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Aviation History
1957
1957 - 0236.PDF
238 FLIGHT 7~7~r7 /' WESTLAND WIDGEON A Five-seat Helicopter in Detail: "Quick-change" Features for Versatility THE elaborately annotated sectional drawing on this pagepermits a particularly intimate study of a modern heli-copter—for such is the Westland Widgeon. Literally the heart of the Widgeon is the Alvis Leonides 521/1 nine-cylinder radial engine, mounted with the crank- shaft vertical in the centre-section of the fuselage. This unit has a maximum power rating of 515 h.p. at 3,000 r.p.m., and with 43in boost. The vertical shaft from the Leonides drives through a centrifugal clutch, incorporating an engine-cooling fan, to the main gearbox. This box has two-stage epicyclic gears giving a 14.85 speed reduction for the main rotor and a 2.25 reduction for the tail rotor. The cabin has a floor area of 24^ sq ft, and the three rear seats and two adjustable forward seats are so fitted that they can be quickly and simply removed when the Widgeon is required for roles other than passenger carrying. For pilot- training, dual controls and instruments can be installed. For rescue duties an hydraulically-operated winch is fitted on the starboard side—a location which permits the pilot to control the winch and renders the presence of an additional crew-man unnecessary. The winch is suitable for rescue with • various types of harness, as well as with the scoop net, and is stressed to hoist three adults simultaneously. Alternatively, it can serve as an aerial crane. For what the makers call "replenishment services" a substantial load can be carried in a special freight sling. For ambulance work the Widgeon requires no modification. The triple rear seats are removed and the port-side front seat is transferred to a position behind the pilot, for the use of a medical attendant. Two stretchers are then positioned, one above the other, lengthways on the port side of the cabin. In the nose is a single clamshell door for stretcher loading. The Widgeon has a maximum all-up weight of 5,900 lb. Its maximum permissible speed is 95 kt (109 m.p.h.), maximum cruising speed 88 kt (101 m.p.h.), and economical cruising speed 70 kt (80 m.p.h.). BAGGAGE COMPAR CONTAINING FIRST KIT, ENGINE TURNI HANDLE * BAGGAO TRAY FIXED MAIN UNDERCARRIAGE 12 FT: TRACK (DUNLOP WHEELS TYRES > BRAKES) "Flight" photograph 1 Lateral-trimming actuator 2 Main fuse block 3 Fore-and-aft control torque tube 4 Platform extending cabin floor when door closed 5 Hinged stretcher-guide rail (stowed) 6 Stretcher-guide rails 7 Gyrosyn compass corrector control box 8 Gyrosyn compass amplifier 9 Weight and e.g. schedule 10 Toggle fastener 11 Picketing lug 12 Air-charging valve 13 Westland oleo-pneumatic shock- absorber leg 14 Footstep (bottom rung retracting) 15 Directional-control pedestal 16 Rudder pedals 17 Fire extinguisher 18 Pedal leg-reach adjuster 19 Fore-and-aft trimmer handwheel 20 Fuel-pump circuit breakers 21 Lateral trimmer switch 22 Hand controls (port to starboard, landing-lamp lever, air-intake by- pass control, oil-cooler shutter con- trol, oil and fuel cut-off control) 23 Collective-pitch control (housing starter button) 24 Cyclic-pitch control 25 Rotor-brake control 26 Wheel-brake control 27 Wheel and rotor-brake reservoirs 28 Directional-control quadrant (cables run behind cabin bulkhead, over engine bay and along tail cone to 45) 29 Mixing unit—fore-and-aft lateral cyclic-pitch controls. 30 Jacking points 31 Brake pipes 32 Ventilator 33 External freight carrier (loading up to 750 Ib) 34 Navigation lamps 35 Air-intake supplying cold air through transverse duct to car- burettor 36 24 v, 25 amp hr battery 37 Hot-air valve 38 Turner pneumatic shock-absorber leg 39 Oil tank (6.5 gal) 40 Kick-in step 41 Baggage tray 42 Aerial for STR 9X radio, installed above baggage compartment (port side) 43 Blade-folding-gear lugs 44 Tail-rotor guard attachment point 45 Cable-drum and pitch-control shaft46 Tail-rotor gearbox 47 Counterbalance weights 48 Fairleads for directional control cables 49 Tail-rotor drive-shaft bearings 50 Tail-rotor drive shaft The Westland Widgeon, as this "Flight" photograph bears witness, is among the best-looking rotating-wing aircraft in the air today..
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