WS-51 Dragonfly
Dragonfly HR5
Role	rescue or communications helicopter
Manufacturer	Westland Aircraft
Introduced	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.

Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Survivors 6 Specifications (Dragonfly HR.1) 7 See also 8 References 9 External links

[edit] 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 unsuccessful.

[edit] 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.

[edit] Variants

Westland/Sikorsky WS-51

Prototype.

Dragonfly HR.1

Air-sea search and rescue helicopter for the Royal Navy powered by a 540 hp (403 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, 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 modifed 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. Modifed 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-985-134 Wasp Junior radial piston engine.

[edit] 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 Defence 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

[edit] 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.

[edit] Specifications (Dragonfly HR.1)

Data from ^[1]

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)

[edit] See also

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

Related development

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

Related lists

• List of helicopter models
  

[edit] References

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

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Westland Dragonfly

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