Westland Whirlwind (helicopter)
{{Short description|1953 helicopter series by Westland}}
{{About|the post-Second World War helicopter|the wartime fighter aircraft built by the same company|Westland Whirlwind (fighter)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox aircraft
| name = Whirlwind
| image = File:Whirlwind - RIAT 2018 (cropped).jpg
| caption = A Royal Air Force Whirlwind HAR.10 of the RAF Search and Rescue Force at RIAT 2018
| type = Helicopter
| national_origin = United Kingdom
| manufacturer = Westland Aircraft
| designer =
| first_flight = August 1953
| introduction = 1954
| retired = 1982
| status =
| primary_user = Royal Navy
| more_users = Royal Air Force
list
| produced = 1953–1966
| number_built = 360+
| unit cost =
| developed_from = Sikorsky H-19
| variants =
}}
The Westland Whirlwind helicopter was a British licence-built version of the U.S. Sikorsky S-55/H-19 Chickasaw. It primarily served with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in anti-submarine and search and rescue roles. It was also exported to other countries, and the Whirlwind was succeeded by the turbine powered Westland Wessex (based on the Sikorsky H-34) which was developed from the H-19/Whirlwind. The helicopter was made in many variants using a variety of radial (piston) and turbine engines.
Whirlwind helicopters fitted with turbine power served right up until the early 1980s, and a converted Whirlwind was in the Queen's Flight.
Design and development
File:Westland Whirlwind 1 G-AOCZ BLA 05.09.55 edited-2.jpg
In 1950, Westland Aircraft, already building the American Sikorsky S-51 under licence as the Westland Dragonfly, purchased the rights to manufacture and sell Sikorsky's larger Sikorsky S-55 helicopter. While a Sikorsky-built pattern aircraft was flown by Westland in June 1951, converting the design to meet British standards (including the provision of a revised main-rotor gearbox), was time-consuming,James 1991, pp.320–321. and the first prototype British aircraft, registered G-AMJT, powered by the 600 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-40 Wasp did not fly until August 1953.James 1991, p.322. This was followed by ten Whirlwind HAR.1s, which entered service shortly afterwards. They served in non-combat roles, including search and rescue and communications functions. The HAR.3 had a larger 700 hp Wright R-1300-3 Cyclone 7 engine.
The performance of early versions was limited by the power of the American Wasp or Cyclone engines, and in 1955, the HAR.5, powered by an uprated engine, the Alvis Leonides Major, flew for the first time.James 1991, p.329. This was followed by the similarly powered HAS.7, which became the first British helicopter designed for anti-submarine warfare in the front-line when it entered service in 1957. It could either be equipped with a dipping Sonar for submarine detection or carry a torpedo, but could not carry both simultaneously, so sonar equipped "Hunters" were used to direct torpedo armed "Killers".James 1991, p.330. The HAS.7 was powered by a 750 hp (560 kW) Alvis Leonides Major 755/1 radial engine. It had a hovering ceiling at {{convert|9400|ft|m|abbr=on}} and a range of 334 miles at 86 mph.
In 1960 Westland introduced a Whirlwind powered by the 1,000 hp Bristol Siddeley Gnome turboshaft, the greater power giving much improved performance over the earlier piston-engined variants; helicopters receiving this modification were redesignated as the HAR.9. The Gnome featured an early computer controlled fuel system that removed variations in engine power and made for much easier handling by the pilot.
More than 400 Whirlwinds were built, of which nearly 100 were exported to foreign customers.James 1991, p. 336.
Some Whirlwinds were converted to turbine power and served well into the 1970s.{{Cite web |title=Westland Whirlwind HAR Mk.10 |url=https://helimuseum.com/heli.php?ident=whirlwind-mk10 |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=helimuseum.com}}
Operational service
File:Whirlwind helicopters on HMS Bulwark (R08) c1961.jpg
848 Naval Air Squadron of the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm was the first squadron to receive HAR.1s, which replaced Sikorsky-built HAR.21 versions of the Whirlwind, for utility and search-and-rescue service from July 1954. After entering service with the Royal Navy, the Whirlwind also entered service with the Royal Air Force and French Navy, which received 37 Whirlwind HAR.2 between 1954 and 1957.James 1991, p. 336.
The Royal Air Force Air Sea Rescue Services used Whirlwinds painted in overall yellow for rescuing people in distress around the coast of the United Kingdom. Westland Wessex, and eventually Westland Sea King, helicopters later supplemented and eventually replaced Whirlwinds in this role.{{cite web|quote=It wasn't until 1955 that the Squadron reformed again, this time as a search and rescue unit equipped with Whirlwinds. It is in this guise that No. 22 Squadron exists today, having flown Wessex helicopters for a number of years before receiving Sea Kings in the mid-1990s.|url=http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/22squadron.cfm|title=RAF 22 Squadron|date=22 April 2017|access-date=8 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121103431/http://www.raf.mod.uk/organisation/22Squadron.cfm|archive-date=21 November 2016|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
The last Whirlwind was retired from service in 1982, and the last HAR.10 in 1981.{{Cite web |title=Westland Whirlwind in united kingdom Royal Air Force |url=https://www.helis.com/database/modelorg/RAF-Whirlwind/}}
Two upgraded Whirlwinds (HCC.8 models) were added to the Queen's Flight in 1959, and eventually replaced by the Wessex helicopter.{{Cite web |date=2023-05-06 |title=The aircraft used to fly the Royal Family over the decades |url=https://www.key.aero/article/aircraft-used-fly-royal-family-over-decades |access-date=2024-03-17 |website=www.key.aero |language=en}}
{{clear}}
Variants
File:Westland Whirlwind HAS7.jpg
File:Westland WS-55-3 Whirlwind HAR10, UK - Air Force AN1022801.jpg Royal Review]]
File:Westland Whirlwind HCC12 XR486 (G-RWWW) (6819149990).jpg, 2011]]
;WS-55 Series 1 : 44 built; American engines (Pratt & Whitney R-1340-40 Wasp), transport helicopters for military and civilian use
;WS-55 Series 2 : 19 built; Alvis engines (Alvis Leonides Major 755), civilian use
;WS-55 Series 3 : 5 built; Gnome turboshaft (Bristol Siddeley Gnome 101), civilian use
;HAR.1 : 10 built; RN service; Search and rescue
;HAR.2 : 33 built; RAF service from 1955
;HC.2 : RAF service
;HAR.3 : 25 built; RN service; Wright R-1300 Cyclone 7 engine
;HAR.4 : 24 built; Improved HAR.2 for hot and high conditions, RAF service
;HAR.5 : 3 built; Alvis Leonides Major engine and a 3 degree droop of the tail boom for increased main rotor clearance; RN service
;HAR.6 : 1 ordered with Turbomeca Twin Turmo engine but completed as an HAR.5{{cite book |last1=Howard |first1=Lee |last2=Burrow |first2=Mick |last3=Myall |first3=Eric |title=Fleet Air Arm Helicopters since 1943 |date=2011 |publisher=Air-Britain |isbn=978-0-85130-304-8 |page=75}}
;HAR.7 : 40 built; RN duties – 6 converted to HAR.9's
;HAS.7 : 89 built; RN anti-submarine duties – 1 torpedo; 12 used as Royal Marine transports, 6 converted to HAR.9's
;HCC.8 : 2 built; Royal Flight transport, VVIP later converted to HAR.10's
;HAR.9 : 12 conversions of HAS.7 and HAR.7 with a Bristol Siddeley Gnome gas turbine replacing the Leonides Major engine, RN service
;HC.10 : RAF service
;HAR.10 : 68 built; powered by a Bristol Siddeley Gnome turboshaft, RAF service, transport and air-sea rescue
;HCC.12 : 2 built; Royal Flight,
The model numbers for the US-built evaluation models were
;HAR.21 : 10 built by Sikorsky; rescue. Equivalent to US Marine HRS-2.Thetford 1978, p.423.
;HAS.22 : 15 built by Sikorsky; anti-submarine. Equivalent to HO4S-3.
;HU2W : Brazilian Navy designation for the WS-55 Series 1.{{Cite web |title=Brazilian Military Aircraft Designations |url=https://designation-systems.net/non-us/brazil.html |access-date=2025-03-16 |website=designation-systems.net}}
;UH-5 : Brazilian Navy designation for the WS-55 Series 3. Originally designated SH-3 prior to the adoption of the Sikorsky SH-3 Sea King.
Operators
{{Main|List of Sikorsky H-19 operators#Westland Whirlwind operators|l1=List of Westland Whirlwind operators}}
File:Westland Whirlwind HAR10 XJ726 (8940365675).jpg
File:Westland WS-55-2 Whirlwind HAS7, UK - Navy AN1934255.jpg
=Military operators=
;{{AUT}}
:Austrian Air ForceWorld Helicopter Market Flight International 11 July 1968, p. [https://web.archive.org/web/20181229182536/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1968/1968%20-%201204.html 48]{{cite web|url= http://www.airliners.net/photo/Austria---Air/Westland-WS-55-Whirlwind/1275388/L/|title= Westland-WS-55-Whirlwind |publisher= Demand media |access-date=28 January 2015}}
;{{BRA}}
:Brazilian Naval AviationWorld Helicopter Market Flight International 11 July 1968, p. [https://web.archive.org/web/20190712181623/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1968/1968%20-%201205.html 49]{{cite web|url= http://www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1290520/|title= Westland Whirlwind HAR3, N-7010, Brazilian Navy |publisher= abpic.co.uk |access-date=28 January 2015}}
;{{CUB}}Hagedorn 1993, p.22
;{{FRA}}James 1991, p. 336.
;{{NGA}}{{cite magazine| title =World Helicopter Market |magazine=Flight International| date = 11 July 1968| url = http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1968/1968%20-%201210.html |volume= 94|issue= 3096|page=54}}
;{{QAT}}Air International September 1988, p.136.
;{{UK}}{{cite web|url= http://aircraft-photographs.s3-website-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/aircraft-gatwick-aviation-museum-Westland-whirlwind-helicopter-search-rescue.htm |title= Westland Whirlwind HAR10 Helicoptor |publisher= MooreAircraft.com |access-date=28 January 2015}}{{cite web |url=http://www.bbcmotiongallery.com/gallery/clip/1B012593_0002.do |title=A Royal Navy Westland Whirlwind helicopter flies alongside the south coast of England. |publisher=BBC |access-date=28 January 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130215134955/http://www.bbcmotiongallery.com/gallery/clip/1B012593_0002.do |archive-date=15 February 2013 }}
;{{YUG}}: 19 helicopters {{cite magazine| title =World Helicopter Market |magazine=Flight International| date = 11 July 1968| url = http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1968/1968%20-%201216.html |volume= 94|issue= 3096|page=60}}{{cite web|url= http://www.airliners.net/photo/Yugoslavia---Air/Westland-WS-55-2-Whirlwind/1335527/L/&sid=b84dfc9613be7729df65a9e177ee2194|title=Yugoslavian Westland-WS-55-Whirlwind |publisher= Demand media |access-date=28 January 2015}}
=Civil operators=
{{UK}}James 1991, p. 327.{{cite web|url=http://www.airliners.net/photo/Bristow-Helicopters/Westland-WS-55-Whirlwind/1187782/L/&sid=cb1df023f20f38370f803c9eb9bb0699 |title= Bristow Helicopters Westland-WS-55 |publisher=Demand media |access-date=7 February 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.hmfriends.org.uk/brisgaodabig.htm |title=Westland WS-55 Series 3, G-AODA/EP-HAC/9Y-TDA, at The Helicopter Museum |publisher=helicoptermuseum.co.uk |access-date=2 February 2013 |archive-date=10 January 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110203940/http://www.hmfriends.org.uk/brisgaodabig.htm |url-status=dead }}
Surviving aircraft
=Cyprus=
- XD184 – HAR.10 on static display at RAF Akrotiri as a gate guardian{{cite book|last=Vassallo|first=David|title=A history of the Princess Mary Hospital; Royal Air Force Akrotiri 1963-2013|year=2017|publisher=Vassallo|isbn=9780992798017|page=7}}
=Germany=
- XD186 – HAR.10 on static display at Flugausstellung Hermeskeil in Hermeskeil, Rhineland-Palatinate.{{cite web |title=[Homepage] |url=http://www.flugausstellung.de |website=Flugausstellung |access-date=14 June 2019}}
- XP352 – HAR.10 on static display at Flugausstellung Hermeskeil in Hermeskeil, Rhineland-Palatinate.
=Netherlands=
- XG576 – HAR.3 on static display at PS Aero in Baarlo, Limburg.{{cite web |title=Sikorsky S-55 Royal Navy 590 |url=http://www.psaero.com/aircraft/sikorsky-s-55-royal-navy-590 |website=PS Aero |access-date=14 June 2019}}{{cite web |title=Westland Whirlwind |url=http://www.demobbed.org.uk/aircraft.php?type=1186 |website=Demobbed |access-date=14 June 2019}}
=United Kingdom=
- G-ANFH Sir Ector Series 1 on static display at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset
- WA.113 – Series 3 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=14 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030170552/http://www.helicoptermuseum.co.uk/leonardo.htm |archive-date=30 October 2018}}{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland WS-55-Series 3 Whirlwind, c/n WA.113, c/r 9Y-TDA |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=67244 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=14 June 2019}}
- WA.298 – Series 3 on static display at the Midland Air Museum in Baginton, Warwickshire.{{cite web |title=Aircraft Listing |url=http://www.midlandairmuseum.co.uk/aircraftlist.php |website=Midland Air Museum |access-date=14 June 2019}}{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland WS-55-Series 3 Whirlwind, c/n WA.298, c/r G-APWN |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=34922 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=14 June 2019}}
- WV198 – HAR.21 on static display at the Solway Aviation Museum in Crosby-on-Eden, Cumbria.{{cite web |title=Aircraft |url=http://www.solway-aviation-museum.co.uk/?page_id=105 |website=Solway Aviation Museum |access-date=14 June 2019}}{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky Whirlwind HAR.21, s/n WV198 RN, c/r G-BJWY |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=36142 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=14 June 2019}}
- XA864 – HAR.1 in storage at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovil, Somerset.{{cite web |title=Westland Whirlwind HAR1 (XA864) |url=http://www.fleetairarm.com/exhibit/Westland-Whirlwind-HAR1-XA864/6-30-57.aspx |website=Fleet Air Arm Museum |access-date=14 June 2019 |archive-date=25 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525061512/https://www.fleetairarm.com/exhibit/westland-whirlwind-har1-xa864/6-30-57.aspx |url-status=dead }}
- XA870 – HAR.1 on static display at the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Owned by the Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group.{{cite web |title=Aircraft List |url=http://www.southyorkshireaircraftmuseum.org.uk/aircraftlist |website=South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum |access-date=14 June 2019 |archive-date=30 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330002043/https://www.southyorkshireaircraftmuseum.org.uk/aircraftlist |url-status=dead }}
- XD163 – HAR.10 on static display at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Whirlwind HAR.10, s/n XD163 RAF, c/n WA.020 |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=187977 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=14 June 2019}}
- XG574 – HAR.3 on display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovil, Somerset.{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, s/n XG574 RN, c/n WA.069 |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=79734 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=14 June 2019}}
- XG588 – Series 3 on static display at East Midlands Aeropark in Castle Donington, Leicestershire.{{cite web |title=AEROPARK EXHIBITS |url=http://www.eastmidlandsaeropark.org/aeropark-exhibits.html |website=East Midlands Aeropark |access-date=14 June 2019}}
- XG594 – HAS.7 in storage at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovil, Somerset.{{cite web |title=Westland Whirlwind HAS7 (XG594) |url=http://www.fleetairarm.com/exhibit/Westland-Whirlwind-HAS7-XG594/6-30-80.aspx |website=Fleet Air Arm Museum |access-date=14 June 2019 |archive-date=25 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525061552/https://www.fleetairarm.com/exhibit/westland-whirlwind-has7-xg594/6-30-80.aspx |url-status=dead }}
- XJ398 – HAR.10 on static display at the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Owned by the Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group.
- XJ723 – HAR.10 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}}
- XJ726 – HAR.10 on static display at Caernarfon Airworld Museum in Dinas Dinlle, Gwynedd.{{cite web |title=EXHIBITS AT THE MUSEUM |url=http://www.airworldmuseum.com/exhibits |website=Airworld Aviation Museum |access-date=14 June 2019}}{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Whirlwind HAR.10, s/n XJ726 RAF, c/n WA.097 |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=44125 |website=Aerial Visuals |publisher=AerialVisuals.ca |access-date=14 June 2019}}
- XJ729 – HAR.10 airworthy with Historic Helicopters in Crewkerne, Somerset.{{cite web |title=WHIRLWIND |url=http://www.historichelicopters.com/Pages/30/Whirlwind.html |website=Historic Helicopters |access-date=14 June 2019 |archive-date=6 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606124133/http://www.historichelicopters.com/Pages/30/Whirlwind.html |url-status=dead }}
- XK936 – HAS.7 on static display at the Imperial War Museum Duxford in Duxford, Cambridgeshire.{{cite web |title=WESTLAND WHIRLWIND HAS7 |url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/70000230 |website=Imperial War Museum |access-date=14 June 2019}}{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, s/n XK936 RAF, c/n WA.163 |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=57486 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=14 June 2019}}
- XK940 – HAS.7 on static display at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, s/n XK940 RN, c/n WAH.167, c/r G-AYXT |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=67250 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=14 June 2019}}
- XL853 – HAS.7 in storage at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovil, Somerset.{{cite web |title=Westland Whirlwind HAS7 (XL853) |url=http://www.fleetairarm.com/exhibit/Westland-Whirlwind-HAS7-XL853/6-30-91.aspx |website=Fleet Air Arm Museum |access-date=14 June 2019 |archive-date=25 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525061519/https://www.fleetairarm.com/exhibit/westland-whirlwind-has7-xl853/6-30-91.aspx |url-status=dead }}
- XL875 – HAR.9 at Air Service Training in Perth.
- XN258 – HAR.9 on static display at the North East Land, Sea and Air Museums in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.{{cite web |title=Aircraft on display |url=http://www.nelsam.org.uk/NEAM/Exhibits |website=North East Land, Sea and Air Museums |access-date=14 June 2019}}
- XN304 – HAS.7 on static display at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum in Flixton, Suffolk.{{cite web |title=OUR AIRCRAFT |url=http://www.aviationmuseum.net/ouraircraft.htm |website=Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum |access-date=28 June 2020}}
- XN380 – HAS.7 under restoration for static display at the RAF Manston History Museum in Ramsgate, Kent.{{cite web |title=Aircraft & Cockpit Exhibits |url=http://www.rafmanston.co.uk/index.php/museum-aircraft |website=RAF Manston History Museum |access-date=14 June 2019 |archive-date=26 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626090733/http://www.rafmanston.co.uk/index.php/museum-aircraft |url-status=dead }}
- XN386 – HAS.9 on static display at the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Owned by the Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group.
- XP299 – HAR.10 on static display at the Royal Air Force Museum London in London.{{cite web |title=Westland Whirlwind HAR 10 |url=http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/research/collections/westland-whirlwind-har-10 |website=Royal Air Force Museum |access-date=14 June 2019}}{{cite web |last1=Simpson |first1=Andrew |title=INDIVIDUAL HISTORY [XP299] |url=http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/1987-0012-A-Whirlwind-HAR-10-XP299.pdf |website=Royal Air Force Museum |access-date=14 June 2019 |date=2013}}
- XP345 – HAR.10 on static display at the South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Owned by the Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group.
- XP346 – HAR.10 on static display at All Things Wild in Evesham, Worcestershire.{{cite web |title=Basecamp Honeybourne |url=http://www.allthingswild.co.uk/project/basecamp-honeybourne |website=All Things Wild |date=21 September 2016 |access-date=14 June 2019}}{{cite web |title=c/n wa362 |url=http://www.helis.com/database/cn/20694 |website=Helis.com |access-date=14 June 2019}}
- XP355 – HAR.10 on static display at the City of Norwich Aviation Museum in Horsham St Faith, Norfolk.{{cite web |title=Aircraft |url=http://www.cnam.org.uk/1aircraft.php |website=City of Norwich Aviation Museum |access-date=14 June 2019 |archive-date=12 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612091202/http://www.cnam.org.uk/1aircraft.php |url-status=dead }}
- XR453 – HAR.10 on static display at RAF Odiham in Odiham, Hampshire.{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Whirlwind HAR.10, s/n XR453 RAF |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=98888 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=14 June 2019}}
- XR485 – HAR.10 on static display at the Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum in Flixton, Suffolk.
- XR486 – HCC.12 on static display at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Whirlwind HCC.12, s/n XR486 RAF, c/n WA.418, c/r G-RWWW |url=http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=125528 |website=Aerial Visuals |access-date=14 June 2019}}
Specifications (Whirlwind HAS.7)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Westland Aircraft since 1915 James 1991, pp.336–338.
|prime units?=imp
|genhide=
|crew=2 pilots
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=41
|length in=8+1/2
|dia m=
|dia ft=
|dia in=
|width m=
|width ft=
|width in=
|height m=
|height ft=15
|height in=7+1/2
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=5993
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=7800
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Alvis Leonides Major 755
|eng1 type=14-cylinder two-row radial engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=750
|rot number=1
|rot dia m=
|rot dia ft=53
|rot dia in=0
|rot area sqm=
|rot area sqft=2205
|perfhide=
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=109
|max speed kts=
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|range km=
|range miles=334
|range note=Thetford 1978, p.352.
|endurance=
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=13000
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=910
|lift to drag=
|disk loading kg/m2=
|disk loading lb/sqft=
|more performance=
|armament=*1x Mark 30 or Mark 44 torpedo or Depth charges (carried in place of dipping sonar)
|avionics=
}}
In popular culture
In the Beatles first film, A Hard Day's Night, the group is seen flying away from the concert venue at the end of the film on the BEA Whirlwind, G-ANFH. The same aircraft appeared in the 1960 film, The Murderers and the 1963 Oliver Reed film, The Damned.{{cite web |title=Westland WS-55 Whirlwind Series 1 |url=https://helimuseum.com/rheli.php?ident=ws55-1 |website=The Helicopter Museum |access-date=10 October 2023}}
The character of Harold the Helicopter from The Railway Series and Thomas & Friends is based on a Westland Whirlwind with fitted pontoons.{{cite book |last1=Awdry |first1=Wilbert |title=The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways |last2=Awdry |first2=George |publisher=Kaye & Ward |year=1987 |isbn=0-434-92762-7 |page= |language=en |author-link=Wilbert Awdry}}
See also
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References
=Citations=
{{reflist}}
=Bibliography=
- {{cite book |last=Hagedorn |first=Dan |title=Central American and Caribbean Air Forces |publisher=Air Britain (Historians) Ltd. |location=Tonbridge, Kent, UK |year=1993 |isbn=978-0851302102}}
- James, Derek M. Westland Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1991. {{ISBN|0-85177-847-X}}.
- {{cite book |last=Rivas |first=Santiago |title=British Combat Aircraft in Latin America |year=2019 |location=Manchester, UK |publisher=Crécy Publishing Limited |isbn=978-1-90210-957-2}}
- {{cite book |last1=Sturtivant |first1=R |last2=Ballance |first2=T |title=The Squadrons of The Fleet Air Arm |year=1994 |publisher=Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd |location=Tonbridge, Kent, UK |isbn=0-85130-223-8 |ref= {{harvid|Sturtivant, Ballance|1994}} }}
- Thetford, Owen. British Naval Aircraft since 1912. London:Putnam, 1978. {{ISBN|0-370-30021-1}}.
- "Wings Over the Gulf: The Qatari Emiri Air Force". Air International, September 1988, Vol. 35, No. 3. pp. 135–144.
- {{cite magazine |title=World Helicopter Market |magazine=Flight International |date=11 July 1968 |volume=94 |issue=3096 |pages=48–60 |url=https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1968/1968%20-%201204.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229182536/https://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1968/1968%20-%201204.html |archive-date=29 December 2018 |ref={{harvid|Flight International 11 July 1968}} }}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [http://www.navynews.co.uk/aircraft/whirlwind.asp Navy News] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611040224/http://www.navynews.co.uk/aircraft/whirlwind.asp |date=11 June 2011 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070219082845/http://www.helicoptermuseum.co.uk/westland.htm Helicopter museum]
- [http://www.helis.com/database/?menu=7&tfabrn=22&tmodn=151 Westland Whirlwind] page at helis.com database
- [http://www.airservicetraining.co.uk/engineering]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{Sikorsky H-19 family}}
{{Westland aircraft}}
{{AvN aircraft designations}}
Category:1950s British anti-submarine aircraft
Category:1950s British military utility aircraft
Category:Search and rescue helicopters
Category:1950s British helicopters
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1953
Category:Single-engined piston helicopters
Category:Single-turbine helicopters