XW892 | Westland Gazelle AH.1

  • Aircraft type: Westland SA.341B Gazelle AH.1
  • Construction number: 1165
  • Military serial: XW892
  • Civilian registration: G-CGJX

Born in 1974 at the Westland Helicopters factory at Yeovil in Somerset as a WA.341B (Gazelle AH.1) with the construction number WA1165. Initially ferried to RNAY Wroughton on 30 January 1974 for storage, until on 10 May 1974 when it was delivered to the Army Air Corps and 660 squadron at Soest, West Germany - the first squadron to equip with the Gazelle.

In 1985 it was transferred to 663 squadron and then on 14 July 1988 it was ferried to RNAY Fleetlands, Hampshire for storage. After a period of storage, in 1993 it was transferred to 3 Regiment at Wattisham and in 1994 was placed back into short storage before moving to 7 regiment and 658 squadron. In February 1995 it was moved to 666 squadron, still part of 7 regiment, at Middle Wallop, Hampshire before moving to Netheravon, Wiltshire.

On 11 July 1997 it was transferred to RAF Shawbury in Shropshire for storage, prior to receiving a maintenance serial of 9292M and then being demobbed - removed from military service.

After its service life, it now has a CAA civilian registration of G-CGJX and is currently being rebuilt by the Gazelle Squadron Display Team to flying condition. Once complete it will wear the colourscheme used by 29 Flight, Army Air Corps, part of the British Army Training Unit Suffield (BATUS), as shown in the artwork above.