Helicopters
Read More- Whirlwind HCC Mk8 - (BS0358) XN127 & XN126 1959 – 1964. Powered by the Leonides Major piston engine and derived from the naval version of the Whirlwind Mk7 the Whirlwind Mk8 finally received its Release to Service in October 1959 when XN126 was collected from Boscombe Down, XN127 was delivered from Westland Helicopter Ltd Yeovil on the 5th November 1959. Both helicopters remained on The Queen’s Flight (TQF) until replaced by the Whirlwind HCC Mk12 with a Gnome gas turbine engine in 1964.
- Wessex HCC Mk4 - (BS0359) HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh on board HMS Fife returning from Hillsborough Castle during the Jubilee year of 1977. On the 10th August 1977, HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh flew from the deck of HMS Fife to Hillsborough Castle in Wessex XV732, this was the first flight in a helicopter by the Queen. The return flight from Hillsborough to HMS Fife on the 11th August was carried out by XV733 (the aircraft in the photo). HMS Fife was the escort to the Royal Yacht (HMY Britannia).