united kingdom Saunders Roe





More recently known as


Westland







Saunders Roe history


In 1912 Samuel E Saunders opened a shipyard in Cowes. It wasn't long before he was producing seaplanes and aeroplanes, across the River Medina at the Columbine Works, too. Alliott Verdon Roe left Avro (which he had founded in 1910 with his brother Humphrey) in 1926 and bought into Saunders in 1929. Saunders-Roe was born.

Produced seaplane flying boats from 1913, high speed launches, helicopters and hovercraft in the East Cowes area. SARO produced the unconventional Helicogyre in 1928, with a small Bristol Cherub engine at each of its 4 rotor tips. In Jan 1951 Saunders-Roe acquired the Cierva Autogiro Company at Eastieigh, and formed a Helicopter Division. Early models of the Skeeter light helicopter appeared at Cowes but most production was from Eastleigh.

In Aug 1959 Westland acquired the helicopter and hovercraft business of Saunders-Roe. A year later, the helicopter interests of the Bristol Aeroplane Company and Fairey Aviation were also consolidated into Westland.




helicopter   List of Saunders Roe models


Model / Versions
1948 Skeeter
1949 Skeeter 2
1951 Skeeter 3
1952 Skeeter 4
1953 Skeeter 5
1954 Skeeter 6
1956 Skeeter 6B
1957 Skeeter 6A
1957 Skeeter 7
1958 Skeeter 8
1958 Skeeter Mk.50
1958 Skeeter Mk.51
1958 Skeeter

Saro P.531







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