Wasp #93 at Ysterplaat.
Wasp 93 and website author at AFB Ysterplaat in 2002
Taken by the website author in 1981 from the helicopter deck of the
SA Navy Flagship SAS President Kruger, SAS President Pretorius and WASP
HAS. MK1 operate south of Cape Point.
Note the forefoot of the frigate is completely out of the water.
The first prototype flew in the UK in 1958, and the first production
model flew in 1962. Developed as an antisubmarine ship-based unit, the
aircraft carries a pilot and a flight engineer and three passengers. Armed
with either two Mk 44 torpedoes or depth charges, this aircraft had a range
of 488km and a maximum speed of 104 knots, or 193 km/h.
Powered by a Rolls Royce Bristol Nimbus 503 turbo shaft, the SAAF ordered
17 WASPs of which 16 were delivered.
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