JAN WALENTOWICZ - HELICOPTER XD163

XD 163 restored and on display in the Helicopter Museum

 

Since I wrote the original story of Jan Walentowicz and the follow up of his post war RAF career, fresh documents have come to light showing that one of the helicopters he flew in the Malayan Emergency was to be restored and displayed in the Helicopter Museum at Weston super Mare.  It came to light that this particular airframe had been modified but was the very first Westland Whirlwind delivered to the RAF.

Jan Walentowicz supplied copy Flying Log pages to the museum regarding his time in Malaya when he flew XD163 for a trouble free 82 hours and 5 minutes in total.  He notes in his letter to the museum that this was when our helicopters were fitted with tired and worn out old Pratt and Whitney engines removed from North American Harvard aircraft.

The helicopter has been beautifully restored and is now to be seen in the Helicopter Museum at Weston super Mare.

 

XD 163 on its way to be restored

 

 

 

With thanks to the Helicopter Museum, Weston super Mare for the use of the photographs and to Paul Walentowicz for the documentation.