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Aviation History
1953
1953 - 1155.PDF
Westland S-SS PRESENT examples of the S-55 built under licence by Westland Aircraft, Ltd., are powered by the 600 h.p. P. and W. Wasp. Later models however, will have the 800 h.p. Alvis Leonides Major, and the first of the new versions will be on static display at Farnborough. The S-55 is considerably larger than the S-51, being capable of carrying ten troops, or six passengers, luggage and freight. The engine is mounted at an angle in the nose and can be completely uncovered by the opening of "petal" cowlings. The all-metal rotor will fold for stowage and both cyclic and collective pitch controls are hydraulic servo operated. The pilot sits on the right so that he can operate wireless and other controls without removing his right hand from the control column. Winch-equipped S-55s have gone into service with a Naval squadron and have been doing valuable work in Malaya. Sabena, the Belgian airline, are now inaugurating the world's first international helicopter services with a fleet of three S-55s. With a" range of 400 miles, the S-55 has proved itself admirable for rescue work. 99 est land S-5 I MALAYA is one of the many areas in which the S-51 has proved its reliability. The type is now produced solely in this country (under licence from Sikorsky) by Westland Aircraft. The military version, known as the Dragonfly, has been delivered to the R.A.F. and the Navy in various versions for liaison, transpoit and reconnaissance, many fitted with an hydraulic hoist for rescue duties. Although the early machines were powered by the Pratt and Whitney Wasp Junior, S-51s now have the Alvis Leonides of 550 h.p. The military versions are doing very useful work for the Forces and have taken part in such well-known operations as the Flying Enterprise rescue attempts. In original American-built form, the type has been intensively operated by British European Air ways for some years—on both regular and special flights carrying passengers, mail and freight. A brand-new Westland-built example is now being used for reporting work with the Evening Standard. Sikorsky helicopters, incidentally, are estimated to have saved over 10,000 lives in Korea.
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