Westland Whirlwind HAR.10
Westland · United Kingdom · first flew 1953 · helicopter
The Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 is a British turboshaft-powered search and rescue helicopter built under licence from Sikorsky, serving the RAF and Royal Navy.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 13.46 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- Single-rotor British SAR helicopter
- Derived from Sikorsky S-55
- Dorsal engine installation above cabin
A large-cabin single-rotor helicopter with the engine mounted above the forward fuselage, four-blade main rotor, fixed quadricycle undercarriage, and a rounded nose profile.
Specifications
- The Westland Whirlwind HAR.10 has a length of 13.46 m (44 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.15 m (53 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 175 km/h (109 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Westland developed the Whirlwind from the Sikorsky S-55, initially with piston engines before converting to turboshaft power. The HAR.10 variant, with a Bristol Siddeley Gnome turboshaft, entered RAF service in 1961 and was widely used for mountain and coastal rescue.
Variants
The Whirlwind family includes piston-powered HAR.1/2/3/4, the HAR.10 (turboshaft conversion), and naval HAS.7 anti-submarine variants.
Where you'll see it
The RAF operated the Whirlwind HAR.10 from 1961 until replacement by the Wessex and Sea King; it served with mountain rescue and SAR flights across the UK.
Related aircraft
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