Saunders-Roe P.531-0
Saunders-Roe · United Kingdom · first flew 1959 · helicopter
The Saunders-Roe P.531-0 was the first pre-production development variant of the P.531 light helicopter, refining the original prototype configuration as Saunders-Roe worked towards a production-ready design for military customers. It served to develop the rotor system and dynamic components that would appear on the Scout and Wasp.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.24 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pre-production P.531 development helicopter
- Single Nimbus turboshaft, four-blade rotor
- Progenitor of Westland Scout and Wasp
Very similar in appearance to the P.531 prototype; distinguishing details between the P.531, P.531-0, and P.531-2 require close inspection of rotor head and landing gear details.
Specifications
- The Saunders-Roe P.531-0 has a length of 9.24 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.45 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 195 km/h (121 mph).
- Typical crew: 1–2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Following the original P.531 prototype flights in 1958, Saunders-Roe built additional development aircraft in the P.531-0 and P.531-2 configurations to evaluate refinements before the Westland merger consolidated helicopter development at Yeovil. These aircraft were flown in British military evaluation trials.
Variants
The P.531-0 is a sub-variant of the P.531 family; it was followed by the P.531-2 and ultimately the production Scout (P.531-2 Mk 1) and Wasp (P.531-2 Mk 2) derivatives.
Where you'll see it
Development aircraft only; no operational service in its own right, though its descendants served with the British Army Air Corps and Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm.
Related aircraft
- Saro P.531
- Saunders-Roe P.531-2
- Saunders-Roe SR.53
- Saunders-Roe Princess
- Aérospatiale Alouette III
- Agusta A.103
- AS-61R
- HAL Chetak
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