Friends of The Helicopter Museum

Restoration Highlights

Five helicopters are currently being restored at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare. These, described below, are :- * Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG452 * Bristol Belvedere HC.1 XG462 (nose section only) * Westland WS-51A Widgeon Series 2 G-AOZE / 5N-ABW Westland Wessex Series 60, G-AVNE Westland Wessex HAS.3, XM328 Also on these pages, following completion of restoration in 2001, are :- * Westland Wasp HAS Mk.1 XT443 and * Bell 47H-1 G-AZYB / LN-OQG / SE-HBE / OO-SHW following completion at the end of 2002 is:- * Kamov Ka-26 D-HOAY / DDR-SPY / DM-SPY and following completion in 2008 is:- *Westland Whirlwind HAR Mk.10, XD163

		Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 Whirlwind, XD163, arrived at The Museum in 1991 and spent several years in the open air. Following a structural survey it was decided that some comprehensive restoration was necessary before it could be returned to static display. Work was started in July 2003 and completed in March 2008. Restoration page.1, page 2, pge.3, pge.4, pge.5, pge.6, pge.7 and History

		Westland WS.51A Widgeon Bristow Helicopters' Widgeon G-AOZE / 5N-ABW served in the Middle East and Nigeria before being acquired by The Museum in 1986. Restoration started in 1994 and continued, with some interruptions, until 2003 when it was re-painted in Bristow 1958 livery, for static display at the Fairford Royal International Air Tattoo. Restoration and History

				Bristol Belvedere HC.1 Belvedere XG452 was brought into the Restoration Hangar in 2001. Since then all the old paint has been removed and many items have been taken apart, refurbished and re-assembled. Much remains to be done in 2008. Restoration and History

			Bristol Belvedere HC.1 (Nose) The nose section of Belvedere XG462 was retained by the RAF, following a fire and forced landing in 1963. It was acquired by The Museum in 1989 with restoration starting in 2002. This was 95% completed in 2005 and the nose was put on public display. Eventual installation of a Gazelle engine is planned. Restoration and History

				Westland Wasp HAS.1 Wasp XT443 served with No. 829 Squadron, on several Royal Navy frigates, as an anti-submarine and anti-surface vessel helicopter. Acquired by The Museum in 1995, restoration was completed in 2001. Restoration and History

				Bell 47H-1 Bought by Sabena, in 1956, OO-SHW accompanied a Belgian Antarctic Expedition in 1957-59. After five subsequent owners it was damaged in a crash and then acquired by the Museum 1984. Following restoration, it went on static display in 2001. Restoration and History

			Kamov Ka-26 The Ka-26, D-HOAY arrived at The Museum in 1997. Restoration started in 2000 and the machine was 'rolled out' in 2002. The Ka-26 was one of the most successful commercial helicopters produced in the USSR. Its inter-changeable load pods allowed use for freight or for passengers. Restoration and History

		Westland Wessex Series 60 Wessex 60, G-AVNE, arrived at The Museum in 1987 but serious restoration was not started until 2008. It was in service with Bristow Helicopters, as a 16-passenger transport supporting oil and gas rigs in many locations, from delivery in 1967 until final withdrawal from service in 1981. Restoration and History

			Westland Wessex HAS.3 Wessex HAS.3, XM328, went on public display at The Museum in June 2006 but was moved into the newly-built engineering hangar in June 2007, for extensive restoration work. Built as a Mk.1 in 1959 but upgraded to HAS.3 configuration, it carried search radar in a distinctive dorsal dome. Restoration and History