Westland Scout

Last updated

Scout
Scout - RIAT 2005 (2533967267).jpg
A Scout flying over RIAT in 2005
Role Helicopter
National originUnited Kingdom
Manufacturer Westland Helicopters
First flight29 August 1960
StatusRetired from active service 1994
Primary users British Army
Royal Australian Navy
Royal Jordanian Air Force
South African Air Force
Produced1960–1968
Number builtAbout 150
Developed from Saro P.531
Variants Westland Wasp

The Westland Scout is a light helicopter developed by Westland Helicopters. Developed from the Saro P.531, it served as a land-based general purpose military helicopter, sharing a common ancestor and numerous components with the naval-orientated Westland Wasp helicopter. The type's primary operator was the Army Air Corps of the British Army, which operated it in several conflict zones including Northern Ireland and the Falklands War.

Contents

Development

Both the Scout and the Wasp were developed from the Saunders-Roe P.531, itself a development of the Saunders-Roe Skeeter. With the acquisition of Saunders Roe, Westland took over the P.531 project, which became the prototype for the Scout (originally called Sprite) and the Wasp. The initial UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) development contract was for a five to six seat general purpose helicopter. [1]

The first version that met both RN and Army requirement, the P.531-2, flew on 9 August 1959 with a Bristol Siddeley Nimbus engine. A de Havilland Gnome engine-equipped version was also trialled, starting 3 May 1960. The production Scout AH.1 used a Rolls-Royce Nimbus engine (RR having acquired Bristol Siddeley by then). The engine was rated at 1,050 shp (780 kW), but the torque was limited to 685 shp (511 kW). Extensive theoretical design and practical testing was carried out to provide an undercarriage that was tolerant to ground resonance. The first Army Scout AH Mk 1 flew on 4 August 1960, a powered-controls version followed in March 1961 and deliveries started in early 1963. Following trials ranging from Canada to Nairobi, the airframe was released for operations between −26 °C and ISA+30 °C. [2] [3]

Design

Behind the two front seats was a three-seat bench, although this could be replaced with a four-seat bench when fitted with modified rear doors.[ citation needed ] It was used for general light work, including observation, liaison, training and search & rescue.[ citation needed ] When fitted as a light attack helicopter, it carried either two, skid-mounted, forward-firing machine gun (L8A1 General Purpose Machine Gun) packs or a single pintle-mounted machine gun in the rear cabin. [4] The pintle mount was available in both port and starboard mountings. [5] The gun-packs, which were both aimed at a pre-set convergence angle, carried 200 rounds of ammunition and were mounted on a tubular spar that was fixed between the front and rear undercarriage legs. [6] In the anti-tank role, it could carry four guided missiles (the Nord SS.11). [7] The sighting unit was the AF.120, the result of a joint venture between Avimo and Ferranti, had x2.5 and x10 magnification. [8] The APX Bezu sight unit was also evaluated but rejected, although it was adopted for use on the Westland Wasp.[ citation needed ]

SS.11 equipped Scout of 3 CBAS in 1978 Scout with SS.11s-3.jpg
SS.11 equipped Scout of 3 CBAS in 1978

Additional testing and trials were carried out with the Swingfire anti-tank guided missile. [9] Initial firings were carried out in early 1972, to test the "Hawkswing" system for the Westland Lynx, the associated AF.530 gyro-stabilized sight [10] was subsequently trialled in 1974. The Hawkswing system was cancelled [11] in 1975 due to its manual command to line of sight (MCLOS) compared to the semi-automatic (SACLOS) system used by the MILAN missile. In the casualty evacuation role (CASEVAC), the Scout could carry two stretchers internally or two on externally mounted pods, the co-pilot's seat could also be reversed to allow an attendant to face the casualties.[ citation needed ]

Although the general design of the aircraft was robust, with an airframe fatigue life of 7,200 hours, the cockpit ergonomics were less than perfect. An example of this was the cabin heater switch being mounted next to the fuel cock; this led to the loss of at least four aircraft when the pilot inadvertently closed the fuel cock instead of switching off the cabin heater, causing the engine to shut down. The autorotational qualities of the Scout have also been described by some pilots as 'startling'. [12] In service trials and testing were carried out by the AAC's Development Wing at Middle Wallop, Hampshire. A wide variety of weapons and equipment were evaluated, although many were never adopted. Amongst these were the 7.62mm General Electric Minigun and the two-inch rocket pod. [13] [14] The rocket pods were mounted either side of the central fuselage section on the multi-spar weapon booms and both smooth tube and fin-stabilised rockets were tested, although the accuracy was described as "indifferent". Studies were also carried out for a pintle-mounted M2 Browning machine gun in place of the standard 7.62 GPMG, and the French AME.621 20mm cannon. [15] Another was the installation of a Bendix R.100 lightweight weather and ground-mapping radar, which had a range of eight and 40 miles.[ clarification needed ] [15] This was mounted behind the fibreglass nose access panel along with a small viewing screen in the cockpit. The radar antenna was moved further forward later in the development to improve downward scanning. [15]

During the development of the WG.13 Westland Lynx, two Scouts were used as testbeds and fitted with full-scale, composite construction semi-rigid Lynx main rotor heads as the Scout had the nearest size rotor. [16] The first test flight was achieved 31 August 1970. The first prototype MBB BO 105 tested the airframe with Scout main rotor head and blades but it was destroyed due to ground resonance during its initial trials. [17]

About 150 Scouts were built through 1968, primarily at the Fairey Aviation Division factory at Hayes.[ citation needed ]

Scout AH.1 at SBAC show, Farnborough 1962 Westland Scout 62.jpg
Scout AH.1 at SBAC show, Farnborough 1962

Operational history

The Scout formed the backbone of the Army Air Corps throughout the 1960s and well into the 1970s; the first Scout flew on 29 August 1960 and an initial order for 66 aircraft followed a month after its first flight. Engine problems delayed the introduction of the Scout until 1963, and as an interim measure the Army Air Corps received a small number of Alouette II helicopters. Although the aircraft's entry into service was delayed, the Scout still had a number of teething troubles when it was introduced. One of the earliest losses was XR596, which crashed into the jungle near Kluang airfield in southern Malaya on 16 July 1964, following a fuel pump failure. The two crew died in the incident. Engine failures were responsible for the loss of at least 11 military and civilian registered aircraft. The engine life of the Nimbus during the early part of its service was notoriously low, with four to six flying hours being the norm. A competition was allegedly held, with a prize to the first unit that could achieve an engine life of 25 flying hours. Operational experience and development work steadily improved the reliability of the Nimbus and by 1964 engine life had improved to two or three engine changes per 1,000 flying hours.[ citation needed ]

The Scout AH Mk 1 was operated by the Army Air Corps on general light work, including observation and liaison. Like the Wasp, the Scout could be fitted out with different role equipment including flotation gear and a Lucas air-driven hoist which had a lift capacity of 600 lb (270 kg). In the light attack role, it was capable of carrying two forward-firing 7.62mm L7 General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) fixed to the undercarriage skid booms and one fixed or flexible machine gun on the port or starboard side of rear cabin (it is possible to carry two pintle-mounted GPMGs in the cabin, although this would, unsurprisingly, be somewhat cramped). [18] These GPMG combinations were sometimes used in unison to great effect.[ citation needed ]

The forward firing GPMGs were electrically operated, being fired by the pilot and aimed using a rudimentary system of drawing a small cross on the windscreen with a chinagraph pencil. In sandy conditions, these weapons could jam, which necessitated one of the free crew leaning out of the cockpit door and 'booting' the offending weapon in the hope of clearing it. This procedure was not strictly in accordance with the flight reference cards. The L7A1 pintle-mounted weapon was operated by a door gunner.[ citation needed ]

8 Flight Scout AH.1 at Habilayn, Radfan 1967 Westland Scout XR628 Habilayn.jpg
8 Flight Scout AH.1 at Habilayn, Radfan 1967

In the anti-tank role, four SS.11 ATGWs were carried two each side; these could be carried in conjunction with the pintle-mounted GPMG. During the Falklands campaign, the SS.11 achieved some success, being used to attack Argentine positions on 14 June 1982. For nighttime reconnaissance, the Scout could carry four 4.5-inch (110 mm) parachute flares mounted on special carriers. In addition, two smaller parachute flares could be carried to allow emergency landings at night. These were fitted on the starboard rear fuselage on a special attachment point. About 150 Scout helicopters were acquired for the Army Air Corps, which operated them until 1994.[ citation needed ]

The way British military aviation has been established has meant that the Royal Marines have never actually "owned" their own aircraft. The larger Westland Whirlwind, Westland Wessex and Westland Sea Kings have been Fleet Air Arm helicopters and, like the Westland Lynx AH Mk 7, the Scout AH Mk 1s operated by 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron (3 CBAS) were British Army helicopters on loan. 3 CBAS flew the Scout from 1971 through to 1982, when it was replaced by the Westland Lynx, and the squadron was eventually renumbered as 847 Naval Air Squadron. [19]

The Scout saw operational service in Borneo during the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation, the Aden Emergency, Oman (Jebel Akhdar War), Rhodesia, Northern Ireland and then in the South Atlantic.[ citation needed ]

The Territorial Army (AAC) formed 666 Squadron with a number of Scouts in the late 1980s.[ citation needed ]

Borneo

Mystery still surrounds a Scout that went missing 20 September 1965. [20] XR599 set off for a 40-nautical-mile (74 km) night flight from Lundu to Kuching, the mission being to transport a local communist suspect to the Sarawak capital for interrogation. At 23:00 hrs, the aircraft was posted as missing and a search and rescue mission was mounted. Although the aircraft and the remains of the pilot, the escort rifleman and the suspect were never found, a fisherman later dredged up small parts of the aircraft wreckage. On 23 September, the Singapore newspaper The Straits Times , printed a story speculating that the Scout had been hijacked by the prisoner who had somehow managed to capture his escort's weapon and then ordered the pilot to either fly out to sea or over the jungle towards the Indonesian border until they ran out of fuel. Tragedy struck a second time on 25 September when an RAF Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 of 225 Sqn, searching over jungle for XR599, crashed killing the five crew. [21]

Aden and Radfan

In Aden and Radfan, a number of Scouts were shot down, although these usually resulted in a forced landing and the aircraft were recovered, repaired and returned to service. An example of this occurred on 26 May 1964 when the commanding officer of 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment, Lt Col Anthony Farrar-Hockley, [22] used a Scout to reconnoitre the Wadi Dhubsan area, Radfan. The aircraft was hit by enemy fire [23] and the pilot made an emergency landing behind enemy lines. The aircraft was subsequently recovered; Farrar-Hockley rejoined the unit and was awarded the Bar to his Distinguished Service Order for his leadership. Three Scouts were written off during the campaign, the first, XR634, was through pilot error whilst landing on 16 May 1966. Although initially repairable, this aircraft was subsequently damaged beyond economic repair when it was dropped by the RAF Westland Wessex sent to recover it. The second aircraft, XT635, flew into a hillside during a night patrol at Jebal on 5 May 1967, killing the two crew and the two passengers. The third aircraft, XT641, was destroyed on the ground in an incident where the pilot and his Foreign Office intelligence officer passenger were captured and shot dead by the National Liberation Front after landing in a wadi bed whilst on a flight from Ataq to Mayfa’ah on 3 September 1967. The NLF then set fire to and destroyed the aircraft. On 1 August 1968, Westland Sioux XT123 crashed at Sharjah, Oman, and was subsequently written off when it was dropped by the Westland Scout that was attempting the recovery.[ citation needed ]

Lt David John Ralls, Royal Corps of Transport, was awarded the DFC [24] for counter-attacking a large group of enemy which had previously attacked an army road repair party on the road to Habilayn. Lt Ralls attack, on 30 May 1967, utilised both the forward-firing and pintle-mounted weapons, forcing the enemy to retreat. Despite his aircraft being hit a number of times, he then directed three Hawker Hunter airstrikes onto the target.[ citation needed ]

Falklands War

At the start of Operation Corporate, six Scouts from 3 CBAS were operating alongside three machines from No. 656 Squadron AAC. When the 5th Infantry Brigade landed, they were joined by another three Scouts from 656 Squadron. During the Falklands conflict, the Scout was engaged in casualty evacuation, re-supply and special forces insertion roles. One aircraft, XT629, was one of two Scouts of B Flight, 3 CBAS that was attacked by two FMA IA 58 Pucarás (the only Argentine air-to-air victory in the war) of Grupo 3 near Camilla Creek House, North of Goose Green. XT629 was hit by cannon fire and crashed, killing the pilot and severing the leg of the crewman, who was thrown clear of the wreckage on impact. The second Scout evaded the Pucarás and later returned to the site to evacuate the survivor. Another Scout, XR628, of 656 Sqn AAC, suffered a main rotor gearbox failure whilst in a low hover over MacPhee Pond on 8 June 1982. XR628 had taken cover as two pairs of Douglas A-4 Skyhawks from Grupo 5 approached; these aircraft later attacked the RFA landing ships Sir Galahad and Sir Tristram at Bluff Cove. Once the threat had passed and the pilot began to climb away, the main gearbox failed at the main input drive and the aircraft made a forced landing at the lakeside in around four feet of water. The two crew were picked up another 656 Sqn Scout piloted by Capt J G Greenhalgh later that day. The aircraft was eventually recovered and airlifted to Fitzroy by Sea King on 11 June, but was subsequently written off on its return to the UK. XR628 was also the aircraft that was shot down on 26 May 1964, carrying 3 Para's CO, Lt Col Farrar-Hockley.[ citation needed ]

Scouts armed with SS.11 anti-tank missiles were used to great effect during the Falklands campaign. On 14 June 1982, an Argentine 105 mm pack howitzer battery dug in to the West of Stanley Racecourse was firing at the Scots Guards as they approached Mount Tumbledown. As the guns were out of range of the MILAN ATGWs of nearby 2nd battalion, Parachute Regiment, their second in command, Major Chris Keeble, contacted Capt J G Greenhalgh of 656 Sqn AAC on the radio and requested a "HELARM" using SS.11 missiles to attack them. As he was engaged in ammunition re-supply, his Scout was not fitted with missile booms – this was in order to reduce weight and increase the aircraft lift capability. Capt Greenhalgh then returned to Estancia House, where his aircraft was refuelled, fitted out, and armed with four missiles in 20 minutes with the rotors still turning. An 'O' group was then held with the crews of two Scouts of 3 CBAS and Capt Greenhalgh took off on a reconnaissance mission, while the other aircraft were fitted out and readied. Within 20 minutes, he had located the target and carried out a detailed reconnaissance of the area. He fired two missiles at the enemy positions and then returned to a pre-arranged RV to meet up and guide in the other two Scouts. The three aircraft, positioned 100 metres apart, then fired a total of 10 missiles (nine missiles hit, one failed) from the ridge overlooking the Argentine positions 3,000 m away and succeeded in hitting the howitzers, nearby bunkers, an ammunition dump and the command post. The Argentine troops returned mortar fire, a round landing directly in front of Capt Greenhalgh's Scout.[ citation needed ]

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, the Scout pioneered the use of the Heli-Tele [25] aerial surveillance system, having a gyro-stabilised Marconi unit shoe-horned into the rear cabin. The Heli-Tele unit weighed some 700 lb (320 kg), although later developments reduced this significantly. The aircraft was also used for mounting Eagle patrols. In this role, the rear cabin doors and seats were removed and four troops sat in the rear cabin with their feet resting on the skids. Operating with two aircraft in unison, this allowed an eight-man patrol to be quickly inserted into an area and mount snap vehicle check points (VCPs) if necessary. Up until 1973, the standard tail rotor colour scheme for the Scout was bands of red and white. On 14 September 1973, a soldier died during training at Gosford Castle, Armagh, after coming into contact with the tail rotor blades whilst the aircraft was on the ground. Following this accident, the tail rotor blade colour scheme was changed to the distinctive black and white bands.[ citation needed ]

Because of the specialist nature of operations in Northern Ireland, a particularly important piece of role equipment was introduced in the form of the "Nightsun" 3.5 million candlepower searchlight. Operations at night were greatly enhanced with the introduction of night vision goggles, although these missions could still be hazardous. This was evident on the night of 2 December 1978, when the pilot of XW614, 659 Sqn, became disorientated during a sortie and crashed into Lough Ross, killing the two crew. [26] XW614 was the last of five Scouts written off during operations in the province.[ citation needed ]

Exports

Unlike its naval counterpart, the Scout did not achieve the same export success as the Wasp, with the Royal Jordanian Air Force acquiring three helicopters, two were operated in Uganda, and Bahrain had two helicopters, which were operated by the Bahrain Public Security Force in police service roles. The Scout never received civilian airworthiness certification, which prevented it from being sold to civilian operators, and meant that the design was used exclusively by the army from the outset. All current operators require an 'Experimental' certificate to fly them.[ citation needed ]

Two Scout helicopters were acquired by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) in April 1963 and were operated by 723 Naval Air Squadron, with the aircraft being rotated aboard the hydrographic survey ship HMAS Moresby. The RAN Scouts proved the practicalities of operating helicopters from small ships for the RAN, and the RAN operated these helicopters up until 1973, when they were replaced by Bell 206B-1 Kiowas. The RAN experience with the Scouts aboard HMAS Moresby illustrated the need for a higher-level maintenance regime as a result of operating the helicopters in areas with high concentrations of abrasive coral sand encountered around the Australian coastline and the detrimental effect that it had on the rotor blades, airframe and engine components. Despite the additional effort to maintain the helicopters, the Scouts were considered to be superior to the seaplanes and flying boats that had previously been used in this role. One of the Scouts ditched in Wewak Harbour while taking off from HMAS Moresby in April 1967; it was subsequently recovered but the aircraft was deemed to be written off.[ citation needed ]

Survivors

Survivor Westland Scout flying in the Royal International Air Tattoo 2015 Westland Scout - RIAT 2015 (24645449950).jpg
Survivor Westland Scout flying in the Royal International Air Tattoo 2015

Although none are operational in military roles, there are still Scouts in the air; mainly in the UK; as of 2014 there were 10 Scouts remaining on the UK civil register, including the Army Air Corp's Historic Flight's aircraft.[ citation needed ]

Outside the UK, the last of six Scouts that were exported to New Zealand have been withdrawn from use, leaving only ZS-HAS flying in South Africa operating.[ citation needed ]

Accidents and incidents

Variants

Saunders-Roe P.531
Prototype.
Saunders-Roe P.531-2 Mk.1
Pre-production aircraft.
Scout AH.1
Five/six-seat light utility helicopter for the British Army

Operators

Military operators

Scout at the SAAF museum, Port Elizabeth, South Africa Westland Scout-001.jpg
Scout at the SAAF museum, Port Elizabeth, South Africa
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom

Government operators

Flag of Bahrain.svg  Bahrain
Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda

Specifications (Scout)

Westland Scout orthographical image.svg

Data fromJane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66 [43]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

Westland Helicopters was a British aircraft manufacturer. Originally Westland Aircraft, the company focused on helicopters after the Second World War. It was amalgamated with several other British firms in 1960 and 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aérospatiale Gazelle</span> Light helicopter, French, 1973–present

The Aérospatiale Gazelle is a five-seat helicopter developed and initially produced by the French aircraft company Sud Aviation, and later by Aérospatiale. It is the first helicopter to feature a fenestron tail instead of a conventional tail rotor, as well as being the first helicopter to be adapted for single-pilot operations under instrument flight rules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westland Wasp</span> Anti-submarine helicopter, British, 1962-2000

The Westland Wasp is a small 1960s British turbine powered, shipboard anti-submarine helicopter. Produced by Westland Helicopters, it came from the same Saunders-Roe P.531 programme as the British Army Westland Scout, and is based on the earlier piston-engined Saunders-Roe Skeeter. It fulfilled the requirement of the Royal Navy for a helicopter small enough to land on the deck of a frigate and carry a useful load of two homing torpedoes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Westland Lynx</span> Military helicopter family

The Westland Lynx is a British multi-purpose twin-engined military helicopter designed and built by Westland Helicopters at its factory in Yeovil. Originally intended as a utility craft for both civil and naval usage, military interest led to the development of both battlefield and naval variants. The Lynx went into operational usage in 1977 and was later adopted by the armed forces of over a dozen nations, primarily serving in the battlefield utility, anti-armour, search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Agusta A129 Mangusta</span> Family of attack helicopters by Agusta, later AgustaWestland

The Agusta A129 Mangusta is an attack helicopter originally designed and produced by Italian company Agusta. It is the first attack helicopter to be designed and produced wholly in Europe. It has continued to be developed by AgustaWestland, the successor company to Agusta. It has been exclusively operated by the Italian Army, which introduced the type to service during 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurocopter AS565 Panther</span> Military utility helicopter

The EurocopterAS565 Panther is the military version of the Eurocopter AS365 Dauphin medium-weight multi-purpose twin-engine helicopter. The Panther is used for a wide range of military roles, including combat assault, fire support, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, search and rescue, and medical evacuation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bell AH-1 SuperCobra</span> Series of twin-engine attack helicopters

The Bell AH-1 SuperCobra is a twin-engined attack helicopter that was developed on behalf of, and primarily operated by, the United States Marine Corps (USMC). The twin Cobra family, itself part of the larger Huey family, includes the AH-1J SeaCobra, the AH-1T Improved SeaCobra, and the AH-1W SuperCobra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mil Mi-28</span> Russian attack helicopter

The Mil Mi-28 is a Soviet all-weather, day-night, military tandem, two-seat anti-armor attack helicopter. It is an attack helicopter with no intended secondary transport capability, better optimized than the Mil Mi-24 gunship for the role. It carries a single gun in an undernose barbette, plus external loads carried on pylons beneath stub wings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Changhe Z-10</span> Chinese attack helicopter

The Changhe Z-10 is a Chinese medium attack helicopter developed for the People's Liberation Army Ground Force. It is designed primarily for anti-tank warfare missions but has secondary air-to-air combat capability as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne</span> Canceled US helicopter program

The Lockheed AH-56 Cheyenne is an attack helicopter developed by Lockheed for the United States Army. It rose from the Army's Advanced Aerial Fire Support System (AAFSS) program to field the service's first dedicated attack helicopter. Lockheed designed the Cheyenne using a four-blade rigid-rotor system and configured the aircraft as a compound helicopter with low-mounted wings and a tail-mounted thrusting propeller driven by a General Electric T64 turboshaft engine. The Cheyenne was to have a high-speed dash capability to provide armed escort for the Army's transport helicopters, such as the Bell UH-1 Iroquois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rolls-Royce Gnome</span> 1950s British turboshaft aircraft engine

The Rolls-Royce Gnome is a British turboshaft engine originally developed by the de Havilland Engine Company as a licence-built General Electric T58, an American mid-1950s design. The Gnome came to Rolls-Royce after their takeover of Bristol Siddeley in 1968, Bristol having absorbed de Havilland Engines Limited in 1961.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saunders-Roe Skeeter</span> Type of aircraft

The Saunders-Roe Skeeter is a two-seat training and scout helicopter that was developed and produced by British manufacturer Saunders-Roe ("Saro") of Cowes and Southampton, in the United Kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bristol Siddeley Nimbus</span> 1950s British turboshaft aircraft engine

The Bristol Siddeley Nimbus, later known as the Rolls-Royce Nimbus, was a British turboshaft engine developed under license by Blackburn Aircraft Ltd. from the Turbomeca Turmo in the late 1950s. It was used on the Westland Scout and Westland Wasp helicopters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">British air services in the Falklands War</span>

This is a list of the units, aircraft and casualties of the British air services in the Falklands War. The numbers in bold are the number of aircraft used in the war, the numbers in brackets are the number of lost aircraft. For a list of air forces from Argentina, see Argentine air forces in the Falklands War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military helicopter</span> Helicopter which is built or converted for use by military forces

A military helicopter is a helicopter that is either specifically built or converted for use by military forces. A military helicopter's mission is a function of its design or conversion. The most common use of military helicopters is transport of troops, but transport helicopters can be modified or converted to perform other missions such as combat search and rescue (CSAR), medical evacuation (MEDEVAC), airborne command post, or even armed with weapons for attacking ground targets. Specialized military helicopters are intended to conduct specific missions. Examples of specialized military helicopters are attack helicopters, observation helicopters and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) helicopters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No. 656 Squadron AAC</span> Military unit

656 Squadron AAC is a squadron of the British Army's Army Air Corps. It was chosen as one of the AAC new Apache squadrons and in April 2004 started its conversion to role. The first phase of this completed in October 2004. The squadron was the first operational Apache squadron in the Army Air Corps and was awarded fully operational status along with the remainder of 9 Regiment AAC in June 2005. It is under 4 Regiment AAC as of 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">829 Naval Air Squadron</span> Military unit

829 Naval Air Squadron was a squadron of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm. Before it was decommissioned in March 2018, it operated the AgustaWestland Merlin HM2 helicopter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saro P.531</span> Utility helicopter

The Saro P.531 is a British all-metal five-seat helicopter designed and built by Saunders-Roe Limited (Saro). The P.531 was a larger development of the two-seat Saro Skeeter to use turbine power and formed the basis of the military Westland Scout and Westland Wasp helicopters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron</span> Royal Marines military unit

3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron, Royal Marines, was formed in 1968 in Singapore by the amalgamation of three Commando Air Troops and the Brigade Flight. The squadron moved to Plymouth in 1971 and the two remaining UK Commando Air Troops became part of it. Apart from during the Falklands War, when the whole squadron was involved, it operated mostly on individual flight detachments. 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron became 847 Naval Air Squadron in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1988 British Army Lynx shootdown</span> IRA helicopter shootdown in Northern Ireland

On 23 June 1988, an Army Air Corps (AAC) Westland Lynx, serial number XZ664, was shot down by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) near Aughanduff Mountain, County Armagh, in Northern Ireland. A unit of the IRA's South Armagh Brigade fired at the British Army helicopter using automatic rifles and heavy machine guns. The disabled helicopter was forced to crash-land in an open field; the aircraft and its crew were eventually recovered by British forces.

References

Citations

  1. Flight International 1960, p. 349.
  2. Flight International 1963, p. 232.
  3. Stevens 1964, pp. 183–186, 189.
  4. Rodwell 1972, p. 33.
  5. Rodwell 1972, pp. 34–35.
  6. Rodwell 1972, pp. 33–35.
  7. Ferguson 1982.
  8. Bentley, John (4 February 1971). "Through a glass, steadily". Flight International. pp. 176–177. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015.
  9. "photo caption". Flight International. 23 November 1972. p. 734. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012.
  10. "Defence: Hawkswing sight delivered". Flight International. 21 March 1974. p. 363.
  11. "Missile rounds lost". Flight International. Vol. 108, no. 3473. IPC Transport Press. 2 October 1975. Archived from the original on 29 November 2014.
  12. "Alan Streeter", flyingmarines.com, archived from the original on 28 October 2010
  13. "Army aviation gets teeth", Flight International, p. 171, 1 February 1968
  14. Rodwell 1968, pp. 190–191.
  15. 1 2 3 Rodwell 1968, p. 190.
  16. "World News: WG.13 Test-bed Flies". Flight International. 10 September 1970. pp. 384–385. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012.
  17. "Bolkow's Bo105". Flight International. 18 May 1967. p. 794. Archived from the original on 15 July 2015.
  18. James 1991, pp. 367–368.
  19. 847 NAS Affiliations
  20. Geldard, Geoffrey (23 September 1965). "Was missing helicopter hijacked?". The Straits Times. p. 1. Archived from the original on 20 March 2012.
  21. Geldard, Geoffrey (27 September 1965). "5 die in copter crash in Sarawak". The Straits Times. p. 1. Archived from the original on 3 April 2012.
  22. "No. 43641". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 April 1965. p. 4347.
  23. "No. 43641". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 April 1965. p. 4348.
  24. "No. 44508". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 January 1968. p. 875.
  25. "Eye In The Sky". Flight International. 13 November 1976. p. 1429. Archived from the original on 29 December 2018.
  26. Capt Stirling & Cpl Adcock memorial
  27. The Marlborough Times, 7 January 1966, p. 1.
  28. "3 die in blazing helicopter" . The Times. 7 June 1967. p. 3. Retrieved 16 December 2023 via The Times Digital Archive.
  29. The Straits Times, 2 February 1968, p.9
  30. Our Correspondent (15 May 1969). "Three die as helicopters collide" . The Times. p. 2. Retrieved 16 December 2023 via The Times Digital Archive.
  31. "No. 44949". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 October 1969. p. 10212.
  32. WO2 Rowat memorial
  33. "Helicopter crash raises safety issues". Flight International. 22 April 1978. p. 1094. Archived from the original on 20 May 2013.
  34. Bell, Thomas Royal Marines advert 'portrayed Malaysians as terrorists' 30 May 2008 telegraph.co.uk:
  35. "World Helicopter Market 1968". Flight International. 11 July 1968. p. 48. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  36. "Australian Navy Westland-Scout". Demand media. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  37. "South African Air Force Scout" . Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  38. 1 2 "BAOR Locations". baor-locations.org. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  39. "The Helicopter Museum". The Helicopter Museum. 2018.
  40. "Bahrain Public Security Flying Wing". aeroflight.co.uk. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
  41. "World Helicopter Market 1967". Flight International. 13 July 1967. p. 65. Archived from the original on 14 September 2009. Retrieved 10 February 2013.
  42. "Uganda Police Scout". flickr.com. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 5 February 2014.
  43. Taylor 1965, pp. 170–171.
  44. James 1991, p. 367.
  45. Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  46. James 1991, pp. 369–370.

Bibliography