private venture heavy lift / transport development. with twin napier
eland e220 turboshaft engines, in its day the wg.7 westminster was the
western world s largest mechanically driven, twin turbine, single rotor system
helicopter. developed at the end of the 1950s, the project was
eventually doomed by: 1) westland s acquistion of saunders-roe and the helicopter elements of fairey and bristol with the need to consolidate and
reorganise the business; 2) the admiralty s concern over the potential loss of
focus on the anti-submarine version of the wessex; 3) a lack-lustre order
book, despite appearances at the 1958, 1959 and 1960 aviation showcase sbac
airshows at farnborough. only 2 protoypes built.
4) the more progressive technology and commercial potential of the Rotodyne, recently acquired through the purchase of Fairey Aviation.
Westland 