Westland Scout
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| Scout | |
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| Type | Helicopter |
| Manufacturer | Westland |
| Primary user | Army Air Corps |
| Number built | About 150 |
| Variants | Westland Wasp |
The Westland Scout was a general purpose military light helicopter developed by Westland Aircraft Limited.
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[edit] Design and development
It was the older brother to the Westland Wasp, both of them developed from the Saunders-Roe ("Saro") P.531, itself an extension of the Saunders-Roe Skeeter. With the acquisition of Saunders Roe, Westland took over the project which became the prototype for the Scout and Wasp.
The P.531 was developed with both 635 shp Bristol Siddeley Nimbus and 685 shp de Havilland Gnome H.1000 engines. The production Scout AH.1 used a 1,050 shp Rolls-Royce (RR having acquired Bristol Siddeley by then) Nimbus 101 engine. The Scout first flew on 29 August 1960.
The Scout had a skid undercarriage. Behind the two front seats was a three-seat bench. It was used for general light work including observation, liaison, training, and search and rescue. When fitted as a light attack helicopter it carried two machine guns (L7 GPMG and 4 anti-tank guided missiles (the SS.11). In use for casualty evacuation, the Scout could carry two stretchers internally and two externally.
About 150 Scouts were built, mainly at Hayes, by 1968.
[edit] Operational history
British Army Air Corps Scout helicopters were used during Falklands War. One of them was shot down by a FMA IA 58 Pucará (the only Air-to-air Argentine victory in the war), and a second one was forced to land after being attacked.
[edit] Variants
- Saunders-Roe P.531
- Prototype.
- Saunders-Roe P.531-2 Mk.1
- Pre-production aircraft.
- Scout AH.1
- Five-seat light utility helicopter for the British Army, Scout helicopters were also used in Borneo 1965-1966 3 flt AAC based at Sibu 3rd division Sarawak
[edit] Operators
[edit] Military Operators
- Royal Australian Navy operated 2 helicopters in 723 Squadron RAN.
- Royal Jordanian Air Force operated 3 helicopters.
[edit] Law Enforcement Operators
- Bahrain State Police operated 2 helicopters.
- Ugandan Police Air Wing operated 2 helicopters.
[edit] Specifications(Scout)
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 6 passengers in two rows
- Length: 30 ft 4 in (9.25 m)
- Rotor diameter: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
- Height: 8 ft 10 in (2.70 m)
- Disc area: 3,266 ft² (303 m²)
- Empty weight: 3,084 lb (1,400 kg)
- Loaded weight: 5,350 lb (2,427 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: lb (kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Rolls-Royce Nimbus 101 turboshaft, 1,050 shp (783 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 131 mph (210 km/h)
- Range: 316 miles (510 km)
- Service ceiling 17,700 ft (5,40 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,670 ft/min at sea level (8.50 m/s)
- Disc loading: 1.64 lb/ft² (8 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.20 hp/lb (0.32 kW/kg)
Armament
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft Kamov Ka-15 - Aérospatiale Alouette II - Aérospatiale Alouette III -
[edit] External links
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