Westland Lynx AH1
Westland Helicopters · United Kingdom · first flew 1977 · helicopter
The Westland Lynx AH1 is the British Army Air Corps variant of the Anglo-French Westland/Aérospatiale Lynx helicopter, optimised for utility and anti-tank operations with TOW missile armament capability. It entered service in the late 1970s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.16 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- British Army utility and anti-tank helicopter
- Semi-rigid rotor system with distinctive hinge-less hub
- TOW missile-armed battlefield helicopter
A medium utility helicopter with a four-blade semi-rigid rotor, twin Rolls-Royce Gem turboshaft engines side-by-side above the cabin, a skid undercarriage, and a characteristic tail rotor at the port side of the fin.
Specifications
- The Westland Lynx AH1 has a length of 15.16 m (50 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.8 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 259 km/h (161 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed jointly by Westland and Aérospatiale under a 1967 Anglo-French agreement, the Lynx AH1 first flew in 1977 and entered British Army service the same year. The AH1 equipped Army Air Corps squadrons in Germany and the UK as a key anti-armour platform during the Cold War.
Variants
The AH1 was followed by the AH7 with more powerful engines and upgraded avionics; the AH9 added wheeled undercarriage for improved desert operations. Naval variants include the HAS.2 and HAS.3.
Where you'll see it
The Lynx AH1 served with the British Army Air Corps from 1977, seeing service in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, and the Gulf War before being upgraded to AH7 standard; the type was phased out of UK service by 2015 in favour of the AgustaWestland Wildcat.
Related aircraft
- Westland Sea King HAR.3
- Westland Lynx HAS.3
- Westland Sea King HC.4 Commando
- Westland 30
- Bell 214ST
- Mi-26 Halo
- Mil Mi-26
- Sikorsky S-76
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