Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Westland Widgeon (helicopter)

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Top speed
  
175 km/h

Length
  
13 m

Manufacturer
  
Wingspan
  
15 m

First flight
  
August 23, 1955

Westland Widgeon (helicopter) wwwaviastarorgfotowestwidgeongif

The Westland Widgeon helicopter was a private venture by Westland Aircraft as an improvement on the Westland WS-51 Dragonfly.

Contents

Design and development

Westland Aircraft decided to make a private venture improvement on the Westland WS-51 Dragonfly, which was a licensed Sikorsky design, helicopter by increasing the cabin capacity and replacing the Dragonfly's rotor head, blades and gearbox with the units used in the Westland Whirlwind. Three Dragonfly Series 1As were converted to WS-51 Series 2 Widgeons, and the first one flew on 23 August 1955.

There was a plan to take up to 24 existing Fleet Air Arm Dragonflies to Dragonfly HC.7 standard (as the Naval Widgeon was to become) but this was abandoned and it contributed to the decision to stop progress.

Operators

 Brazil
  • Brazilian Navy
  • Ceylon
  • Royal Ceylon Air Force
  •  Hong Kong
  • Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
  •  Jordan
  • Royal Jordanian Air Force
  •  United Kingdom
  • Bristow Helicopters
  • Specifications (Widgeon)

    Data from Westland Aircraft since 1915

    General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 4 passengers
  • Length: 41 ft 10 in (12.75 m)
  • Rotor diameter: 49 ft 2 in (14.99 m)
  • Height: 13 ft 4 in (4.07 m)
  • Disc area: 1,898 ft² (176.4 m²)
  • Empty weight: 4,322 lb (1,969 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 5,900 lb (2,682 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Alvis Leonides 521/2 nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 520 hp (388 kW)
  • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 109 mph (95 knots, 175 km/h) at sea level
  • Range: 310 mi (270 nmi, 500 km)
  • Service ceiling: 11,800 ft (3,600 m)
  • Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s) at sea level
  • References

    Westland Widgeon (helicopter) Wikipedia