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Developed from the SARO P.531, Westland built two more P.531/2 prototypes at Eastleigh with double the engine power (one with a 1050shp Bristol Siddeley Nimbus engine derated to 635shp and the other with a de Havilland Gnome H.1000 turbine derated to 685shp) plus other changes, including a skid undercarriage. A 5 seat general purpose light helicopter, the Scout had two front seats and a three-seat rear bench; in the casevac role it carried two stretchers internally and two externally in panniers. Skid landing gear was standard. The Scout was suited to all the tasks of a lightweight helicopter: observation, liaison, training, SAR. As well as the British Army, export orders were also received for the Royal Australian Navy (2), Royal Jordanian Air Force (3), Uganda Police (2) and Bahrain Police (2). About 150 Scouts were built (first 8 or so at Eastleigh, rest at Hayes) by the Spring of 1968.
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| C/N | Version | Built | History | | f.9617 | | 1965 | 5X-UUW : ex G-17-1, delivered to Police Air Wing 1966. wfu 1969. Reported preserved.
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f.9618  | | 1965 | 5X-UUX : ex G-17-2, delivered to Police Air Wing 1966. wfu 1969. Sold to UK by Jul 1983. G-BKLJ j.wilkie, morecambe, uk: ex 5X-UUX, to UK Jul 1983. Broken up Jan 1991, some parts used as spares in Westland Wasp G-BMIR (c/n F.9670).
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| f.9619 | | 1965 | BSP-1 : ex G-17-2 and dd Jun 1965 to Bahrain State Police (as it was then called). Damaged 1977 and sold to South African Air Force as an instructional airframe. GT : ex Bahrain Public Security Force BSP-1 following accident in 1977, for Wasp programme support. wfu 1995 ? Preserved at SAAF Museum, Port Elizabeth.
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3 C/N found.
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