A VINTAGE Saunders-Roe Skeeter helicopter that has been stored in the Melksham area for over 20 years has been donated to the Wight Aviation Museum on the Isle of Wight. It was collected by a team of volunteers last month.
The helicopter (serial number XL765) had been built for the Army Air Corps in 1958 in the Saunders-Roe factory at East Cowes on the Isle of Wight, just a short distance from where it now resides in the museum at Sandown Airport.
It ceased flying in 1968 and was disposed of from RAF Wroughton. Shortly after, it passed through various owners including Leeds University who used it as a trade training airframe, and a public house in Hertfordshire, which had it on display in their beer garden.
John Phillips from Melksham and Adrian Brimson, who grew up in Atworth, purchased the helicopter in 2000 from the previous owner near Bedford, who had acquired it from the public house and kept it as a source of spare parts for his flying helicopter of the same series, of which there were only two flying. The helicopter, and the one owned by the Army Air Corps Historic Aircraft Flight at Middle Wallop, were grounded by the Civil Aviation Administration in 2005 due to possible corrosion in the main rotor blade spars.
During its time in storage, John and Adrian have acquired many parts to enable it to be rebuilt to static condition. With the Skeeter’s connection to the Island and not having time to complete the restoration, the pair decided to approach the Wight Aviation Museum to see if they would like it for their collection. After a couple of visits by them to inspect the helicopter and due to its obvious significance as being built on the Isle of Wight, they readily agreed to have it for their museum.
