Westland WS-51 Dragonfly

WS-51 Dragonfly
Dragonfly HR.3 of 705 Naval Air Squadron Royal Navy in 1955
General information
Type	Rescue or communications helicopter
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Westland Aircraft
Status	Retired
Primary users	Royal Navy Royal Air Force
Number built	149
History
Manufactured	1949–1954
Introduction date	1950
First flight	5 October 1948
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 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 Silver City Airways, Evening Standard Newspapers and Fairey Aviation. Exported aircraft operated in Japan, Belgian Congo, Mexico and Norway. ^[3]

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-985 Wasp Junior B4 radial piston engine, 15 built.

H.1

(Thai : ฮ.๑) Royal Thai Armed Forces designation for the WS-51. ^[4]

Operators

Military and government operators

  Ceylon

• Royal Ceylon Air Force - two Mk 1As ^[5]

  Egypt

• Egyptian Air Force - two Mk 1Bs ^[3]

  Iraq

• Royal Iraqi Air Force - three delivered in 1951 ^[6]

  Italy

• Italian Air Force - two Mk 1As ^[3]

  Japan

Japan Maritime Self Defence Force S-51

• Japan Maritime Self Defence Force - three Mk 1As, designated S-51 ^[7]

  Thailand

• Royal Thai Air Force - three Mk 1As, designated Type 1 ^[8]

  United Kingdom

British European Airways Sikorsky S-51 in 1953

• Royal Air Force - 15 HC.2 and HC.4 ^[9]
  • Far East CASEVAC Flight RAF ^[10]
  • No. 194 Squadron RAF ^[11]
• Royal Navy ^[12]
  • Britannia Royal Naval College ^[13]
  • 700 Naval Air Squadron ^[13]
  • 701 Naval Air Squadron ^[14]
  • 705 Naval Air Squadron ^[14]
  • 727 Naval Air Squadron ^[13]
  • 728 Naval Air Squadron ^[13]
  • 744 Naval Air Squadron ^[13]
  • 771 Naval Air Squadron ^[13]

  Yugoslavia

• SFR Yugoslav Air Force - 10 Mk 1Bs ^[15]

Civil operators

  Belgium

• Sabena ^[16]

  Brazil

• Record TV

  Japan

• Tohoku Electric Power ^[17]

  United Kingdom

• British European Airways ^[12]
• Silver City Airways ^[3]
• Fleet Requirements Unit, civilian operated unit, run by Airwork Ltd for the Fleet Air Arm ^[18]

Surviving aircraft

WS-51 Mk.1A in Royal Thai Air Force Museum in December 2014

Australia

• WG725 – HR.3 under restoration at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Nowra, New South Wales. ^[19]

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 Museu Eduardo André Matarazzo in Bebedouro, São Paulo. ^[20]

Japan

• JA7014"Kitakami" used in Tohoku Electric Power at the Misawa Aviation & Science Museum in Misawa, Aomori. ^[17]

Malta

• VZ962 – HR.1 under restoration at the Malta Aviation Museum in Ta'Qali, Attard. ^{[21] [22]}

Netherlands

HR.5 on static display at the Aviodrome in Lelystad, Netherlands.

• WG752 – HR.5 on static display at the Aviodrome in Lelystad, Flevoland. ^[23]

Serbia

• 11503 – Mk.1B on static display at the Aeronautical Museum Belgrade in Surčin, Belgrade. ^[24]

Sri Lanka

• CH501 – Mk.1A on static display at the Sri Lanka Air Force Museum in Ratmalana, Western Province. ^[25]

Thailand

• H1-4/96 – Mk.1A on static display at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum in Don Mueang, Bangkok. ^{[26] [27]}

United Kingdom

HR.1 at the FAA Museum in Yeovilton, England.

• VX595 – HR.5 on static display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovil, Somerset. ^[28]
• WG719 – HR.5 on static display at The Helicopter Museum in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset. ^[29]
• WG724 – HR.5 on static display at the North East Land, Sea and Air Museums in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. ^[30]
• WG751 – HR.5 on static display at the Chatham Historic Dockyard in Chatham, Kent. ^[31]
• WH991 – HR.5 on static display at the Yorkshire Air Museum in Elvington, York. ^[32]
• WN493 – HR.5 on static display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton, Somerset. ^[33]
• WN499 – HR.5 under restoration at South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. ^[34]
• WP495 – HR.5 on static display at Morayvia in Kinloss, Moray. ^[35]

Venezuela

• HR.3 on static display at the Museo Aeronáutico de Maracay in Maracay, Aragua. ^[36]

Specifications (WS-51 Mk.1A)

Westland Dragonfly HR3

Data fromJane's all the World's Aircraft 1955–56 ^[37]

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 521/1 9-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

• List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm
• List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force

Related development

• Sikorsky H-5
• Sikorsky R-4
• Westland Widgeon

Related lists

• List of rotorcraft

Notes

1. HC Mk.4 4,380 lb (1,990 kg), HC Mk.2 4,450 lb (2,020 kg) including stretcher panniers
2. HC Mk.2, HC Mk.4 5,870 lb (2,660 kg)
3. 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)
4. 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)
5. HC Mk.2, HC Mk.4 78 mph (68 kn; 126 km/h)
6. HC Mk.2, HC Mk.4 275 mi (239 nmi)
7. 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

1. "Westland Dragonfly HR.5: WG724". nelsam.org.uk. North East Land Sea and Air Museums. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
2. Beaver, Paul (1987). Encyclopaedia of the Fleet Air Arm Since 1945. Yeovil, Somerset: Patrick Stephens Ltd. p. 176. ISBN   978-0850597608.
3. Jackson 1974, pp. 618–619.
4. "Thai Military Aircraft Designations". designation-systems.net. Retrieved 20 March 2025.
5. "Worlds Helicopter Market 1968 pg. 50". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 16 June 2018.
6. Sipos, Milos; Cooper, Tom (2020). Wings of Iraq, Volume 1: The Iraqi Air Force, 1931-1970. Warwick, UK: Helion & Company Publishing. p. 39. ISBN   978-1-913118-74-7.
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.
8. "THE WORLD'S AIR FORCES 1955 pg. 658". flightglobal. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
9. "World Air Forces 1955 pg. 631". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
10. James 1991, p. 308.
11. Jefford 1988, p. 134.
12. "Westland S-5I". Flightglobal Insight. 1953. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
13. Howard, Burrow & Myall 2011 , pp. 11–35
14. "Westland Dragonfly HR5 (WN493)". Fleet Air Arm. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
15. "THE WORLD'S AIR FORCES 1955 pg. 668". flightglobal. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
16. "Helicopters in Civil Operation pg. 388". flightglobal. 21 March 1958. Retrieved 18 October 2014.
17. "きたかみ号". Misawa Aviation & Science Museum. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
18. Ballance 2016, p. 411.
19. 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.
20. "Turismo em Bebedouro". turismo.bebedouro.sp.gov.br. Retrieved 12 July 2024.
21. "Main Exhibition Hangar". Malta Aviation Museum. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
22. "Westland Dragonfly". Demobbed. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
23. "Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Dragonfly HR.3, s/n WG752 RN, c/n WA/H/062". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
24. "Сикорски С-51Мк-IB". Aeronautical Museum Belgrade. Archived from the original on 3 April 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
25. "Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Dragonfly 1A, s/n CH501 SLAF, c/n WA/H/137". Aerial Visuals.
26. "Building 5". Royal Thai Air Force Museum. Archived from the original on 26 October 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
27. Darke, Steve (26 December 2016). "ROYAL THAI AIR FORCE MUSEUM, DON MUEANG" (PDF). The Thai Aviation Website. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
28. "Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Dragonfly HR.5, s/n VX595". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
29. "[Untitled]". The Helicopter Museum. Archived from the original on 30 October 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
30. "Exhibits". North East Land, Sea and Air Museums. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
31. "c/n wa/h/061". Helis.com. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
32. "Westland – Sikorsky Dragonfly HR.5". Yorkshire Air Museum. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
33. "Westland Dragonfly HR5 (WN493)". Fleet Air Arm Museum. Archived from the original on 28 September 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
34. "Aircraft List". South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum. Archived from the original on 30 March 2018. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
35. "OUR EXHIBITS". Morayvia. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
36. "Airframe Dossier - Sikorsky-Westland Dragonfly HR.3". Aerial Visuals. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
37. 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. Air-Britain Historians Limited. 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. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. 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. Shrewsbury: Airlife. ISBN   1-85310-053-6.

External links

• Westland Dragonfly entry in the helis.com database
• Pictorial of a Westland Dragonfly Restoration. Archived 19 April 2023 at the Wayback Machine