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LYNX AH.7 XZ666 ‘Damien’
Image: MARK J. CAIRNS
Background of the Lynx Helicopter
The Westland Lynx is a fast, compact, British multi-role, military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters in Yeovil, England.
The Westland WG.13 was the original design, which began development in the mid-1960s as a successor to the Westland Scout and Wasp.
The utility helicopter served in both civil use and then Royal Navy at first, but military interest led to development of battlefield and naval variants.
The British Army ordered over 100 Lynx helicopters under the designation of Lynx AH.1 ('Army Helicopter' Mk1) to perform several roles, such as transport, armed escort, anti-tank warfare (with eight TOW missiles), reconnaissance and evacuation missions.
It replaced the aging Westland Scout to support the British Army, Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) and Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) during 'Operation: Banner' in the Troubles era.
From the mid-1970s the Army shifted much movement in South Armagh from road to air because of landmine and ambush risk. Bessbrook Mill became the main rotary hub, dispatching a high tempo of short-leg flights.
Lynx crews moved troops and supplies between fortified bases, escorted other types on underslung load runs, moved medical staff and detainees, and handled urgent casevac.
Image: MARK J. CAIRNS
Lynx XZ666 — Damien's History
Assembled as an AH.1 in September 1978, XZ666 (“Treble Six” / "Damien") had various AH.7 modifications made to it such as weapons hard points installation and electrical fittings, uprated engines, transmission changes and a larger composite tail rotor.
Later AH.7s received BERP-type main rotor blades, improving lift and margins in hover and hot-day operations.
Notoriously known as 'Damien' (from 'THE OMEN' movie trilogy), it was mainly being used as a line cab or utility helicopter by the 655 Squadron Army Air Corps' (AAC) “Reserve Cab”, based at Shackleton Barracks, Ballykelly from 1986-1990.
655 Squadron AAC re-equipped with Lynx like Damien moved into Ballykelly in 1982, replacing the Westland Scouts.
In 1991 Northern Ireland AAC squadrons consolidated at RAF Aldergrove under 5 Regiment Army Air Corps. 655 later disbanded in 2007 as newer fleets took over.
In the late 1990s XZ666 was specifically logged with NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) operation, which used helicopters for reconnaissance, patrol, and transport of troops and equipment to maintain a secure environment after the Bosnian War, common to Army Air Corps' Lynx of the era.
Early 1990 saw a large vertical crack discovered on its port side, 45cm forward of the centre section, to tail boom transportation joint. MARTSU (Navy Fleetlands) were called in and it was returned to GB for repair.
It was eventually written off from flight duties in 1994.
After frontline life it became a ground-instructional airframe at at SEAE/REME Arborfield and later DSEME Lyneham.
The Ulster Aviation Society received the aircraft in February 2024 along with the Gazelle.
World Airspeed Record for Helicopters
The Lynx was set on operational duty in 1977 and has been used by more than a dozen other countries forces; it mainly served in roles including battlefield utility, anti-armour, search and rescue, anti-submarine warfare.
Between 1977-1984 the British Army made 113 Lynx AH.1s.
The Lynx' unique feature is that it can perform loops and rolls because it is fully aerobatic capable due to its rigid rotor head and composite blades that gave precise handling.
In this particular aircraft type, pilot Trevor Egginton achieved an airspeed record for helicopters on G-LYNX — a specially modified Lynx with Gem 60 engines and BERP rotor blades — when he reached the record 249.09 mph (400.87 km/h) in 1986.
This still remains unbeaten until now as recorded by official bodies responsible for verifying such records.