Westland WS-61 Sea King
Westland Helicopters · United Kingdom · first flew 1969 · helicopter
The Westland Sea King is the British licence-built version of the Sikorsky S-61, extensively modified for anti-submarine warfare and search-and-rescue operations by Westland Helicopters. It became one of the most important helicopters in Royal Navy service.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, rotary |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turboshaft, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Boat-hull fuselage for amphibious operations |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- British-built Sikorsky S-61 licence variant
- Boat-hull fuselage for amphibious operations
- Iconic Royal Navy ASW and SAR helicopter
A large twin-turboshaft helicopter with a boat-hull fuselage, large fixed stabilising floats on the lower fuselage, a five-blade main rotor, and distinctive British-specification avionics fairings distinguishing it from the US S-61.
Specifications
- The Westland WS-61 Sea King has a length of 17.01 m (56 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 18.9 m (62 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 230 km/h (143 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Westland built the Sea King under licence with significantly more capable avionics and systems than the US S-61, giving the Royal Navy a highly capable ASW helicopter from 1969. The type saw combat in the Falklands War of 1982, and the SAR variant became the primary RAF and Royal Navy search-and-rescue helicopter for decades. The Sea King was replaced in UK SAR service by the Sikorsky S-92 (AgustaWestland AW189) from around 2016.
Variants
Royal Navy variants included HAS.1 through HAS.6 (anti-submarine), HC.4 (commando assault), and HAR.3/3A (search and rescue); export variants served with India, Pakistan, Norway, and Germany among others.
Where you'll see it
Served the Royal Navy from 1969 and the RAF in SAR roles; saw combat in the Falklands War; retired from UK SAR service by 2016 and from the Royal Navy by 2018.
Related aircraft
- Westland Sea King
- Westland Sea King HAS.1
- Westland WG.13 (Lynx)
- Westland Sea King HC.4 Commando
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