WESTLAND
^"WASP^"

 El desarrollo de la familia WASP/SCOUT comenzó por Saro en 1957, con la meta de desarrollar una aeronave basada en el primer Skeeter, pero con un diseño mas actual, principalmente sobre la planta de poder. El resultado fue el proyecto P.531, el cual apuntó a utilizar varios componentes del Skeeter; los dos primeros prototipos, potenciados por una Turbomeca Turmo 603 de 400 SHP, volaron el 20 de julio de 1958. En 1959, Westland adquirió Saro y decidió continuar con el desarrollo del helicóptero. Se construyeron otros dos prototipos, el primero con un motor  Bristol Siddeley Nimbus de 1050 SHP limitado a 635 SHP y el otro con un motor de Havilland Gnome H.1000 limitado a 685 SHP.

El Ejército Británico ordenó una serie de pre-producción y en 1960 ordenó 66 P.531-2 Scout AH MK1 con motor Rolls-Royce Nimbus de 968 SHP (limitada a 685 SHP). Mas tarde se emitió otra orden (1964) por 40 helicópteros mas.

El Scout podía realizar muchas tareas tales como: Observación, enlace, entrenamiento, escuela, SAR, etc. Muchas órdenes fueron recibidas: Royal Australian Navy (2), Royal Jordanian Air Force (3), Uganda (2) y Bahrain (2). En Estos dos últimos países lo utilizaron las fuerzas policiales. Se construyeron un total de 150 Scouts. Aunque sus características no fueron excepcionales el Ejército Británico los utilizó en la misma forma en que otros utilizaron el Bell 206.

El desarrollo de la versión naval, el UASP, fue en forma similar, pero un poco mas trabajosa. La marina real utilizó un prototipo modificado con esquíes altos para aterrizajes en cubierta y también ordenó dos P.531 potenciado con la turbina Nimbus. Los UASP definitivos fueron utilizados principalmente para la guerra antisubmarina desde las fragatas y barcos similares. Para este propósito podia llevar uno o dos torpedos de 122 Kg. ó una carga de profundidad de 250 Kg.. En septiembre de 1961 la Royal Navy ordenó el UASP HAS MK.1 con motor Nimbus de 968 SHP (limitado a 710 SHP).

La diferencia entre el Wasp y el Scout es que el primero presentaba un tren de aterrizaje cuatriciclo en vez de esquíes, así como palas de rotor y sección de cola plegables (para facilitar la estiba en buques), y diferencia en el estabilizador de cola.

El WASP, de los cuales se construyeron 63 unidades, fue reemplazado posteriormente por el Lynx.

Development of the Wasp/Scout family was initiated by Saro in 1957, with the aim of developing an aircraft based on the earlier Skeeter helicopter, but of more modern design, above all in terms of the powerplant. The result was the P.531 project, which aimed to use various components of the Skeeter; the first of two prototypes, both powered by a 400shp Turbomeca Turmo 603, flew on 20 July 1958. In 1959, Westland acquired Saro and decided to continue development of this interesting light helicopter. Another two prototypes were built, the first with a 1050shp Bristol Siddeley Nimbus engine derated to 635shp, and the other with a de Havilland Gnome H.1000 turbine derated to 685shp.

The British Army ordered a pre-production model and this was followed in September 1960 by an order for 66 of the P.531-2 Scout AH Mk.1 with 968shp Rolls-Royce Nimbus turbine engines (derated to 685shp). Another order was placed for 40 helicopters in September 1964.

The Scout was suited to all the tasks of a lightweight helicopter: observation, liaison, training, SAR. Several orders were also received from abroad: Royal Australian Navy (2), Royal Jordanian Air Force (3), Uganda (2) and Bahrain (2). The last two countries used them for police work. A total of 150 Scouts were built. Although its characteristics were not outstanding, the Scout fulfilled a role in the British Army which was played by the Bell 206 in many other armies, and has only recently been superseded by the Westland Lynx.

Development of the naval version of the Wasp proceeded more-or-less in parallel, but took longer. The Royal Navy used one of the prototypes, suitably modified with higher skids suitable for deck landings, and also ordered two P.531s powered by Nimbus turbine engines for deck landing and operational trials. The three aircraft performed exhaustive take-off and landing trials from the escort vessel HMS Undaunted in November 1959. The definitive Wasp was mainly intended for ASW from frigates of the Tribal and Leander classes and similar vessels; for this purpose it could carry one or two 122kg torpedoes or 250kg of depth charges. In September 1961, the type was ordered for the Royal Navy under the name Wasp HAS Mk.1 (the first flew on 28 October 1962 with a 968shp Nimbus engine derated to 710shp) and went into service in October 1963, performing 200 day and night landings on HMS Nubian.

The Wasp differed from the Scout mainly in the long-stroke landing gear with fully castoring wheels and the small tailplane on the starboard side of the tail rotor pylon. The main rotor and tail boom could be folded for stowage on board ship.

The Wasp, of which 63 were built, was primarily an antisubmarine helicopter in the "killer" role. It has been replaced by the Lynx in the Royal Navy but the following navies are still operating the Wasp: South Africa, Brazil, New Zealand, and Indonesia (which purchased ten second-hand aircraft from Holland when the latter's navy replaced its Wasp fleet with the Westland Lynx).

Characteristics
Características

Information
Información

Characteristics
Características

Information
Información

  1 Rolls-Royce Nimbus

1 / 4

968shp
(derated to 685shp)

4452 Lb

NA

5500 Lb

NA

90 Kts

12200 Ft

105 Kts

303 NM

Dimensions / Dimensiones

30,40 ft
9,24 mt

32,25 ft
9,83 mt

NA

11,25 ft
3,43 mt

NA