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{|{{Infobox aircraft begin
__NOTOC__
 
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin
 
 
| name=P.531
 
| name=P.531
 
| image=Saro P.531 58.jpg
 
| image=Saro P.531 58.jpg
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Two militiarised P.531-2s were completed in 1959, powered by the [[Bristol Siddeley Nimbus|Blackburn Nimbus]] and the [[de Havilland Gnome]] H1000 free-turbine engines, both derated to 635 hp now that the transmission tests had proved such powers acceptable. Like the Turmo installation, these engines were mounted, uncowled behind the cabin for easy servicing. There were aerodynamic shape revisions and a floor extension to allow six, rather than five seats. The vision was improved with perspex panels in the doors, tankage was increased and all-metal rotors introduced. These modifications increased gross weight by 1,200 lb (544 kg).
 
Two militiarised P.531-2s were completed in 1959, powered by the [[Bristol Siddeley Nimbus|Blackburn Nimbus]] and the [[de Havilland Gnome]] H1000 free-turbine engines, both derated to 635 hp now that the transmission tests had proved such powers acceptable. Like the Turmo installation, these engines were mounted, uncowled behind the cabin for easy servicing. There were aerodynamic shape revisions and a floor extension to allow six, rather than five seats. The vision was improved with perspex panels in the doors, tankage was increased and all-metal rotors introduced. These modifications increased gross weight by 1,200 lb (544 kg).
   
Saro had an order for eight pre-production aircraft from the Army Air Corps for evaluation and trials; these would have been known as the Saro Sprite, but the company was taken over by Westland and the aircraft became the first Scout A.H.1s.
+
Saro had an order for eight pre-production aircraft from the Army Air Corps for evaluation and trials; these would have been known as the Saro Sprite, but the company was taken over by Westland and the aircraft became the first Scout A.H.1s.
 
 
Another P.531-2 was built for evaluation by the Indian government<ref name="barg">British Military 1983, p 140.</ref> but following a lack of interest was re-worked as Scout standard for the Army Air Corps.
 
Another P.531-2 was built for evaluation by the Indian government<ref name="barg">British Military 1983, p 140.</ref> but following a lack of interest was re-worked as Scout standard for the Army Air Corps.
   
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:Three further prototypes with full scale tailplane, Turmo powered. All three were used by the Navy, with many deck landings; these flights fed into the later development of the [[Westland Wasp]].
 
:Three further prototypes with full scale tailplane, Turmo powered. All three were used by the Navy, with many deck landings; these flights fed into the later development of the [[Westland Wasp]].
 
;P.531-2
 
;P.531-2
:Militarised version for both Army and Navy use, powered by a slightly derated 635 hp (474 kW) [[Bristol Siddeley Nimbus|Blackburn Nimbus]] free-turbine engine. Two built by Saro, the second initially powered by a [[de Havilland Gnome]] H.1000, derated to 635 hp. It was later developed as the forerunner of the [[Westland Scout]].
+
:Militarised version for both Army and Navy use, powered by a slightly derated 635 hp (474 kW) [[Bristol Siddeley Nimbus|Blackburn Nimbus]] free-turbine engine. Two built by Saro, the second initially powered by a [[de Havilland Gnome]] H.1000, derated to 635 hp. It was later developed as the forerunner of the [[Westland Scout]].
 
 
==Operators==
 
==Operators==
 
;{{UK}}
 
;{{UK}}
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|span ft=
 
|span ft=
 
|span in=
 
|span in=
|swept m=<!-- swing-wings -->
+
|swept m=
|swept ft=<!-- swing-wings -->
+
|swept ft=
|swept in=<!-- swing-wings -->
+
|swept in=
|rot number=1<!-- helicopters -->
+
|rot number=1
|rot dia m=<!-- helicopters -->9.91
+
|rot dia m=9.91
|rot dia ft=<!-- helicopters -->32
+
|rot dia ft=32
|rot dia in=<!-- helicopters -->6
+
|rot dia in=6
|dia m=<!-- airships etc -->
+
|dia m=
|dia ft=<!-- airships etc -->
+
|dia ft=
|dia in=<!-- airships etc -->
+
|dia in=
|width m=<!-- if applicable -->
+
|width m=
|width ft=<!-- if applicable -->
+
|width ft=
|width in=<!-- if applicable -->
+
|width in=
 
|height m=2.90
 
|height m=2.90
 
|height ft=9
 
|height ft=9
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|wing area sqm=
 
|wing area sqm=
 
|wing area sqft=
 
|wing area sqft=
|swept area sqm=<!-- swing-wings -->
+
|swept area sqm=
|swept area sqft=<!-- swing-wings -->
+
|swept area sqft=
|rot area sqm=<!-- helicopters -->
+
|rot area sqm=
|rot area sqft=<!-- helicopters -->
+
|rot area sqft=
|volume m3=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
+
|volume m3=
|volume ft3=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
+
|volume ft3=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
+
|aspect ratio=
 
|empty weight kg=949
 
|empty weight kg=949
 
|empty weight lb=2,092
 
|empty weight lb=2,092
 
|gross weight kg=1,724
 
|gross weight kg=1,724
 
|gross weight lb= maximum overload 3,800
 
|gross weight lb= maximum overload 3,800
|lift kg=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
+
|lift kg=
|lift lb=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
+
|lift lb=
   
 
|eng1 number=1
 
|eng1 number=1
 
|eng1 type=[[Turbomeca Turmo|Blackburn-Turbomeca Turmo]] turboshaft
 
|eng1 type=[[Turbomeca Turmo|Blackburn-Turbomeca Turmo]] turboshaft
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->242
+
|eng1 kw=242
|eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines --> derated to 325
+
|eng1 hp= derated to 325
|eng1 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
+
|eng1 kn=
|eng1 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
+
|eng1 lbf=
|eng1 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
+
|eng1 kn-ab=
|eng1 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
+
|eng1 lbf-ab=
 
|eng2 number=
 
|eng2 number=
 
|eng2 type=
 
|eng2 type=
|eng2 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
+
|eng2 kw=
|eng2 hp=<!-- prop engines -->
+
|eng2 hp=
|eng2 kn=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
+
|eng2 kn=
|eng2 lbf=<!-- jet/rocket engines -->
+
|eng2 lbf=
|eng2 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
+
|eng2 kn-ab=
|eng2 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
+
|eng2 lbf-ab=
   
 
|max speed kmh=194
 
|max speed kmh=194
 
|max speed mph=121
 
|max speed mph=121
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
+
|max speed mach=
|cruise speed kmh=175<!-- if max speed unknown -->
+
|cruise speed kmh=175
|cruise speed mph= 108 typical<!-- if max speed unknown -->
+
|cruise speed mph= 108 typical
 
|range km=390
 
|range km=390
 
|range miles=242
 
|range miles=242
|endurance h=<!-- if range unknown -->
+
|endurance h=
|endurance min=<!-- if range unknown -->
+
|endurance min=
 
|ceiling m=700
 
|ceiling m=700
 
|ceiling ft= free hover 2,300
 
|ceiling ft= free hover 2,300
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
+
|glide ratio=
 
|climb rate ms=2.74
 
|climb rate ms=2.74
 
|climb rate ftmin=initial 540
 
|climb rate ftmin=initial 540
|sink rate ms=<!-- sailplanes -->
+
|sink rate ms=
|sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes -->
+
|sink rate ftmin=
   
 
|armament1=
 
|armament1=
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==See also==
 
==See also==
{{aircontent
 
 
|see also=
 
|related=
 
 
*[[Saro Skeeter]]
 
*[[Saro Skeeter]]
 
*[[Westland Scout]]
 
*[[Westland Scout]]
 
*[[Westland Wasp]]
 
*[[Westland Wasp]]
 
*[[list of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm]]
 
*[[list of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm]]
}}
 
   
 
==References==
 
==References==
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*[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1958/1958-1-%20-%200195.html "Saunders-Roe P.531"] a 1958 ''Flight'' article
 
*[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1958/1958-1-%20-%200195.html "Saunders-Roe P.531"] a 1958 ''Flight'' article
   
{{Saro aircraft}}
 
 
{{Wikipedia|Saro P.531}}
 
{{Wikipedia|Saro P.531}}
   
[[Category:British military utility aircraft 1950–1959]]
+
[[Category:1950s British military utility aircraft]]
 
[[Category:Saro aircraft]]
 
[[Category:Saro aircraft]]
[[Category:British helicopters 1950–1959]]
+
[[Category:1950s British helicopters]]

Latest revision as of 05:04, 30 January 2020

P.531
Saro P.531 58
First P.531-0, G-APNV at the Farnborough show 1958
Role Five-seat utility helicopter
Manufacturer Saunders-Roe
First flight 20 July 1958
Introduction 1959
Primary user Fleet Air Arm
Number built 6
Variants Westland Scout
Westland Wasp

The Saro P.531 (or Saunders-Roe P.531) is a British all-metal five-seat helicopter designed and built by Saunders-Roe Limited (Saro).

Development

Design of the P.531[1][2] was started in November 1957 as a private venture improvement of the company's earlier Skeeter.[3] The first prototypes were powered by a derated 325 shp Blackburn Turbomeca Turmo 600, a free turbine engine allowing clutchless transmission. The P.531 first flew on the 20 July 1958.[1] Three more developed P.531-0s followed and these were delivered to the Royal Navy/Fleet Air Arm for trials and familiarisation. Following evaluation by the Navy a batch of 30 developed aircraft were eventually ordered as the Westland Wasp.

Two militiarised P.531-2s were completed in 1959, powered by the Blackburn Nimbus and the de Havilland Gnome H1000 free-turbine engines, both derated to 635 hp now that the transmission tests had proved such powers acceptable. Like the Turmo installation, these engines were mounted, uncowled behind the cabin for easy servicing. There were aerodynamic shape revisions and a floor extension to allow six, rather than five seats. The vision was improved with perspex panels in the doors, tankage was increased and all-metal rotors introduced. These modifications increased gross weight by 1,200 lb (544 kg).

Saro had an order for eight pre-production aircraft from the Army Air Corps for evaluation and trials; these would have been known as the Saro Sprite, but the company was taken over by Westland and the aircraft became the first Scout A.H.1s. Another P.531-2 was built for evaluation by the Indian government[4] but following a lack of interest was re-worked as Scout standard for the Army Air Corps.

Variants

[2]

P.531
Prototype powered by the Turmo 600, one built. Had a short tailplane for c.g. adjustment, though not always installed.
P.531-0
Three further prototypes with full scale tailplane, Turmo powered. All three were used by the Navy, with many deck landings; these flights fed into the later development of the Westland Wasp.
P.531-2
Militarised version for both Army and Navy use, powered by a slightly derated 635 hp (474 kW) Blackburn Nimbus free-turbine engine. Two built by Saro, the second initially powered by a de Havilland Gnome H.1000, derated to 635 hp. It was later developed as the forerunner of the Westland Scout.

Operators

Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom

Aircraft on display

SaroP531-XN332

First P.531-0 prototype, XN332 ex-G-APNV in storage at RNAS Yeovilton in 2005

  • The second and third prototypes are held by the Fleet Air Arm Museum for display.

Specifications (P.531, G-APNU)

Data from [5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Capacity: 3
  • Length: rotors folded 29 ft 0 in (8.84 m)
  • Main rotor diameter: 32 ft 6 in (9.91 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 6 in (2.90 m)
  • Empty weight: 2,092 lb (949 kg)
  • Gross weight: maximum overload 3,800 lb (1,724 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Blackburn-Turbomeca Turmo turboshaft, derated to 325 hp (242 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 121 mph (194 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 108 typical mph (175 km/h)
  • Range: 242 miles (390 km)
  • Service ceiling: free hover 2,300 ft (700 m)
  • Rate of climb: initial 540 ft/min (2.74 m/s)

See also

References

Notes
  1. 1.0 1.1 Jackson 1974, p 295 and 329
  2. 2.0 2.1 London 1988, pp. 263–76
  3. Orbis 1985, p 3093
  4. British Military 1983, p 140.
  5. London 1988, pp. 272
Bibliography
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 
  • Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10014-X. 
  • London, Peter (1988). Saunders and Saro Aircraft since 1917. London: Putnam Publishing. ISBN 0-85177-814-3. 
  • British Military Aircraft Serials and Markings. British Aviation Research Group. 1983. ISBN 0-906339-04-9. 

External links

All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
The original article can be found at Saro P.531 and the edit history here.