Jul16 still at the Wings of Eagles discovery centre at Elmira, NY, USA. She has been out in the open for the last 10 years awaiting restoration. A small amount of preservation work has been done.
Saturday October the 8th 2016. I sat in the cockpit of XJ763, at Elmira airport, for the first time in 46 years. The last time was when I was flying her out in Singapore/Malaysia in 1970. She is in a rundown state having been stored in the open for the last 10 years. Some restorative work is being done now which will lead to her sporting an orange and white US SAR colour scheme but still with the RAF registration and markings displayed. The engine and all the transmission are still fitted, and the cockpit is fully instrumented apart from the pilots clock and the co-pilots altimeter that are missing. I pointed out that the tail rotor blades are fitted back to front. It is not their fault as it was delivered that way, and the blades have not been OFF since then. Bill Thompson S/L RAF retired
2021-09-20
Elmira New York, USA
XJ763 updates sporting the proposed US Coast Guard paint scheme, now completed. Still carries RAF registration and tail insignia. A possible get-together for a mini reunion in this USA location?
