Following on from our story in January 2017 on Westland Wessex N7-216 WA216 which was at that time located at the Australian National Maritime Museum at Darling Harbour Sydney NSW, Warbirds Online can now update the replacement and dismantling of the aircraft and reveal its ultimate destination.
Wessex N7-216 WA216 has been carefully dismantled from its elevated position in the Maritime Museum over the period 1st to 5th of July and replaced with S-70B Seahawk N24-006/875. We will be detailing the Seahawk presentation and display in a future new item.
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- Conservation work on Seahawk
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- S-70B Seahawk N24-006 875
Once the Wessex was dismantled and taken down from its place it was transferred directly to the Australian War Memorials new storage facility constructed adjacent to the Treloar Resource Centre, Mitchell, ACT. It was originally flagged that the Wessex was to be sent back to Nowra for display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum (FAAM) however the Museum currently has on display Wessex N7-226 WA226 836.
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- At the ANMM Darling Harbour NSW
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- Westland Wessex Mk31A N7-216 WA216
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- Westland Wessex N7-216
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- At the AWM Treloar Centre
As previously detailed in our news article this is the best preserved and pristine example of the Wessex one can imagine. The work put into its restoration is phenomenal and worthy of an award. RAN Wessex’s also participated in numerous rescues and natural disaster relief operations and many a sailor owes their life to these amazing old birds.
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- On HMAS Sydney
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- On the Vaung Tau Ferry run
The Westland Wessex was a very significant type to the RAN and the Australian Military and N7-216 WA216 represents the types Vietnam Wartime role as a Wessex on HMAS Sydney operating the famous Vung Tau Express/Ferry and indeed this particular aircraft served in that role on several occasions. The Wessex operated as an anti-submarine and transport aircraft. A lot of interest has been shown in the preservation of this iconic helicopter given its diverse roles in the RAN and its longevity as a type as originally the Wessex was viewed as a short to medium term aircraft pending the arrival of “more modern types” however when its record is examined it served from 1962 until 1989 (a long time for a helicopter). It is therefore very fitting that such an historic example should come into the Australian War Memorial collection.
The Wessex will be retained in the storage collection at Treloar Resource Centre until it eventually goes on display once the Australian War Memorial is fully redeveloped over the coming years.
Warbirds Online acknowledges and is grateful for the use of some photos in this story from the Memorial’s website and Australian National Maritime Museum.
© John Parker 2019