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Four Westland Whirlwinds of No. 2 Flying Training School?
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Four Westland Whirlwinds of No. 2 Flying Training School?
Four Westland Whirlwinds of No.2 Flying Training School, RAF Shawbury, near Shrewsbury, make a final flight over their base on 17 December 1980, to mark the withdrawal of the type from the training role after 26 years of service. The gate guardians are a Bristol Sycamore helicopter and a de Havilland Vampire T11. Date: 1980
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Media ID 18387207
© The Royal Aeronautical Society (National Aerospace Library)/Mary Evans Picture Library
1980 Final Four Mark Role Shrewsbury Westland Withdrawal Base December Shawbury Whirlwinds
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In this evocative photograph, four Westland Whirlwind helicopters of No. 2 Flying Training School (FTS) perform a final flypast over RAF Shawbury in Shrewsbury, England, on 17 December 1980. The iconic Whirlwinds, which had served as the primary helicopter trainer for the Royal Air Force (RAF) for over two decades, were being withdrawn from service. The scene is marked by the presence of a Bristol Sycamore helicopter and a de Havilland Vampire T11, which acted as gate guardians at RAF Shawbury. The Sycamore, a versatile utility helicopter, and the Vampire, a jet-powered trainer, stood proudly in the foreground, framing the four Whirlwinds as they made their final approach. The Westland Whirlwind, a versatile and reliable rotorcraft, had been in service with the RAF since the late 1950s. It had been an integral part of the training syllabus for both helicopter pilots and air crew, providing them with essential skills and experience. The aircraft's distinctive silhouette and characteristic sound had become synonymous with the RAF's helicopter training programme. As the Whirlwinds completed their final flypast, the RAF community gathered to bid farewell to this legendary training aircraft. The occasion marked the end of an era, as the RAF prepared to welcome new helicopter trainers into their ranks. The photograph captures a poignant moment in aviation history, as the Westland Whirlwinds, once the backbone of the RAF's helicopter training programme, took to the skies for the last time.
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