Saunders-Roe P.531-2
Saunders-Roe · United Kingdom · first flew 1960 · helicopter
The Saunders-Roe P.531-2 was the most developed pre-production variant of the P.531 light helicopter, essentially the prototype for the Westland Scout and Wasp that entered British Army and Royal Navy service in the early 1960s. It incorporated the definitive rotor system and airframe configuration of the production helicopters.
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:
- Later pre-production P.531 variant, closest to Scout/Wasp
- Single turboshaft with four-blade main rotor, skid undercarriage
- Direct predecessor of Westland Scout army helicopter
In the field virtually indistinguishable from the Scout — four-blade rotor, skid undercarriage, slim cabin with a forward-facing turbine inlet, and the characteristic Westland/Saro family tail rotor arrangement.
Specifications
- The Saunders-Roe P.531-2 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
The P.531-2 was evaluated by the British Army and Royal Navy as a candidate for their respective utility and shipboard helicopter requirements, competing against other designs. After Saunders-Roe merged into Westland, the P.531-2 was refined into the Scout (P.531-2 Mk 1) and Wasp (P.531-2 Mk 2) production variants.
Variants
The P.531-2 Mk 1 became the Westland Scout; the P.531-2 Mk 2 with a folding tail and deck-landing gear became the Westland Wasp for naval use.
Where you'll see it
The P.531-2 itself was a pre-production evaluation aircraft; the production Scout and Wasp served the British Army Air Corps and Royal Navy until the 1990s.
Related aircraft
- Saunders-Roe P.531-0
- Saro P.531
- Saunders-Roe SR.53
- Saunders-Roe Princess
- Agusta AB 47J-3
- Bell UH-1B Iroquois
- Enstrom 280 Shark
- Scout
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