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In December 1946, Westland Aircraft signed an agreement to build under licence the world's first successful operational helicopter, the US Sikorsky S-51 general utility model. This became the first production helicopter in Britain and the first helicopter in the UK to achieve an airworthiness certificate. Named the Dragonfly, the first British-built WS51 flew on 5 October 1948. Westland produced two piston engined original versions, the Series 1A with a British 500hp Alvis Leonides 521/1 and the Series 1B with a US 450hp Pratt & Whitney R-985-B4 Wasp Junior. Westland produced about 150 Dragonflys. Of these, 71 went to the Royal Navy, a further 16 went to the Royal Air Force to form the first frontline helicopter squadron in the service. Westland also produced the Dragonfly for civilian customers and in small numbers for the militaries of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), Egypt, France, Iraq, Italy, Japan and Yugoslavia. A further private development programme produced the Westland Widgeon, based heavily on the Dragonfly. 
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| Derivatives and Versions of this model: | | |
| Model | Year | History | | dragonfly hc.2 | 1950 | 3 Dragonfly HC.2 were initially ordered by the RAF and all were delivered in Mar 1950. These were based on the Navy Dragonfly HR.1 with ...
| | | dragonfly hr.1 | 1950 | | | | dragonfly hc.4 | 1952 | The prototype Dragonfly HC.4 (WT845) for the RAF was based on the Navy Dragonfly HR.3 (with all metal main rotors) and included lessons learned f ...
| |  widgeon  | 1955 | Developed from the Westland WS-51 Dragonfly HR.5 as a private venture. A 3 seat general utility helicopter, powered by an Alvis Leonides 521 ...
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| Organisations / Units with this Model: | | |
| Construction Numbers of this Model: | Help Us | |
| C/N | Version | Built | History | | wa/h/067 | | 1952 |  WH991 : ff 4 Feb 1953 as HR.3, dd 24 Feb 1953 to RN at Gosport. To HMS Illustrious (R87) Ship's Flt 24 Apr 1953 where it was damaged 1 May 1953 and returned to Westland for repair. Flying again by Autumn 1953, to 705 Sq on 14 Jan 1954. To HMS Centaur (R06) Ship's Flt on 18 Dec 1954. To Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus) May 1956 then to Eglinton Station Flt Jun 1956. Converted to HR.5 by May 1958. In Mar 1959 upper surfaces painted light colour for thermal trials in Caribbean aboard HMS Vidal as /969, returning to UK by Jul 1960. To 700(H) Sq at Yeovilton (HMS Heron) 2 May 1961. Undertook trials with Indian Navy aboard INS Vikrant (ex HMS Hercules) and on to 705 Sq. Stored at Culdrose by 1964, to RNAY Fleetlands by 1967 and struck off charge Jun 1970. Sold.
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| wa/h/111 | | 1952 |  111 : Dragonfly 1A, f/f 24 Mar 1952, d/d 4 Apr 1952. ex G-17-4, returned from service in Indo-China and damaged (1955 ?) during autorotation at St Nazaire, repaired. wfu Dec 1958.
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| wa/h/112 | | 1952 | 112 : Dragonfly 1A, f/f 4 Apr 1952, d/d 17 Apr 1952. ex G-17-5, wfu May 1959.
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wa/h/113  | | 1952 | 113 : Dragonfly 1A f/f 9 Apr 1952, d/d 18 Apr 1952. ex G-17-6. In flight vibrations led to autorotation in a hostile area near Ba Lay, Indo-China. Burnt by crew 13 Nov 1952.
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| wa/h/114 | | 1952 | 114 : Dragonfly 1A f/f 19 Apr 1952, d/d 23 Jun 1952. ex G-17-7. Returned from service in Indo-China. wfu 1958, reported preserved in museum in Spain.
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| wa/h/115 | | 1952 | 115 : Dragonfly 1A f/f 19 Apr 1952, d/d 23 Jun 1952. ex G-17-8. Returned from service in Indo-China, wfu Mar 1959.
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| wa/h/116 | | 1952 | 116 : Dragonfly 1A f/f 27 May 1952, d/d 23 Jun 1952. ex G-17-9. Returned from service in Indo-China. Destroyed 3 Jan 1955, following roll-over on take off from Rochefort.
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| wa/h/117 | | 1952 | 117 : Dragonfly 1A f/f 22 Sep 1952, d/d 29 Sep 1952. ex G-17-10. Returned from service in Indo-China. wfu Nov 1956.
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| wa/h/118 | | 1952 | 118 : Dragonfly 1A f/f 22 Sep 1952, d/d 29 Sep 1952. ex G-17-11. Returned from service in Indo-China. wfu Mar 1959.
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| wa/h/119 | | 1952 | 119 : Dragonfly 1A f/f 25 Sep 1952, d/d 30 Sep 1952. ex G-17-12. Engine failure while airborne, rotor disintegrated following autorotation and abandoned, 18 Jan 1954 in Indo-China.
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10 C/N found.
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