Westland Wessex (UK BMFA Nationals 2015)

Richard Crapp at the UK BMFA Nationals takes to the air in the scale competition with a Westland Wessex. More at / essentialrc
The Westland IV first flew on 21 February 1929 at which time it was powered by the 95 hp Cirrus engine. This prototype was registered as G-EBXK and was certified for a crew of two and four passengers. The second machine had Hermes engines and a metal rear fuselage. The third machine, G-ABAJ, was modified to take the 105 hp Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major engines as well as some other changes and became the prototype Westland Wessex. The two Westland IVs were subsequently converted to Wessexes giving 10 aircraft in total.
The Wessex was noted for its reliability and ability to make short landing runs. This made it attractive to Sir Alan Cobham in 1935 when he was looking for a small airliner to use for a service between Guernsey and the UK mainland. Previously, flyingboats had been used to provide a service between Portsmouth and St Peter Port on the island. There was no public airfield at the time on Guernsey, only the private airfield at L'Eree run by the Guernsey Aero Club, of which Sir Alan was a member. The Wessex was certified as the only commercial aircraft to use L'Eree. Cobham Air Routes Ltd used the following Wessex aircraft:

[@davebishop8162]

Hullo Dominic, Just a "tiddly bit" of info, the Christian name of the British champion is Richard and very nice man. Co hope that you are fit and well. All the best, Dave Bishop of DB Sound.