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Aviation History
1963
1963 - 0245.PDF
YliGHT International. 14 February 1963 WESTLAND HELICOPTERS . . The Scout (right) has a low-mounted ioilplane with end-plates, and a large fin. In contrast, the Wasp (far right) has a folding tail with minimum side area and a high- mounted horizontal surface to stor- boord. The "Flight International" sketch below shows the Wasp's port rear undercarriage unit, with an inset showing wheel castoring 233 'Flight International" photographs lift and descends directly into the hangar, and in the other the Wasp lands on the deck and is pushed into the hangar horizontally. Powerplant of the Wasp AS.l is the Nimbus 103, torque-limited to a 5min rating of 710 s.h.p. and "marinized" for continuous operation in salt-laden air. Four-axis autostabilization and all- weather navigation equipment is carried, although no details may be given of how the helicopter contacts a submarine. In the AS role the aircraft is crewed by a single pilot, and can carry two 2701b torpedos and a variety of other external loads. Endurance at a radius of action of 10 n.m. is 50min. Both Wasp and Scout can be equipped to seat five, and dual controls may be fitted for various types of training roles. This concludes the helicopters currently being produced by Westland Aircraft. The company are also acting as agents in Great Britain and Eire for the Hughes 269A light helicopter, which is competing with the Brantly B.2 for adoption by the British Army as the ULA (Unit Light Aircraft). Like the US Army, the requirement is for a Corps helicopter which can be treated like any other vehicle, being kept in an MT pool and maintained by the holding unit. No decision between the two rival designs has yet been announced, but the market is obviously a substantial one, and the chosen design will probably be manufactured under licence. For the future, there is no doubt that Westland regard the heli copter market as being primarily military. There has never been a true airline helicopter in any country, civil operators having to be content with conversions of military designs. It seems probable that this state of affairs will continue indefinitely, although the degree of compromise is not severe. In Britain today there are only two powerplants suitable for future large helicopters: the Bristol Siddeley Gnome, of 1,050 to some 1,500 h.p., and the Napier Gazelle, which is fast becoming an all-Rolls-Royce development and production programme in the general range of power from 1,500 to at least 2,000 h.p. Around these engines, and while continuing to rely upon Sikorsky"s inval uable experience in the design of dynamic components, the project teams at Yeovil and Hayes have produced studies for a number of new types of helicopter. Some of these are in the 15,0001b class while others are appreciably larger, but the MoA must state a requirement before the company will commit any substantial design effort. WESTLAND HELICOPTERS Powerplant Rotor O'all I Min Min and power diam length length height Type s.h.p. (ft) (ft) folded (ft) (note I) (ft) Weights (lb) Fuel consump- Max Max Max Vert Hover Range Fuel tion Speed cruise climb climb ceiling (ft) (n.m.) (Imp | i (kt) (kt) (ft/min) (ft/ (note 3) (note 4) Manuf's Disp Max gal) cruise : hover min) bare load Gross (note 2) (Ib/n.m.) (Ib/hr) ScoutAH.I Nimbus 102 32.25 49.4 30.4 ; 8.9 ! 3,084 2,216 5,300 155 4.65 1.050/685 /Vessex Gazelle 161, 56 65.8 ' 38.2 . 14.3 7,600 5,000 12.600 300/500 7.54 HAS. I 1.450/1.450 Weesex Coupled 56 65.8 33.2 ; 14.3 I 7,850 5,650 13,500 310/530 8.34 HC.2 Gnome 110/ I 11,2,700' 1.550 Whirlwind Gnome 101 S3 62.4 | 44.2 13.2 I 4.760 3.240 8.000 179/289 5.15 HAR.I0 1.050/720 504 1 980 1,040 1 15 115 108 106 1 10 103 5!8 92 90 1.660 600 I5.600/I0.0C0 275 1.560 470 5,900/3,600 340/560 1,540 430 14.100/10.800 270/500 1,220 265 15.800/6.900 260450 Notes: I, first figure is Ihr power, second figure is derated power to suit helicopter transmission; 2, first figure is normal tankage, second figure is max with long-range tanks; 3. first figure is hover ceiling in ground effect, second figure is hover ceiling out of ground effect; 4, first figure is normal range with full payload. second is with long-range tanks (Wessex 2 figures include reserves 5min take-off and land plus I5min cruise).
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