The Westland WS-55 Whirlwind was a British helicopter. It primarily served with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in anti-submarine and search and rescue roles.
Variants[]
Civil Variants[]
- WS-55 Series 1: Forty-four built; Canadian engines (Pratt & Whitney Canda R-1340-40 Wasp), transport helicopters for military and civilian use
- WS-55 Series 2: Nineteen built; Alvis engines (Alvis Leonides Major 755), civilian use
- WS-55 Series 3: Five built; Gnome turboshaft (Bristol Siddeley Gnome 101), civilian use
Military variants[]
- Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HAR.1: RN service; Search and rescue
- Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HAR.2: RAF service from 1955
- Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HC.2: RAF service
- Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HAR.3: RN service; Alvis Leonides Major 755
- Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HAR.4: Improved HAR.2 for hot and high conditions, RAF service
- Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HAR.5: Alvis Leonides Major engine and a 3 degree droop of the tail boom for increased main rotor clearance; RN service
- Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HAR.6: One ordered with Turbomeca Twin Turmo engine but completed as an HAR.5
- Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HAR.7: RN duties – Six converted to HAR.9's
- Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HAS.7: RN anti-submarine duties – One torpedo; Twelve used as Royal Marine transports, Six converted to HAR.9's
- Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HCC.8: Royal Flight transport, VVIP later converted to HAR.10's
- Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HAR.9: Twelve conversions of HAS.7 and HAR.7 with a Bristol Siddeley Gnome gas turbine replacing the Leonides Major engine, RN service
- Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HC.10: RAF service
- Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HAR.10: Final variant powered by a Bristol Siddeley Gnome turboshaft, RAF service, transport and air-sea rescue
- Westland WS-55 Whirlwind HCC.12: Two built for Royal Flight
