Westland Whirlwind

Westland built the Whirlwind under licence from the Sikorsky S-55/H-19 design, giving Britain a domestic helicopter production base in the 1950s. The type entered Royal Navy and Royal Air Force service as helicopters were becoming practical for rescue, utility, and naval support duties. It helped bridge the gap between early piston helicopters and later turbine-powered British designs.

The Whirlwind used the single-main-rotor, tail-rotor configuration of the S-55 family and appeared in multiple variants. Early aircraft used piston engines, while later British variants adopted turbine power to improve performance. Mission equipment differed by user, with naval anti-submarine, utility, and search-and-rescue versions reflecting the flexibility of the basic airframe.

Operational use centered on the Fleet Air Arm and RAF search-and-rescue force. Whirlwinds performed anti-submarine support, general utility transport, and coastal rescue tasks, including the familiar yellow RAF rescue aircraft. The Westland Wessex and later Sea King gradually replaced the type as larger turbine helicopters became available.