Helicopter Westland Wessex HAS.31 Serial wa209 Register N7-209 used by Fleet Air Arm (RAN) RAN (Royal Australian Navy). Built 1962. Aircraft history and location
Westland Wessex Mk.31A, c/n WA209, f/f:15/12/62, del RAN as N7-209, 819, 13Jan63 Ditched 31/05/87, off Bondi NSW. LCDR(P) K.Alderman RAN, LCDR(P) Kinross RAN, POA Hartford & LSA Brown. Aircraft was enroute to RockHampton (Qld) to exercise with USN Battle Group and was to embark on the aircraft carrier USS Midway. Engine failed at 500 feet altitude. Crew rescued by LEUT Reyne in Wessex 836. Aircraft floated for about 45 minutes before one of the flotation bags burst and aircraft turned upside down. Towed to Botany Bay, recovered, stripped of spares and used as Firefighting Training Aid at NAS Nowra.
