Westland Whirlwind (helicopter)

The Westland Whirlwind was a British, developed in the United States military transport helicopter. With a crew of two were ten passengers or in the outpatient clinic using six wounded on stretchers or 1300 kg cargo being transported. The hull was made ​​in all-metal semi- monocoque construction, the planking was made of aluminum and magnesium alloys.

History

The history of the Whirlwind began with Westlands acquisition of the license to build the Sikorsky S -55. Since the British navy had already provided you some built by Sikorsky S- 55 in service and one produced in Westland Sikorsky already other models, it was close also to produce this type in the UK. The first Whirlwind Series 2 lifted on November 12, 1952 from Yeovil, equipped with a Pratt & Whitney R -1340 -40 radial engine with 441.3 kW ( 600 hp). Then ran two modifications for the British armed forces from the band: The Whirlwind HAR3 ( Wright R -1300 radial engine ) and the Whirlwind HAR4 ( Pratt & Whitney R -1340 -57 radial engine ), the latter modified for use in the tropics and among other things, used in Malaysia.

Until that time, the difference in the Whirlwind to the S -55 was barely noticeable. The engines used were not exactly the same, but nevertheless were from U.S. production. Early in the production of the Whirlwind was the use of motors of British origin into account. Therefore, the British company Alvis had begun with the development of a 14- cylinder twin-row radial engine, the 755 was now in the form of Leonides Major available. This engine has 647 kW ( 880 hp) to 551.6 kW ( 750 hp ) throttled and installed by Westland for the British army in the Whirlwind HAR5 (first flight on 28 August 1955).

The first prototype of the turbine-powered Whirlwind Series 3 was launched on 28 February 1959. Reached the flight performance represented a significant increase over previous models dar. Thus equipped, went again to the armed forces some Whirlwind ( Whirlwind HAR10 ).

In total over 400 examples were built. About one- quarter of total production was exported around the world.

Versions

Specifications

User

  • Austria Austria ( air forces of the Armed Forces )

10 WS -55 Series 2

  • Bahamas Bahamas
  • Brazil Brazil ( Força Aeronaval da Marinha do Brasil )

1 WS -55 Series 1, 1 Mk.3/HU.Mk.5 type

  • Brunei Brunei
  • Cuba Cuba
  • Dominican Republic Dominican Republic
  • France France
  • Ghana Ghana
  • Iran Iran
  • Jordan Jordan
  • Yugoslavia Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
  • Qatar Qatar

2 HAR.3

  • Kuwait Kuwait
  • Nigeria Nigeria
  • Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia
  • Spain ( Ejército del Aire )

4 HAR.2

  • United Kingdom United Kingdom ( Royal Air Force, Royal Navy )

RAF: 135, SN: 179 ( including 12 for the Royal Marines)

  • United Kingdom United Kingdom British European Airways

5

In Germany, stationed at the Gütersloh Airport No. flew. 230 Squadron of the RAF Germany the HAR.Mk.10 January 1963 to January 1965.

Westland Aircraft Aluminium Wright R-1300 Alvis Car and Engineering Company General Electric T58 De Havilland Ground effect (aircraft) The Bahamas Royal Air Force Germany
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