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| WHIRLWIND MK10 Post-WWII Gas turbine powered Whirlwind HAR10 and HC10 helicopters were to form the backbone of the RAF's search and rescue and tactical transport helicopter force during the 1960s. |
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The new turboshaft engine was lighter and more powerful than the piston engine it superseded and offered improved performance and reliability. A total of sixty-eight new air-sea rescue HAR10 and transport HC10s were manufactured by Westland and a number of Whirlwind HAR2 and HAR4 piston-engined helicopters were subsequently re-engined. |
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The first RAF unit to employ the HAR10 was No.225 Squadron, Transport Command, which became operational with the aircraft on 4 November 1961. |
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Used by the RAF in Europe, the Mediterranean and the Far East, the last squadron to be equipped with the aircraft Cyprus based No.84 Squadron converted to the Westland Wessex in March 1982. This aircraft is the first production machine. The design was so successful that jet-engined Whirlwinds were in service for twenty-one years. |
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In 1952 the RN received 25 Sikorsky S55 helicopters (designated HAR21 and HAS22) under the Mutual Defence Aid Plan. These proved highly successful and resulted in an order for licence-built versions a year later, the first of which, a Whirlwind HAR1, flew on 15 August 1953. The Pratt and Whitney Wasp (600 shp) powered HAR1 and HAR3 were built in small numbers between 1953 and 1955 and were soon followed by Alvis powered HAR5s. All the HAR models saw extensive service in ships flights, particularly as the planeguard on carriers. The only anti-submarine Whirlwind, the HAS7, first flew on 17 October 1956 and entered squadron service with 845 NAS. in August 1957. It was equipped with a dipping sonar and had provision to carry a torpedo but could not carry both simultaneously. |
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Due to early problems the HAS7 did not see fleet wide service until 1960 and was soon replaced in the anti-submarine role by the Wessex. The large surplus of HAS7 Whirlwinds saw their use in a commando transport role from 1960 onwards with some being converted to HAR9s with a Rolls Royce Gnome turbine, entering service with SAR flights in 1967. The HAR1, HAR3 and HAR5 were retired from service by the mid 1960s but the HAS7 continued as a training helicopter until 1975. The HAR9 left SAR service in 1977. A total of 37 various HAR models and 120 HAS7 Whirlwind were built, in addition to 10 HAR21 and 15 HAS22 Sikorsky S55. |
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(Whirlwind HAS7) Dimensions: Rotor diameter 16.15 m (53ft) ; Length 12.71 m (41ft 8.5in) ; Rotor Disc Area 204.85 sq.m (2,205.0 sq.ft) Weights: Maximum Take-off 3538.0 kg (7,800 lb) Powerplant: one Alvis Leonides Major - 559 kW (750 shp) maximum power. Performance: Maximum speed 104 mph (167 kph, 90 kt) Avionics: Dipping sonar Armament: single lightweight torpedo in place of dipping sonar. Link |
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Westland "Whirlwind" 1959 The first S-55s received by the Royal Navy in 1950 were built by Sikorsky, but Westland acquired a license in 1950 and the first British-made S-55 flew at Yeovil in November 1952. Like the American models, the first Whirlwinds had Pratt & Whitney engines and were delivered to No.705 Squadron based at Gosport. The RAF also ordered this helicopter for transport and rescue missions: the Whirlwind HAR Mk.2 (the same as the naval version except for some differences in equipment) joined the Transport and Coastal Command Units from 1955. With Wright R.1300 engines, the Whirlwind Mk.3 went into production for the Royal Navy in 1953 and operated for many years from both ship and shore bases. |
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The subsequent RAF HAR Mk.4 version was modified for use in the tropics and fitted with a new variant of the Pratt & Whitney R-1340. It was used in Malaysia. When Westland began producing the S-55, it specified that the American engine would be used until a more suitable British powerplant was available. To meet this requirement, Alvis developed a double radial called the Leonides Major, which delivered 882hp derated to 750hp. The re-engined Whirlwind flew in 1955. It was followed in 1956 by the Mk.7 version intended to replace the old Fairey Gannet antisubmarine aircraft. Meanwhile, Westland had thought of adapting a turbine engine for the Whirlwind. |
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The aircraft was first given a General Electric T.58 and then the more powerful D.H. Gnome turbine. The turbine-powered Whirlwind Series 3 flew in February 1959 and introduced a new nose profile which offered better visibility from the cockpit than the piston engine version. The Whirlwind could carry ten men or six stretchers, or a comparable load. |
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JRLucariny Westland Whirlwind HAR 10 Model Props project John Blankenship |
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DRAWINGS “Westland Whirlwind HAR 10" Link |
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