Whirlwind in Fleet Air Arm

Introduced after an evaluation of the Sikorsky S-55, the Whirlwind HAR.1 was the first British version of this successful helicopter. Served the Royal Navy for almost 25 years in HAR.1, HAR.3, the troublesome HAS.7 and the HAR.9 versions in carrier plane guard, ship's flight, tactical transport, commando assault, anti-submarine and Search and Rescue roles.

Picture shows Whirlwinds taking 45 Commando, Royal Marines from HMS Theseus (R64) to Port Said during Operation Musketeer on November 1956

Units

Years	Units	bold : Current base of the Unit
1967/76	829 NAS	Portland
1967/70	771 NAS	Portland
1965/67	829 NAS	Portland
1965/66	848 NAS	RNAS Culdrose Sembawang Nanga Gaat RNAS Culdrose
1964/66	829 NAS	Portland RNAS Culdrose
1964/65	845 NAS	RNAS Culdrose Nanga Gaat Sembawang
1963/65	728 NAS	Hal Far
1962/64	846 NAS	Tawau Kai Tak Kuching RNAS Culdrose BLMF
1961/65	781 NAS	Lee-on-Solent
1961/64	771 NAS	Portland
1961/62	819 NAS	Eglinton / Londonderry
1960/74	705 NAS	RNAS Culdrose
1960/62	825 NAS	Sembawang RNAS Culdrose Hal Far
1960/61	719 NAS	Eglinton / Londonderry
1960/61	814 NAS	RNAS Culdrose RNAS Culdrose
1959/63	848 NAS	RNAS Culdrose Sembawang Hal Far Worthy Down Hal Far
1959/63	824 NAS	RNAS Culdrose Sembawang RNAS Culdrose Hal Far RNAS Culdrose Eglinton / Londonderry
1959/62	737 NAS	Portland
1959	815 NAS	RNAS Culdrose Portland Eglinton / Londonderry
1958/59	815 NAS	RNAS Culdrose Portland Eglinton / Londonderry
1958/59	824 NAS	RNAS Culdrose Eglinton / Londonderry
1958	701 NAS	Lee-on-Solent
1957/60	820 NAS	RNAS Culdrose Sembawang Eglinton / Londonderry Hal Far
1957/59	728 NAS	Nicosia (Lefkosia) Hal Far
1957/59	845 NAS	RNAS Culdrose Lee-on-Solent
1957/58	701 NAS	Lee-on-Solent
1957	700 NAS	Lee-on-Solent
1955/66	705 NAS	RNAS Culdrose Lee-on-Solent Gosport
1955/57	845 NAS	Lee-on-Solent Eglinton / Londonderry Lee-on-Solent Lee-on-Solent Hal Far
1954/60	705 NAS	RNAS Culdrose Lee-on-Solent Gosport
1954/55	848 NAS	Sembawang

Platform

Classes

CV Audacious class

CV Centaur class

CV Improved Centaur class

CV Modified Centaur class

AO Protector class

AO Endurance (1967)

List of Aircraft	Help Us

C/N	Mod	Built	ID In this Organisation	In other Org

wa 1	har.1	1952	XA862: f/f 12nov52 as Srs.1 G-AMJT; f/f 01aug53 as HAR.1; 705Sq Oct+

wa 2	har.1	1953	XA863: Westland Whirlwind HAR.1, WA2, f/f 28Nov53; del Fleet Air Ar+

wa 5	har.1	1954	XA865: Westland Whirlwind HAR.1, WA5, f/f 12May54; del Royal Navy a+

wa 6	har.1	1954	XA866: Westland Whirlwind HAR.1, cn WA5, f/f 11Mar54; del Royal Nav+	- XA866: Sold to The Donington Collection in 1973, still there b+

wa 7	har.1	1954	XA867: Westland Whirlwind HAR.1, cn WA5, f/f 31Mar54; del ROyal Nav+

wa 8	har.1	1954	XA868: Westland Whirlwind HAR.1, cn WA8, f/f 02Apr54; del Royal Nav+	- XA868: Acquired by the then British Rotorcraft Museum (now IHM+ Remains at Arnolds Scrapyard Horsham by 1984, still Jan+

wa 9	har.1	1954	XA869: Westland Whirlwind HAR.1, cn WA9, f/f 01May54; del Royal Nav+

wa 16	har.1	1954	XA870: Westland Whirlwind HAR.1, cn WA16, f/f 18May54; del Royal Na+	XA870: to Cornwall Aero Park by 1976, then as Flambards Experi+

wa 17	har.1	1954	XA871: Westland Whirlwind HAR.1, cn WA17, f/f 30Sep54; del Royal Na+

wa 57	har3	1954	XD763: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA57, ntu Royal Navy FAA as XD+	XJ393: TRE Defford Mar 1956, RRE Pershore Sep 1957 Torbay Aircraft Museum XJ393: at Torbay Aircraft Museum, until c 1982 roadside cafe near Pulborough by 1989, scrapped 1993

wa 58	har3	1955	XD764: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA58, ntu Royal Navy FAA as XD+

wa 59	har3	1955	XD765: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA59, ntu Royal Navy FAA as XD+

wa 60	har3	1955	XD766: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA60, ntu Royal Navy FAA as XD+	XJ396: derelict HAR.10 hulk at Farnborough by Apr 1984

wa 61	har3	1955	XD767: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA61, ntu Royal Navy FAA as XD+

wa 62	har3	1955	XD768: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA62, ntu Royal Navy FAA as XD+	XJ398: Held by Westland as engines trials aircraft and never i+ - G-BDBZ: Apr 1975 Reg G-BDBZ to Autair, Luton Ground Training School at Kidlington May 1978, still th+ - XJ398: From Kidlington to Yorkshire Air Museum 25 Aug 1999. Re+ May 2002 into storage at RAF Benson. To Doncaster 1 Apr+ - G-BDBZ: to G-BDBZ, unk; pres. AeroVenture, Doncaster, UK.

wa 63	har3	1955	XD769: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA63, ntu Royal Navy FAA as XD+

wa 64	har3	1955	XD770: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA64, ntu Royal Navy FAA as XD+

wa 65	har3	1955	XD771: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA65, ntu Royal Navy FAA as XD+	G-AYTK: wfu & conv Ser.3, Bristow UK as G-AYTK, unk. to G-AYTK by Feb 1971, to Bermuda as VR-BFG by Oct 1974 VR-BFG: reg Bermuda as VR-BFG, unk; b/u Redhill, UK, 1978. - VR-BFG: VH-BFG: reg Bristow Australia as VH-BFG, unk.

wa 66	har3	1955	XD772: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA66, ntu Royal Navy FAA as XD+	XJ402: Trials at Yeovil until Apr 1958.

wa 67	har3	1955	XG572: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA67, ff: 09Sep55; del Royal N+

wa 68	har3	1955	XG573: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA68, ff: 09Sep55; del Royal N+

wa 69	har3	1955	XG574: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA69, ff: 15Aug55; del Royal N+

wa 70	har3	1955	XG575: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA70, ff: 17Aug55; del Royal N+

wa 71	har3	1955	XG576: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA71, ff: 16Aug55; del Royal N+	G-AYNP: sold Bristow UK as G-AYNP, unk; conv Ser.3, unk; lsd Co+

wa 72	har3	1956	XG577: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA72, ff: 28Mar56; del Royal N+	- XG577: Preserved at Loughborough Leicestershire Aviation Museu+ XG577: to Leconfield dump as 9050M (date ?); sold for scrappin+

wa 73	har3	1956	XG578: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA73, ff: 29Mar56; del Royal N+

wa 74	har3	1955	XG579: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA74, ff: 10Oct55; del Royal N+

wa 75	har3	1955	XG580: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA75, ff: 24Oct55; del Royal N+

wa 76	har3	1955	XG581: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA76, ff: 25Oct55; del Royal N+

wa 77	har3	1956	XG582: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA77, ff: 16Feb56; del Royal N+

wa 78	har3	1955	XG583: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA78, ff: 24Feb56; del Royal N+	G-BAGD: sold UK as G-BAGD, unk; conv Ser.3, unk; to VR-BES, unk+

wa 79	har3	1956	XG584: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA79, ff: 23Mar56; del Royal N+

wa 80	har3	1956	XG585: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA80, ff: 26Mar56; del Royal N+	XG585: Parts recovery - Wrecked

wa 81	har3	1956	XG586: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA81, ff: 10Oct56; del Royal N+

wa 82	har3	1956	XG587: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA82, ff: 23Sep56; del Royal N+	G-AYYI: wfu & xfer Bristow, UK as G-AYYI, unk; conv Whirlwind S+ 5N-AIS: xfer Bristow Nigeria as 5N-AIS, unk; scr, unk.

wa 83	har3	1956	XG588: Westland Whirlwind HAR.3, c/n WA83, ff: 30Sep56; del Royal N+	G-BAMH: Bristow Helicopters from 1969; Jan/Oct 1973 as Whirlwin+ VR-BEP: Bermuda, ex G-BAMH - XG588: preserved at East Midlands Aeropark as RAF SAR aircraft

wa 84	has7	1956	XG589: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA84, ff: 17Oct56; del Royal N+

wa 85	has7	1956	XG590: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA85, ff: 08Nov56; del Royal N+

wa 86	has7	1957	XG591: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA86, ff: 31May57; del Royal N+

wa 87	has7	1957	XG592: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA87, ff: 24Apr57; del Royal N+

wa 88	has7	1957	XG593: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA88, ff: 24Apr57; del Royal N+

wa 89	has7	1957	XG594: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA89, ff: 27Apr57; del Royal N+

wa 90	has7	1957	XG595: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA90, ff: 30Apr57; del Royal N+

wa 91	has7	1957	XG596: RN type HAS.7 ; 24jul93 pictured preserved at International +	- XG596: at British Rotorcraft Museum (now IHM) 25 Jun 1979 To Yeovil for restoration by Westland, on behalf of the+ Apr13 at The Helicopter Museum, Weston super Mare

wa 92	has7	1957	XG597: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA92, ff: 15May57; rejected by+	XG597: Used by Westland as a trials and training airframe unti+ British Aircraft Corporation XG597: Used for SAR by English Electric (later BAC) at Warton.

wa 57	har3	1954	XJ393: ff: as XD763, 24Sep54; del Royal Navy FAA as XJ393, unk; wfu+	XJ393: TRE Defford Mar 1956, RRE Pershore Sep 1957 Torbay Aircraft Museum XJ393: at Torbay Aircraft Museum, until c 1982 roadside cafe near Pulborough by 1989, scrapped 1993

wa 58	har3	1955	XJ394: ff: 15Jul55; del Royal Navy FAA as XJ394, 10Oct57; b/u Farnb+

wa 59	har3	1955	XJ395: ff: 09Jul55; del Royal Navy FAA as XJ395, 16Jan56; w/o 30Apr+

wa 60	har3	1955	XJ396: har.5 ff: 28Aug55, del Royal Navy FAA as XJ394, 11Jun56; conv HAR.+	XJ396: derelict HAR.10 hulk at Farnborough by Apr 1984

wa 61	har3	1955	XJ397: ff: 18Jul55; del Royal Navy FAA as XJ397, unk; w/o 29Apr59; +

wa 62	har3	1955	XJ398: ff: 04May57; del Royal Navy FAA as XJ398, unk.	XJ398: Held by Westland as engines trials aircraft and never i+ - G-BDBZ: Apr 1975 Reg G-BDBZ to Autair, Luton Ground Training School at Kidlington May 1978, still th+ - XJ398: From Kidlington to Yorkshire Air Museum 25 Aug 1999. Re+ May 2002 into storage at RAF Benson. To Doncaster 1 Apr+ - G-BDBZ: to G-BDBZ, unk; pres. AeroVenture, Doncaster, UK.

wa 63	har3	1955	XJ399: ff: 09Aug55; del Royal Navy FAA as XJ399, 01Sep55; w/o 16Oct+

wa 64	har3	1955	XJ400: ff: 10Aug55; del Royal Navy FAA as XJ394, 31Aug55; w/o 06Nov+

wa 65	har3	1955	XJ401: ff: 24Aug55; del Royal Navy FAA as XJ401, 13Sep55.	G-AYTK: wfu & conv Ser.3, Bristow UK as G-AYTK, unk. to G-AYTK by Feb 1971, to Bermuda as VR-BFG by Oct 1974 VR-BFG: reg Bermuda as VR-BFG, unk; b/u Redhill, UK, 1978. - VR-BFG: VH-BFG: reg Bristow Australia as VH-BFG, unk.

wa 66	har3	1955	XJ402: ff: 11Sep55; del Royal Navy FAA as XJ402, 21Sep55; wfu as A2+	XJ402: Trials at Yeovil until Apr 1958.

wa 93	har.5	1957	XJ445: Westland Whirlwind HAR.5, c/n WA93, ff: 15Oct57; del Royal N+

wa153	has7	1957	XK906: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA153, ff: 21May57; del Royal +

wa154	has7	1957	XK907: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA154, ff: 25May57; del Royal +	Midland Air Museum XK907: Front cabin and engine section in open storage at Midla+

wa155	has7	1957	XK908: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA155, ff: 03Jun57; del Royal +

wa156	has7	1957	XK909: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA155, ff: 03Jun57; del Royal +

wa157	has7	1957	XK910: RN Whirlwind HAS.7 f/f 13Jun57 d/d 04Jul57

wa158	has7	1957	XK911: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA158, ff: 14Jun57; del Royal +

wa159	has7	1957	XK912: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA159, ff: 18Jun57; del Royal +

wa160	has7	1957	XK933: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA160, ff: 05Jul57; del Royal +

wa161	has7	1957	XK934: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA161, ff: 14Jul57; del Royal +

wa162	has7	1957	XK935: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA162, ff: 16Jul57; del Royal +

wa163	has7	1957	XK936: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA163, ff: 18Jul57; del Royal +	- XK936: transferred to IWM in Oct 1975. Still present 2011.

wa164	has7	1957	XK937: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA164, ff: 30Jul57; del Royal +

wa165	has7	1957	XK938: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA165, ff: 14Aug57; del Royal +

wa166	has7	1957	XK939: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA166, ff: 17Sep57; del Royal +

wa/h/167	has7	1957	XK940: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA/H/167, ff: 02Sep57; del Roy+	- G-AYXT: del Autair, Luton as G-AYXT, 01Jul72?; pres. Weston-sup+ 1980s completely rebuilt by Jim Wilkie and returned to +

wa168	has7	1957	XK941: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA168, ff: 27Aug57; del Royal +

wa169	has7	1957	XK942: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA169, ff: 20Sep57; del Royal +

wa170	has7	1957	XK943: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA170, ff: 24Sep57; del Royal +

wa171	has7	1957	XK944: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA171, ff: 04Oct57; del Royal +

wa172	has7	1957	XK945: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA172, ff: 27Sep57; del Royal +

wa195	has7	1957	XL833: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA195, ff: 15Oct57; del Royal +

wa196	has7	1957	XL834: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA196, ff: 21Oct57; del Royal +

wa197	has7	1957	XL835: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA197, ff: 21Oct57; del Royal +

wa198	has7	1957	XL836: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA198, ff: 27Oct57; del Royal +

wa199	has7	1957	XL837: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA199, ff: 26Oct57; del Royal +

wa200	has7	1957	XL838: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA200, ff: 29Oct57; del Royal +

wa201	has7	1957	XL839: har9 Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA201, f/f: 07Nov57; del Royal+

wa202	has7	1957	XL840: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA202, ff: 19Nov57; del Royal +

wa203	has7	1957	XL841: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA203, ff: 22Nov57; del Royal +

wa204	has7	1957	XL842: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA204, ff: 02Dec57; del Royal +

wa205	has7	1957	XL843: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA205, ff: 11Dec57; del Royal +

wa206	has7	1958	XL844: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA206, ff: 12Feb58; del Royal +

wa207	has7	1958	XL845: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA207, ff: 13Feb58; del Royal +

wa208	has7	1958	XL846: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA208, ff: 18Feb58; del Royal +

wa209	has7	1958	XL847: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA209, ff: 12Feb58; del Royal +

wa210	has7	1958	XL848: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA210, ff: 24Feb58; del Royal +

wa211	has7	1958	XL849: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA211, ff: 07Mar58; del Royal +

wa212	has7	1958	XL850: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA212, ff: 21Mar58; del Royal +

wa213	has7	1958	XL851: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA213, ff: 21Mar58; del Royal +

wa214	has7	1958	XL852: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA214, ff: 10Apr58; del Royal +

wa215	has7	1958	XL853: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA215, ff: 17Apr58; del Royal +

wa216	has7	1958	XL854: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA216, ff: 17Apr58; del Royal +

wa217	has7	1958	XL867: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA217, ff: 19Apr58; del Royal +

wa218	has7	1958	XL868: Westland Whirlwind HAS.7, c/n WA218, ff: 21Apr58; del Royal +