Warbirds Online
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • RSS
Socialize with Us:
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Warbird News
  • World War 1
  • Warbird Gallery
    • Australian Flying Corps
    • Bomber Images
    • Fighter Images
  • Contact Us
Search the site...

Westland Wessex Mk31B ex RAN N7-214 to AAHC Qld

July 24, 2017 / warbirdman / Naval Aircraft, Warbird News, Warbird Restorations Projects, Warbird Showcase
4
Crane lifts Wessex N7-214 onto trailer prior to transmission removal

The Australian Aviation Heritage Centre (Queensland) has secured ownership of Westland Wessex Mk31B ex Royal Australian Navy N7-214, WA214 as part of a tender arrangement with the Commonwealth of Australia. Warbirds Online was on hand to assist with the recovery and transport of the new acquisition to Caboolture Qld. AAHC (Qld) members and volunteers, along with the support of RAAF and Navy personnel dismantled the aircraft at Williamtown NSW RAAF base last week in preparation for the move to the AAHC (Qld) base at Caboolture Qld.

The aircraft is a longtime resident at Williamtown, having served as a training aid since retirement from service on 31 December 1989. Thankfully the aircraft has been located in a hangar most of its training aid life and is thus dusty and dirty, but complete and sound.

Work starts on dismantling AAHC Qld Wessex N7-214 -doppler antenna removal
Removing doppler antenna
Wessex N7-214 hoisted on Crane & loaded on truck to AAHC Qld
Wessex N7-214 loaded on truck

AAHC Qld Wessex N7-214 transmission removal
Removing transmission
Loading Wessex N7-214 transmission on truck
Loading transmission on truck

Work commenced on moving the aircraft on 16th July 2017 with a survey of the aircraft and then implementing the dismantling plan which included removing the main rotor blades, removal of tail rotor, doppler antenna from fuselage belly, port and starboard HF antenna stand-offs from tail cone and fuselage sides, antenna cabling, both main wheels and then the landing gear once the transport dollies were placed in situ to support the aircraft. Then the engine nose-cone was removed and the tail rotor folded back onto the fuselage.

The large Helicopter was then lifted onto a flatbed semi-trailer and securely tied down for the long drive back to Caboolture, a distance of 800 plus kilometers. All of the other components were packed into the fuselage or onto the AAHC Qld trailer for the trip home to Queensland which commenced on Friday 21 July 2017.

The long haul relocation was uneventful and she arrived at her new home safe and sound. Volunteers and members immediately began work to quickly reassemble her main components upon arrival at Caboolture.

Wessex N7-214 dismantling team - AAHC Qld RAAF & Navy
Dismantling team
Wessex N7-214 Squadron badge
Squadron badge

Wessex N7-214 internal view
Wessex internal view
Wessex N7-214 tail rotor drive folded over
Tail rotor drive folded over

It is planned to restore the aircraft to pristine static condition and display her alongside the fellow Vietnam era DHC4 Caribou A4-228 and the airworthy Cessna Birdog O-1 to represent this era of Australian Military Aviation.

History of Westland Wessex Mk31B,ex Royal Australian Navy N7-214, WA214

This aircraft was ordered as part of a 27 aircraft order with Westland of the UK in 1963 as an Mk 31A, generally similar to Mk 1, but with a 1,540shp Gazelle Mk 162 engine. Ordered for the Royal Australian Navy for anti-submarine duties and served for 26 years, operating with RAN FAA Squadrons 723, 725, 816 and 817 Squadrons, on HMAS Melbourne, Sydney, Stalwart, Tobruk and Success and also with Australian Army in support roles.

N7-214 was built at the Westland plant at Yeovil, Somerset, United Kingdom as an Mk31A and was later converted to Mk31B standard with uprated engine and other updates. The aircraft first flew on 18/02/63 and served with distinction in the RAN even spending time in Vietnam on several occasions on HMAS Melbourne and HMAS Sydney supporting the Australian Army. The aircraft survived several incidents in service including an accident on 19/11/74. N7-214 was part of a 4 ship fly-past of the type at HMAS Albatross, Jervis Bay NSW in 1989 at the retirement of the type from RAN service and was then transported to the RAAF base at Williamtown NSW and spent a fairly quiet time in retirement until 2016 when it was put up for disposal and subsequently awarded to AAHC Qld.

Wessex N7-214 leaving Williamtown RAAF base
Leaving Williamtown RAAF Base
Wessex N7-214 leaving Williamtown to AAHC Qld
Leaving Williamtown to AAHC Qld

Wessex components leaving Williamtown RAAF base
Wessex components leaving Williamtown
Wessex N7-214 convoy at Taree roadhouse
Convoy to AAHC Qld

It is planned to restore the aircraft to pristine static condition and display her alongside the fellow Vietnam era DHC4 Caribou  A4-228 and the airworthy Cessna O-1 Bird Dog to represent this era of Australian Military Aviation.

Channel 10 News provided coverage of the Wessex move.

Warbirds Online will continue to report on the restoration of this aircraft.

© John Parker 2017

 

Australian Warbirds, Helicopters, RAN historic aircraft, Warbird Restoration Projects

4 comments on “Westland Wessex Mk31B ex RAN N7-214 to AAHC Qld”

  1. Peter Roach says:
    July 24, 2017 at 9:18 pm

    Great photos John

    Reply
    • warbirdman says:
      August 7, 2017 at 10:16 am

      Hi Peter
      Thanks for getting in touch and we appreciate your comments. We enjoyed working on this project and hopefully can do so on many more to come.
      Kind regards
      John

      Reply
  2. Madelyn Martin says:
    July 25, 2017 at 8:38 am

    A great aircraft, enjoyed working on them, fond ,memories.

    Reply
    • warbirdman says:
      August 7, 2017 at 10:15 am

      Hi Madelyn
      Yes its a great aircraft and we have enjoyed preserving it for others to appreciate.
      Kind regards
      John

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Search Warbirds Online News

Warbirds News by Aircraft

  • Warbird News
    • Aermacchi
    • Antonov An-2
    • Avro Anson
    • CAC Wirraway
    • Chance Vought F4U Corsair
    • Curtiss P-40
    • de Havilland Drover
    • de Havilland Mosquito
    • GAF Mirage
    • Grumman TBM Avenger
    • Hawker Hurricane
    • Hawker Sea Fury
    • Hawker Tempest
    • P-51 Mustang
    • Reggiane Re.2000
    • Sopwith Pup
    • Supermarine Seagull
    • Supermarine Spitfire
    • Westland Sea King
  • Warbird Restorations Projects
    • Avro Anson
    • Bristol Beaufighter
    • Bristol Beaufort
    • Bristol F.2B
    • CAC Boomerang
    • CAC Mustang
    • CAC Wirraway
    • Consolidated B-24 Liberator
    • DAP Beaufighter
    • de Havilland DHC-4 Caribou
    • de Havilland Mosquito
    • Douglas C-47
    • Fokker Dr.1
    • GAF Canberra
    • General Dynamics F111
    • Hawker Demon
    • Hawker Hunter
    • Lockheed Hudson
    • Lockheed Neptune
    • Lockheed P-38 Lightning
    • Messerschmitt Bf 109
    • Supermarine Spitfire
  • Warbird Showcase
    • Aviation Museums
    • Aviator Biographies
    • Cold War Aircraft
    • Feature Videos
    • Fokker Collection
    • Helicopters
    • Naval Aircraft
    • Warbird Airshows
    • Warbird Book Reviews
    • World War 1

Warbirds Online Archives

He has faith in Beaufort poster courtesy of AWM ARTV09054
Career for youth air training corps poster - courtesy Australian War Memorial ARTV04289

Hawker Hurricane

  • Hawker Hurricane 5481 VH-JFW & Supermarine Spitfire Mk VIII VH-HET flypast at Scone
  • Hawker Hurricane Serial No 5481 Mk XII IIB-VH-JFW

CAC Mustang

  • Post flight -Mustang A68-118
  • CAC Mustang VH-AUB at WOI 2019

Classic Aircraft

  • 1935 De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth VH-UUL
  • Waco EGC-8 Special flies into Scone

Focke-Wulf FW-190

  • Focke-Wulf FW-190 VH-WLF  towed to hangar
  • Focke-Wulf FW-190 VH-WLF at WOI17

RSS Vintage Aviation News

  • CAF Airbase Georgia Updates P-47 Thunderbolt Restoration Project October 16, 2025 Moreno Aguiari
  • Randy’s Warbird Profiles: Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a October 16, 2025 Adam Estes
  • Today in Aviation History: First Flight of the Short Sunderland October 16, 2025 Austin Hancock
  • EAA AirVenture Oshkosh Dates Confirmed Through 2029 October 16, 2025 Moreno Aguiari

Get in touch:

  • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Linkedin
    • Twitter
    • RSS

Copyright

No part of the publications or images at www.warbirdsonline.com.au may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher, Warbirdsonline Enterprises.

Website Terms & Conditions

Disclaimer

Our Privacy Policy

(c) 2012 - 2023 WarbirdsOnline Enterprises - Web Design by Avion Designs