The journey of Westland Wessex XT466

If you have visited the Kemble Engine Test Laboratory in recent years you may have seen our Westland Wessex helicopter, XT466, on site. We are pleased to announce that XT466 has found a new home at Morayvia, an aviation charity and museum in Speyside.

S & C purchased XT466 late in 2015 as a means of acquiring the two serviceable Gnome engines it contained. The company also welcomed the opportunity to investigate the gearbox and control system in situ, as several of the turboshaft rigs at the KETL make use of original Wessex components.

Once these components had been extracted, the decision was made to send the airframe to an organisation which would be able to restore and preserve the craft. Morayvia had contacted S & C previously about acquiring non-serviceable Gnome engines to display with their Sea King helicopter, and jumped at the opportunity to add a Wessex to their static display.

The helicopter was collected from Kemble in December 2017 and made the long journey by road to Scotland. Since then the team of volunteers at Morayvia have spent may man hours giving the interior and exterior a complete overhaul and new paint job. The end result is spectacular and XT466 is now on display. S & C are delighted to have been able to help provide the charity with a very popular exhibit, which represents the Royal Navy’s part in search and rescue up at Prestwick.