Westland Dragonfly

WS-51 Dragonfly
Dragonfly HR.5
Role	rescue or communications helicopter
Manufacturer	Westland Aircraft
Introduction	1950
Primary users	Royal Navy Royal Air Force
Produced	1950-
Number built	133
Developed from	Sikorsky H-5
Variants	Westland Widgeon

The Westland WS-51 Dragonfly helicopter was built by Westland Aircraft and was a license-built version of the American Sikorsky S-51. Apart from military use, it was sold into civilian use.

Design and development

In December 1946 an agreement was signed between Westland Aircraft and Sikorsky to allow a British version of the S-51 to be manufactured under license 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.

Operational history

The Dragonfly entered service with the Royal Navy in 1950 in the air-sea rescue role. A number were also used by the Royal Air Force for casualty evacuation. It was replaced in British service by the Westland Whirlwind, another derivative of a Sikorsky design, in the late 1950s. Fifty-one civilian WS-51s were produced.

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. Thirteen built, some modified later as HR.5s.

Dragonfly HC.2

Casualty evacuation helicopter for the Royal Air Force similar to the commercial Mark 1A, three built.

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, 58 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 similar to the Dragonfly HR.3. 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. Built by Westland in the United Kingdom.

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.

Operators

Belgium

• Sabena - Three helicopters

Egypt

• Royal Egyptian Air Force - Two helicopters as VIP transports.

France

• French Air Force - Nine helicopters initially for use in Indo-China.

Iraq

• Royal Iraqi Air Force - Two helicopters

Italy

• Italian Air Force - Three helicopters

Ceylon

• Royal Ceylon Air Force - Two helicopters

Japan

• Japan Air Self Defense Force - Three helicopters
  • 153rd Rescue Squadron
• Tohuku Electrics - Two helicopters for power line inspection.

Thailand

• Royal Thai Air Force - Four helicopters

United Kingdom

• Empire Test Pilot's School
• Royal Air Force
  • Central Flying School
  • No. 194 Squadron RAF
• Fleet Air Arm
  • 700 Naval Air Squadron
  • 701 Naval Air Squadron
  • 705 Naval Air Squadron
  • 727 Naval Air Squadron
  • 728 Naval Air Squadron
  • 771 Naval Air Squadron
  • Britannia Flight

Yugoslavia

• SFR Yugoslav Air Force - Ten helicopters
  • 119th Support Aviation Regiment (1954-1966)
  • 27th Helicopter Squadron/783rd Helicopter Squadron (1954-1965)
  • 122nd Hydroplane Liaison Squadron (1954-1966)

Survivors

• Dragonfly HR.3 WG751 on display at the Chatham Historic Dockyard, Chatham, United Kingdom.
• Dragonfly HR.5 WN403 on display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset, United Kingdom
• Dragonfly HR.3 G-AJOV on display at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, Shropshire, United Kingdom
• WS-51 Mk.1B 11503 on display at the Yugoslav Aeronautical Museum at Nikola Tesla Airport, Belgrade, Serbia.
• Dragonfly Mk.1A WS-51 H1-4/96, (cn WA/H/120) at Royal Thai Air Force Museum, Don Muang AFB.
• Dragonfly HR.5 WG724 on display at the North East Aircraft Museum, Sunderland, United Kingdom
• Dragonfly HR.5 on display at the Sri Lanka Air Force Museum, SLAF Ratmalana, Sri Lanka
• Dragonfly HR.5.Mk.5 On display at (The Helicopter Museum) Weston-super-Mare (North Somerset), (United Kingdom)

Specifications (Dragonfly HR.1)

Data from

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 (pilot)
• Capacity: 3 (passengers)
• Length: 57 ft 6½ in (17.54 m)
• Main rotor diameter: × 48 ft 0 in (14.63 m)
• Height: 12 ft 11½ in (3.95 m)
• Main rotor area: 1809.56 ft² (168.11 m²)
• Empty weight: 4380 lb (1987 kg)
• Gross weight: 5870 lb (2663 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Alvis Leonides 50 radial piston, 540 hp (403 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 95 mph (153 km/h)
• Range: 300 miles (483 km)
• Service ceiling: 12,400 ft (3780 m)

See also

• Sikorsky R-4
• Sikorsky H-5
• Westland Widgeon
• List of helicopter models
• List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force
• List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm

References

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. 

External links

• Westland Dragonfly entry in the helis.com database
• Pictorial of a Westland Dragonfly Restoration.