andrewman
January 3, 2005 at 4:33 pm

A couple of Westland Whirlwind helicopter questions

Can anyone help with an article I am currently writing, as I have got a bit stuck with some info on the Westland whirlwind helicopter.

1 Was this the first RAF helicopter ?

2 When did it fly its last search and rescue mission ?

Thanks for any help.

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By: andrewman - 3rd January 2005 at 22:48

Thanks for the help.

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By: David Burke - 3rd January 2005 at 20:50

Distiller – from memory the Whirlwinds were also based at Akrotiri carrying out
SAR duties for the various practice camps.

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By: Distiller - 3rd January 2005 at 20:41

The Whirlwind HAR.9 in the RN/FAA SAR role was retired in 1977, the HAR.10 in the RAF SAR role in Mar1982 (flying for the U.N. out of Episkopi).

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By: mmitch - 3rd January 2005 at 18:41

The first Helicopter in RAF service was the Sikorsky R-4B Hoverfly 1
See the exhibit in the RAF Museum Hendon. http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/collections/aircraft/aircraft_info.cfm?aircraft_id=136
mmitch.

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By: David Burke - 3rd January 2005 at 18:14

First practical helicopter with a useable payload would have been the Dragonfly in service with the RAF in Malaya. The last SAR Whirlwinds would have been with 84 Squadron in Cyprus circa 1982 I guess.

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By: alanl - 3rd January 2005 at 16:43

Wasn’t the first helicopter a Hoverfly from the states,then the Dragonfly and maybe a couple more after that and then the Whirlwind?I think the Whirlwind was probably the first practical helicopter used by the Raf though.