Westland Widgeon
| Westland Widgeon | |
|---|---|
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|
|
| Type: | light multipurpose helicopter |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
23rd August 1955 |
| Production time: |
1955-1958 |
| Number of pieces: |
15th |
The Westland Widgeon was a self-developed helicopter by the British company Westland Aircraft . It is a light multi-purpose helicopter and was based on the previous model Westland Dragonfly HR5 .
history
After the success with the license-built Dragonfly, Westland began to build two other types in parallel. In addition to the turn under license from Sikorsky -built Westland Whirlwind the company worked simultaneously on a further development of the Dragonfly. The number of seats has been increased to five by an enlarged and reinforced cabin. However, the Widgeon did not sell well, only 15 copies were built in total, some of which were conversions of existing Dragonfly HR5s. Individual copies of the Widgeon were in use in Great Britain , Hong Kong , Japan and Jordan , mostly in service with the military or (as in Hong Kong) with the police. Few machines were equipped as ambulance helicopters for two injured people. After the British Air Force abandoned the plan to procure 24 Widgeon and the helicopter hardly found any international buyers, production was discontinued. Westland then concentrated on the production of the much more successful Whirlwind.
Military use
-
Biafra : 3 -
Brazil
- Brazilian Navy : 3
-
Ceylon : 2 -
Hong Kong
-
Japan
-
Jordan : 2 -
Nigeria : 1 helicopter captured by Biafra
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Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 1 |
| Passengers | 4th |
| Hull length | 12.44 m |
| Rotor diameter | 14.99 m |
| height | 4.04 m |
| Empty mass | 1969 kg |
| Max. Takeoff mass | 2576 kg |
| Top speed | 167 km / h |
| Service ceiling | 3600 m |
| Range | 500 km |
| Engines | 1 × Alvis-Leonides 521/2 radial engine with 367 kW |
See also
literature
- Giorgio Apostolo: World Cyclopedia of Airplanes, Volume 3 , Südwest-Verlag, Munich 1984, ISBN 3-517-00851-6 .
