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Westland WS-51 Dragonfly#Surviving aircraft

{{short description|Helicopter built by Westland Aircraft}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2018}}

{{Infobox aircraft

|name= WS-51 Dragonfly

|image= File:Westland Dragonfly HR.3 WG723 706 Sq BAG 20.08.55 edited-2.jpg

|caption=Dragonfly HR.3 of 705 Naval Air Squadron Royal Navy in 1955

|type=Rescue or communications helicopter

|manufacturer=Westland Aircraft

|national_origin=United Kingdom

|designer=

|first_flight= 5 October 1948

|introduction= 1950

|retired=

|status=Retired

|primary_user= Royal Navy

|more_users= Royal Air Force

|produced= 1949–1954

|number_built= 149

|unit cost=

|developed_from = Sikorsky H-5

|variants = Westland Widgeon

}}

The Westland WS-51 Dragonfly helicopter was built by Westland Aircraft and was an Anglicised licence-built version of the American Sikorsky S-51.

Design and development

On 19 January 1947 an agreement was signed between Westland Aircraft and Sikorsky to allow a British version of the S-51 to be manufactured under licence in the United Kingdom. These would be powered by the 500 hp Alvis Leonides radial engine. A modified version was also developed by Westland as the Westland Widgeon, but it was commercially unsuccessful.

After delays caused by the need to modify and convert American-drawings to reflect British-sourced items and to replace the engine with a British-built Alvis Leonides 50, the prototype was first flown from Yeovil on 5 October 1948 piloted by Alan Bristow. Only 16 months had elapsed since work had begun on building the prototype registered G-AKTW.

After evaluation initial orders for the British military were placed, thirteen Dragonfly HR.1s for the Royal Navy and three Dragonfly HC.2s for the Royal Air Force.

Operational history

A total of seventy-two Dragonfly helicopters entered service with the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy in the training, air-sea rescue and communications roles. The first unit to be equipped with them was 705 Naval Air Squadron, which is believed to be the first all-helicopter squadron to be formed outside of the United States. The Dragonfly was the first British-built helicopter to be used by the navy and the first to operate from a British ship in trials on {{ship|RFA|Fort Duquesne|A229|6}} in 1951.{{cite web |url=https://nelsam.org.uk/Exhibits/Search/?search=WG724 |title=Westland Dragonfly HR.5: WG724 |author= |date= |website=nelsam.org.uk |publisher=North East Land Sea and Air Museums |access-date=7 July 2021}} A Dragonfly led the helicopter section of the flypast at the Coronation Review of the Fleet in 1953.{{cite book |last=Beaver |first=Paul |date=1987 |title=Encyclopaedia of the Fleet Air Arm Since 1945 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uY8gAAAAMAAJ |location=Yeovil, Somerset |publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd |page=176 |isbn=978-0850597608 }}

A planned upgrade the navy's Dragonflies to the Widgeon standard with a larger cabin, to be known as the Dragonfly HR.7, was dropped in 1957 due to defence cuts. It was replaced in British service by the Westland Whirlwind, another derivative of a Sikorsky design, in the late 1950s. Dragonflies were used in relief operations in the North Sea flood of 1953 and a number were used by the Royal Air Force for casualty evacuation during the Malayan Emergency.

Fifty-one civilian WS-51s were produced. Examples were used by Pest Control Ltd for crop spraying and others were flown as executive transports by Silver City Airways, Evening Standard Newspapers and Fairey Aviation. Exported aircraft operated in Japan, Belgian Congo, Mexico and Norway.{{sfn|Jackson|1974|pp=618–619}}

Variants

;Westland/Sikorsky WS-51

:Prototype.

;Dragonfly HR.1

:Air-sea search and rescue helicopter for the Royal Navy powered by a {{convert|540|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Alvis 50 radial piston engine. 13 built, some modified later as HR.5s.

;Dragonfly HC.2

:Casualty evacuation helicopter for the Royal Air Force similar to the commercial Mark 1A, 2 built and one-conversion from a civil Mark 1A.

;Dragonfly HR.3

:Air-sea search and rescue helicopter for the Royal Navy. Similar to the Dragonfly HR.1, but fitted with all-metal rotor blades, 71 built some later modified as HR.5s.

;Dragonfly HC.4

:Casualty evacuation helicopter for the RAF similar to the Dragonfly HR.3 with all-metal rotor blades, 12 built.

;Dragonfly HR.5

:Air-sea search and rescue helicopter for the Royal Navy with Alvis Leonides 23/1 engine and updated to instruments and avionics. 25 modified from HR.1 and HR.3.

;Westland-Sikorsky WS-51 Mk.1A

:Civil transport helicopter powered by a 520 hp (388 kW) Alvis Leonides 521/1 radial piston engine, 36 built.

;Westland-Sikorsky WS-51 Mk.1B

:Civil transport helicopter powered by a 450 hp (336 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior B4 radial piston engine, 15 built.

;H.1

:({{langx|th|ฮ.๑}}) Royal Thai Armed Forces designation for the WS-51.{{Cite web |title=Thai Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/thailand.html |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=designation-systems.net}}

Operators

=Military and government operators=

;{{flagcountry|Ceylon}}

  • Royal Ceylon Air Force - two Mk 1As{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1968/1968%20-%201206.html |title=Worlds Helicopter Market 1968 pg. 50 |publisher= flightglobal.com |access-date=16 June 2018}}

;{{EGY}}

;{{flagcountry|IRQ|1924}}

  • Royal Iraqi Air Force - three delivered in 1951{{cite book |last1=Sipos |first1=Milos |last2=Cooper |first2=Tom |title=Wings of Iraq, Volume 1: The Iraqi Air Force, 1931-1970 |date=2020 |publisher=Helion & Company Publishing |location=Warwick, UK |isbn=978-1-913118-74-7 |page=39}}

;{{ITA}}

;{{JPN}}

File:Westland-Sikorsky WS-51.jpg

  • Japan Maritime Self Defence Force - three Mk 1As, designated S-51{{cite web|url= http://kwat01.web.fc2.com/list/jmsdf/s-51.htm |title= シコルスキーS-51 (ウェストランド/シコルスキー WS-51ドラゴンフライMk.1A) |publisher=KWATのほおむぺえじ一号一型 |access-date=18 October 2023}}

;{{THA}}

  • Royal Thai Air Force - three Mk 1As, designated Type 1{{cite web|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1955/1955%20-%200660.html |title= THE WORLD'S AIR FORCES 1955 pg. 658 |publisher=flightglobal |access-date=18 October 2014}}

;{{UK}}

File:BEA Sikorsky S-51 in 1953.jpg

;{{YUG}}

  • SFR Yugoslav Air Force - 10 Mk 1Bs{{cite web|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1955/1955%20-%200670.html|title= THE WORLD'S AIR FORCES 1955 pg. 668 |publisher=flightglobal |access-date=18 October 2014}}

=Civil operators=

;{{BEL}}

  • Sabena{{cite web|url= http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1958/1958%20-%200372.html |title= Helicopters in Civil Operation pg. 388 |publisher= flightglobal |date= 21 March 1958 |access-date= 18 October 2014}}

{{BRA}}

;{{JPN}}

  • Tohoku Electric Power{{cite web |url= https://www.kokukagaku.jp/02_floormap/0203_aviation/a-16.html |title= きたかみ号 |publisher= Misawa Aviation & Science Museum |access-date= 26 April 2020}}

;{{UK}}

Surviving aircraft

File:WestlandDragonflyInBangkok.jpgAustralia

  • WG725 – HR.3 under restoration at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Nowra, New South Wales.{{cite web |last1=Crick |first1=Darren |last2=Edwards |first2=Martin |last3=Cowan |first3=Brendan |title=RAAF A80 Sikorsky S-51 Dragonfly [and] RAN Westland Dragonfly |url=http://www.adf-serials.com/2a80.htm |website=ADF-Serials |access-date=15 June 2019 |date=29 June 2015}}

Brazil

  • PT-HAL (ex G-AMHB) - Civilian WS-51 used by Record TV network and a rescue of Andraus building fire on display at the [https://www.bebedouro.sp.gov.br/portal/index.php/bebedouro/museu-de-bebedouro Museu Eduardo André Matarazzo] in Bebedouro, São Paulo.{{Cite web |title=Turismo em Bebedouro |url=https://turismo.bebedouro.sp.gov.br/sobre_museu.php |access-date=2024-07-12 |website=turismo.bebedouro.sp.gov.br}}

Japan

Malta

  • VZ962 – HR.1 under restoration at the Malta Aviation Museum in Ta'Qali, Attard.{{cite web |title=Main Exhibition Hangar |url=http://www.maltaaviationmuseum.com/main-exhibition-hangar |website=Malta Aviation Museum |access-date=15 June 2019}}{{cite web |title=Westland Dragonfly |url=http://www.demobbed.org.uk/aircraft.php?type=398 |website=Demobbed |access-date=15 June 2019}}

NetherlandsFile:Westland Dragonfly at Lelystad Flugsimulatorwochenende 20091107 129.jpg

  • WG752 – HR.5 on static display at the Aviodrome in Lelystad, Flevoland.{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Dragonfly HR.3, s/n WG752 RN, c/n WA/H/062 |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=3053 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=15 June 2019}}

Serbia

  • 11503 – Mk.1B on static display at the Aeronautical Museum Belgrade in Surčin, Belgrade.{{cite web |title=Сикорски С-51Мк-IB |url=http://aeronauticalmuseum.com/eksponati.php?jez=src&id=53 |website=Aeronautical Museum Belgrade |access-date=15 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160403160521/http://aeronauticalmuseum.com/eksponati.php?jez=src&id=53 |archive-date=3 April 2016}}

Sri Lanka

  • CH501 – Mk.1A on static display at the Sri Lanka Air Force Museum in Ratmalana, Western Province.{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Dragonfly 1A, s/n CH501 SLAF, c/n WA/H/137 |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=167310 |website=Aerial Visuals}}

Thailand

  • H1-4/96 – Mk.1A on static display at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum in Don Mueang, Bangkok.{{cite web |title=Building 5 |url=http://www.rtaf.mi.th/MUSEUM/BLDG5-2.HTM |website=Royal Thai Air Force Museum |access-date=15 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026164825/http://www.rtaf.mi.th/MUSEUM/BLDG5-2.HTM |archive-date=26 October 2013}}{{cite web |last1=Darke |first1=Steve |title=ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE MUSEUM, DON MUEANG |url=http://media.wix.com/ugd/3b4903_e391b568c5ec448085dad18a1ecde460.pdf |website=The Thai Aviation Website |access-date=15 June 2019 |date=26 December 2016}}

United KingdomFile:Westland Dragonfly HR1 VX595 (6859029049).jpg

  • VX595 – HR.5 on static display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovil, Somerset.{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Dragonfly HR.5, s/n VX595 |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=97648 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=15 June 2019}}
  • WG719 – HR.5 on static display at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.{{cite web |title=[Untitled] |url=http://www.helicoptermuseum.co.uk/leonardo.htm |website=The Helicopter Museum |access-date=15 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030170552/http://www.helicoptermuseum.co.uk/leonardo.htm |archive-date=30 October 2018}}
  • WG724 – HR.5 on static display at the North East Land, Sea and Air Museums in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.{{cite web |title=Exhibits |url=http://www.nelsam.org.uk/NEAM/Exhibits |website=North East Land, Sea and Air Museums |access-date=15 June 2019}}
  • WG751 – HR.5 on static display at the Chatham Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Kent.{{cite web |title=c/n wa/h/061 |url=http://www.helis.com/database/cn/37129 |website=Helis.com |access-date=15 June 2019}}
  • WH991 – HR.5 on static display at the Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington, York.{{cite web |title=Westland – Sikorsky Dragonfly HR.5 |url=http://yorkshireairmuseum.org/exhibits/post-world-war-ii-aircraft/westland-dragonfly-hr5 |website=Yorkshire Air Museum |access-date=15 June 2019}}
  • WN493 – HR.5 on static display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton, Somerset.{{cite web |title=Westland Dragonfly HR5 (WN493) |url=http://www.fleetairarm.com/exhibit/Westland-Dragonfly-HR5-WN493/2-7-23.aspx |website=Fleet Air Arm Museum |access-date=15 June 2019 |archive-date=28 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220928061918/https://www.fleetairarm.com/exhibit/westland-dragonfly-hr5-wn493/2-7-23.aspx |url-status=dead }}
  • WN499 – HR.5 under restoration at South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.{{cite web |title=Aircraft List |url=http://www.southyorkshireaircraftmuseum.org.uk/aircraftlist |website=South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum |access-date=15 June 2019 |archive-date=30 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330002043/https://www.southyorkshireaircraftmuseum.org.uk/aircraftlist |url-status=dead }}
  • WP495 – HR.5 on static display at Morayvia in Kinloss, Moray.{{cite web |title=OUR EXHIBITS |url=http://www.morayvia.org.uk/exhibits |website=Morayvia |access-date=15 June 2019}}

Venezuela

  • HR.3 on static display at the Museo Aeronáutico de Maracay in Maracay, Aragua.{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Dragonfly HR.3 |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=153152 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=15 June 2019}}

Specifications (WS-51 Mk.1A)

File:Westland WS-51 Dragonfly orthographical image.svg

{{Aircraft specs

|ref=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1955–56 {{cite book |title=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1955–56 |editor1-last=Bridgman |editor1-first=Leonard |year=1955 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd |location=London |pages=105–106}}

|prime units?=imp

|crew=1

|capacity=3 passengers (useful load {{cvt|530|lb}}

|length ft=57

|length in=6.5

|length sigfig=4

|length note=overall

  • Fuselage length: {{cvt|41|ft|1.75|in|2}}

|width ft=

|width in=

|width note=

|height ft=12

|height in=11.375

|height sigfig=3

|height note=

|empty weight lb=4366

|empty weight note=HR Mk.1, {{efn|HC Mk.4 {{cvt|4380|lb}}, HC Mk.2 {{cvt|4450|lb}} including stretcher panniers}}

|gross weight lb=5700

|gross weight note={{efn|HC Mk.2, HC Mk.4 {{cvt|5870|lb}} }}

|max takeoff weight lb=5870

|max takeoff weight note=

|fuel capacity={{cvt|83|impgal|USgal l}} in 2 fuselage tanks

|more general=

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Alvis Leonides 521/1

|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine (6lb boost)

|eng1 hp=520

|eng1 note=

|rot number=1

|rot dia ft=49

|rot dia in=

|rot area sqft=1885

|rot area note={{efn|Mk. 1A, Mk.1B, HR Mk.3 and HC Mk.4. Rotor diameter (HR Mk.1 and HC Mk.2) {{cvt|48|ft}}, Rotor area (HR Mk.1 and HC Mk.2) {{cvt|1809|sqft}} }}

|max speed mph=103

|max speed note=at sea level{{efn|HR Mk.1, HR Mk.3 {{cvt|95|mph|kn km/h}}, HC Mk.2, HR Mk.3 {{cvt|88|mph|kn km/h}} }}

|max speed mach=

|cruise speed mph=85

|cruise speed note={{efn|HC Mk.2, HC Mk.4 {{cvt|78|mph|kn km/h}} }}

|stall speed mph=

|stall speed note=

|never exceed speed mph=

|never exceed speed note=

|minimum control speed mph=

|minimum control speed note=

|range miles=300

|range note=in still air with 20 minutes fuel reserves
{{efn|HC Mk.2, HC Mk.4 {{cvt|275|mi|nmi}} }}

|combat range miles=

|combat range note=

|ferry range miles=

|ferry range note=

|endurance=

|ceiling ft=11000

|ceiling note={{efn|HR Mk.1 {{cvt|12400|ft}}, HR Mk.3 {{cvt|13200|ft}}

  • Hover ceiling OGE: {{cvt|6000|ft}}

::HC Mk.2 {{cvt|4600|ft}}

  • Hover ceiling IGE: {{cvt|8000|ft}}

::HR Mk.1 {{cvt|5600|ft}}

::HR Mk.3 {{cvt|7000|ft}}

  • Best rate of climb HR Mk.1: {{cvt|800|ft/min|m/s}} at sea level
  • Best rate of climb HR Mk.3: {{cvt|1000|ft/min|m/s}} at sea level
  • Vertical rate of climb HR Mk.1: {{cvt|50|ft/min|m/s}} at sea level
  • Vertical rate of climb HR Mk.3: {{cvt|200|ft/min|m/s}} at sea level }}

|g limits=

|roll rate=

|climb rate ftmin=

|climb rate note=

|time to altitude=

|sink rate ftmin=

|sink rate note=

|disk loading lb/sqft=

|disk loading note=

|fuel consumption lb/mi=

|power/mass=

|thrust/weight=

|more performance=

}}

See also

{{aircontent

|related=

|similar aircraft=

|lists=

|see also=

}}

Notes

{{notelist}}

References

=Citations=

{{Reflist}}

=Bibliography=

  • {{cite book |title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985)|publisher= Orbis Publishing}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Howard|first1=Lee|last2=Burrow|first2=Mick|last3=Myall|first3=Eric|title=Fleet Air Arm Helicopters since 1943|publisher=Air-Britain Historians Limited| year=2011| isbn=978-0-85130-304-8}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Ballance |first1=Theo |title=The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm |date=2016 |publisher=Air-Britain |isbn=978-0-85130-489-2 }}
  • {{cite book |last=Jackson|first=A.J.|title=British Civil Aircraft Since 1919 – Volume Three |publisher=Putnam & Company Limited|year=1974|isbn=0-370-10014-X}}
  • {{cite book |last1=James |first1=D |title=Westland Aircraft since 1915 |year=1991 |publisher= Putnam Aeronautical Books |location= London |isbn=9780851778471}}
  • {{cite book |last1=Jefford |first1= C G |title= RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912 |year=1988 |publisher= Airlife |location= Shrewsbury |isbn= 1-85310-053-6}}

External links

{{Commons category|Westland Dragonfly}}

  • Westland [http://www.helis.com/database/model/122/ Dragonfly] entry in the helis.com database
  • [http://www.helicopterpreservation.co.uk/ Pictorial of a Westland Dragonfly Restoration.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230419012843/http://www.helicopterpreservation.co.uk/ |date=19 April 2023 }}

{{Westland aircraft}}

{{Thai helicopter designations}}

Category:Military helicopters

Category:1950s British military utility aircraft

Category:1950s British helicopters

Dragonfly

Category:Aircraft first flown in 1948

Category:Single-engined piston helicopters

Category:Single-rotor helicopters

Category:Aircraft with fixed tricycle landing gear