Westland WS-51 Dragonfly
WS-51 Dragonfly | |
---|---|
Dragonfly HR.3 of 705 Naval Air Squadron Royal Navy in 1955 | |
Role | Rescue or communications helicopter |
National origin | United Kingdom |
Manufacturer | Westland Aircraft |
First flight | 5 October 1948 |
Introduction | 1950 |
Status | Retired |
Primary users | Royal Navy Royal Air Force |
Produced | 1949–1954 |
Number built | 149 |
Developed from | Sikorsky H-5 |
Variants | Westland Widgeon |
The Westland WS-51 Dragonfly helicopter was built by
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 RFA Fort Duquesne in 1951.[1] A Dragonfly led the helicopter section of the flypast at the Coronation Review of the Fleet in 1953.[2]
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.[2] 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.[1]
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
Variants
- Westland/Sikorsky WS-51
- Prototype.
- Dragonfly HR.1
- Air-sea search and rescue helicopter for the Royal Navy powered by a 540 hp (400 kW) 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-985Wasp Junior B4 radial piston engine, 15 built.
Operators
Military and government operators
- Royal Ceylon Air Force - two Mk 1As[4]
- Egyptian Air Force - two Mk 1Bs[3]
- Royal Iraqi Air Force - three delivered in 1951[5]
- Italian Air Force - two Mk 1As[3]
- Japan Maritime Self Defence Force - three Mk 1As, designated S-51[6]
- Royal Thai Air Force - three Mk 1As, designated Type 1[7]
- Royal Air Force - 15 HC.2 and HC.4[8]
- Far East CASEVAC Flight RAF[9]
- No. 194 Squadron RAF[10]
- Royal Navy[11]
- SFR Yugoslav Air Force - 10 Mk 1Bs[14]
Civil operators
- British European Airways[11]
- Silver City Airways[3]
- Fleet Requirements Unit, civilian operated unit, run by Airwork Ltd for the Fleet Air Arm[17]
Surviving aircraft
Australia
- WG725 – HR.3 under restoration at the Nowra, New South Wales.[18]
Brazil
- On display at the Museu Eduardo André Matarazzo in Bebedouro, São Paulo.[citation needed]
Japan
- JA7014"Kitakami" used in Tohoku Electric Power at the Misawa Aviation & Science Museum in Misawa, Aomori.[16]
Malta
- VZ962 – HR.1 under restoration at the
Netherlands
- WG752 – HR.5 on static display at the Aviodrome in Lelystad, Flevoland.[21]
Serbia
- 11503 – Mk.1B on static display at the Aeronautical Museum Belgrade in Surčin, Belgrade.[22]
Sri Lanka
- CH501 – Mk.1A on static display at the Sri Lanka Air Force Museum in Ratmalana, Western Province.[23]
Thailand
- H1-4/96 – Mk.1A on static display at the
United Kingdom
- VX595 – HR.5 on static display at the Yeovil, Somerset.[26]
- WG719 – HR.5 on static display at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.[27]
- WG724 – HR.5 on static display at the Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.[28]
- WG751 – HR.5 on static display at the Chatham Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Kent.[29]
- WH991 – HR.5 on static display at the Elvington, York.[30]
- WN493 – HR.5 on static display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton, Somerset.[31]
- WN499 – HR.5 under restoration at Doncaster, South Yorkshire.[32]
- WP495 – HR.5 on static display at Kinloss, Moray.[33]
Venezuela
- HR.3 on static display at the Maracay, Aragua.[34]
Specifications (WS-51 Mk.1A)
Data from Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1955–56 [35]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: 3 passengers (useful load 530 lb (240 kg)
- Length: 57 ft 6.5 in (17.54 m) overall
- Fuselage length: 41 ft 1.75 in (12.54 m)
- Height: 12 ft 11.375 in (3.95 m)
- Empty weight: 4,366 lb (1,980 kg) HR Mk.1, [a]
- Gross weight: 5,700 lb (2,585 kg) [b]
- Max takeoff weight: 5,870 lb (2,663 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 83 imp gal (100 US gal; 380 L) in 2 fuselage tanks
- Powerplant: 1 × Alvis Leonides 521/19-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine (6lb boost), 520 hp (390 kW)
- Main rotor diameter: 49 ft (15 m)
- Main rotor area: 1,885 sq ft (175.1 m2) [c]
Performance
- Maximum speed: 103 mph (166 km/h, 90 kn) at sea level[d]
- Cruise speed: 85 mph (137 km/h, 74 kn) [e]
- Range: 300 mi (480 km, 260 nmi) in still air with 20 minutes fuel reserves
[f] - Service ceiling: 11,000 ft (3,400 m) [g]
See also
Related development
Related lists
Notes
- ^ HC Mk.4 4,380 lb (1,990 kg), HC Mk.2 4,450 lb (2,020 kg) including stretcher panniers
- ^ HC Mk.2, HC Mk.4 5,870 lb (2,660 kg)
- ^ Mk. 1A, Mk.1B, HR Mk.3 and HC Mk.4. Rotor diameter (HR Mk.1 and HC Mk.2) 48 ft (15 m), Rotor area (HR Mk.1 and HC Mk.2) 1,809 sq ft (168.1 m2)
- ^ HR Mk.1, HR Mk.3 95 mph (83 kn; 153 km/h), HC Mk.2, HR Mk.3 88 mph (76 kn; 142 km/h)
- ^ HC Mk.2, HC Mk.4 78 mph (68 kn; 126 km/h)
- ^ HC Mk.2, HC Mk.4 275 mi (239 nmi)
- ^ HR Mk.1 12,400 ft (3,800 m), HR Mk.3 13,200 ft (4,000 m)
- Hover ceiling OGE: 6,000 ft (1,800 m)
- HC Mk.2 4,600 ft (1,400 m)
- Hover ceiling IGE: 8,000 ft (2,400 m)
- HR Mk.1 5,600 ft (1,700 m)
- HR Mk.3 7,000 ft (2,100 m)
- Best rate of climb HR Mk.1: 800 ft/min (4.1 m/s) at sea level
- Best rate of climb HR Mk.3: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s) at sea level
- Vertical rate of climb HR Mk.1: 50 ft/min (0.25 m/s) at sea level
- Vertical rate of climb HR Mk.3: 200 ft/min (1.0 m/s) at sea level
References
Citations
- ^ a b "Westland Dragonfly HR.5: WG724". nelsam.org.uk. North East Land Sea and Air Museums. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
- ^ ISBN 978-0850597608.
- ^ a b c d Jackson 1974, pp. 618–619.
- ^ "Worlds Helicopter Market 1968 pg. 50". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
- ISBN 978-1-913118-74-7.
- ^ "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)". KWATのほおむぺえじ一号一型. Retrieved 18 October 2023.
- ^ "THE WORLD'S AIR FORCES 1955 pg. 658". flightglobal. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ^ "World Air Forces 1955 pg. 631". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
- ^ James 1991, p. 308.
- ^ Jefford 1988, p. 134.
- ^ a b "Westland S-5I". Flightglobal Insight. 1953. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ^ a b c d e f Howard, Burrow & Myall 2011, pp. 11–35
- ^ a b "Westland Dragonfly HR5 (WN493)". Fleet Air Arm. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
- ^ "THE WORLD'S AIR FORCES 1955 pg. 668". flightglobal. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ^ "Helicopters in Civil Operation pg. 388". flightglobal. 21 March 1958. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
- ^ a b "きたかみ号". Misawa Aviation & Science Museum. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- ^ Ballance 2016, p. 411.
- ^ Crick, Darren; Edwards, Martin; Cowan, Brendan (29 June 2015). "RAAF A80 Sikorsky S-51 Dragonfly [and] RAN Westland Dragonfly". ADF-Serials. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Main Exhibition Hangar". Malta Aviation Museum. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Westland Dragonfly". Demobbed. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Dragonfly HR.3, s/n WG752 RN, c/n WA/H/062". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Сикорски С-51Мк-IB". Aeronautical Museum Belgrade. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Dragonfly 1A, s/n CH501 SLAF, c/n WA/H/137". Aerial Visuals.
- ^ "Building 5". Royal Thai Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 26 October 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ Darke, Steve (26 December 2016). "ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE MUSEUM, DON MUEANG" (PDF). The Thai Aviation Website. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Dragonfly HR.5, s/n VX595". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "[Untitled]". The Helicopter Museum. Archived from the original on 30 October 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Exhibits". North East Land, Sea and Air Museums. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "c/n wa/h/061". Helis.com. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Westland – Sikorsky Dragonfly HR.5". Yorkshire Air Museum. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Westland Dragonfly HR5 (WN493)". Fleet Air Arm Museum. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Aircraft List". South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "OUR EXHIBITS". Morayvia. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ "Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Dragonfly HR.3". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
- ^ Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1955). Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1955–56. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd. pp. 105–106.
Bibliography
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.
- Howard, Lee; Burrow, Mick; Myall, Eric (2011). Fleet Air Arm Helicopters since 1943. ISBN 978-0-85130-304-8.
- Ballance, Theo (2016). The Squadrons and Units of the Fleet Air Arm. Air-Britain. ISBN 978 0 85130 489 2.
- Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft Since 1919 – Volume Three. Putnam & Company Limited. ISBN 0-370-10014-X.
- James, D (1991). Westland Aircraft since 1915. ISBN 9780851778471.
- Jefford, C G (1988). RAF Squadrons. A comprehensive record of the movement and equipment of all RAF squadrons and their antecedents since 1912. ISBN 1-85310-053-6.
External links
- Westland Dragonfly entry in the helis.com database
- Pictorial of a Westland Dragonfly Restoration.