The Westland Widgeon is a helicopter that was developed by Westland Aircraft as a private venture improvement on the Westland WS-51 Dragonfly.

Design and development Westland Aircraft decided to make a private venture improvement on the Westland WS-51 Dragonfly helicopter, which was a licensed Sikorsky Aircraft design, by increasing the cabin capacity and replacing the Dragonfly's rotor head, blades and gearbox with the units used in the Westland Whirlwind. Three Dragonfly Series 1As were converted to WS-51 Series 2 Widgeon specifications and the first one flew on 23 August 1955. One of these conversions, registration G-ANLW, was the first helicopter to land at the London Heliport on 8 April 1959, and later appeared in the 1971 film, When Eight Bells Toll.

In 1957, there was a plan to take up to 24 existing Fleet Air Arm Dragonflies to Dragonfly HC.7 standard (as the Naval Widgeon was to become) but this was abandoned and it contributed to the decision to stop progress.

Variants WS-51 Series 2 Widgeon 12 new aircraft and three conversions from Series 1A Dragonflies. Dragonfly HC.7 Proposed conversion of Fleet Air Arm Dragonflies to Widgeon standard. 24 conversions planned but never carried out. UH-1 Brazilian Navy designation for the Widgeon. Originally designated HUW.

Operators

Brazilian Navy Ceylon Royal Ceylon Air Force

Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force

Royal Jordanian Air Force

Biafran Air Force - operated a single ex-Bristow Widgeon during the Biafran War.

Bristow HelicoptersFlight International 11 July 1968, p. 55.

Surviving aircraft

Brazil

N-7001 - WS-51/2 c/n WA/H/142 on static display in Museu da Aviação Naval at São Pedro da Aldeia, Rio de Janeiro

United Kingdom

G-ANLW - WS51A Series 2 c/n WA/H/133 under restoration at Historic Helicopters, Chard G-AOZE/5N-ABW - WS51A Series 2 c/n WA/H/141 on static display at The Helicopter Museum, Weston-super-Mare G-APTW - WS51A Series 2 c/n WA/H/150 on static display at North East Land Sea & Air Museum, Sunderland

Specifications (Widgeon)

See also List of rotorcraft

References

Notes

Bibliography

Apostolo, Giorgio. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Helicopters. New York: Bonanza Books, 1984. .

James, Derek N. Westland Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1991. . "Widgeon and Whirlwind —with power by Alvis: A Report on two current Westland developments." Flight, 1955. "World Helicopter Market". Flight International, 13 July 1967. pp. 57–71. "World Helicopter Market". Flight International, 11 July 1968. pp. 48–60.

External links

Westland Widgeon pages at helis.com database