

The Westland Wessex HC2 was a licence built turbine powered development of the classic American Sikorski S-58 Helicopter one of the world&8217;s first truly capable helicopters and one which finally established these aircraft as amongst the most useful for both military and civilian applications XR500 was one of a batch or 4 HC2 helicopters delivered in advance of the type&8217;s acceptance into RAF service and was used by the Wessex Intensive Flying Trials Unit at RAF Odiham in preparation for its squadron introduction It was later one of the founding aircraft of the re-forming No18 Squadron the first operational unit to receive the Wessex HC2 in January 1964 It would later join No78 Squadron and from 1967 operate from the vital overseas base at Sharjah in the Trucial States (now part of the United Arab Emirates) where in conjunction with other RAF units it would help to ensure the ongoing stability of the region Wearing this particularly attractive scheme these hard working helicopters would transport troops and supplies around the region whilst also being on hand to provide flexible airborne support whenever called upon XR500 was written off in April 1979 when it crashed into Hong Kong harbour whilst undertaking a winching exercise in poor weather &8211; thankfully the crew all survived the experienceDimensions 202 x 78 x 153Scale 172Limited Edition YesLimited Edition Size 600Rotorspan 226mmAge Suitability 14

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