Westland WS-58 Wessex

The Westland WS-58 Wessex was a British-built turbine-powered development of the Sikorsky H-34, it was developed and produced under license by Westland Aircraft (later Westland Helicopters). One of the main changes from Sikorsky's H-34 was the replacement of the piston-engine powerplant with a turboshaft engine; the Wessex was the first large mass-produced helicopter designed around use of a gas turbine engine. Early models were powered by a single Napier Gazelle engine, later builds used a pair of de Havilland Gnome engines.

The Wessex was initially produced for the Royal Navy (RN) and later for the Royal Air Force (RAF); a limited number of civilian aircraft were also produced, as well as some export sales. The Wessex operated as an anti-submarine warfare and utility helicopter; it is perhaps best recognized for its use as a search and rescue (SAR) helicopter. The type entered operational service in 1961, and had a service life in excess of 40 years before being retired in Britain.

Variants

 * Wessex HAS.1: RN utility, anti-submarine warfare, later air-sea rescue only, 140 built, some later converted to HAS.3.
 * Wessex HC.2: RAF Troop carrier for up to 16 troops, One prototype converted from HAS1 and 73 built.
 * Wessex HAR.2: RAF search and rescue conversions.
 * Wessex HAS.3: RN anti-submarine version with improved avionics with a radome on the rear fuselage, 3 new-build development aircraft and 43 converted from HAS.1
 * Wessex HCC.4: VVIP transport for the Queen's Flight, two built
 * Wessex HU.5: RN service troop transporter, carried 16 Royal Marines, 101 built
 * Wessex HAS.31: Royal Australian Navy anti-submarine warfare model, 27 built.
 * Wessex HAS.31B: Updated anti-submarine warfare model for the Royal Australian Navy.
 * Wessex Mk.52: Military transport version of the HC.2 for the Iraqi Air Force, 12 built.
 * Wessex Mk.53: Military transport version of the HC.2 for the Ghana Air Force, two built.
 * Wessex Mk.54: Military transport version of the HC.2 for the Brunei Air Wing, two built
 * Wessex Mk.60: Civilian version of the Wessex HC.2, 20 built.

Users

 * Australia
 * Royal Australian Navy
 * Brunei
 * Royal Brunei Air Force
 * Egypt
 * Egyptian Air Force
 * Ghana
 * Ghana Air Force
 * Iraq
 * Iraqi Air Force
 * Oman
 * Royal Air Force of Oman
 * United Kingdom
 * Empire Test Pilots' School
 * Royal Air Force
 * Royal Navy
 * Uruguay
 * Uruguayan Air Force
 * Uruguayan Navy

Related Development

 * Sikorsky H-19 Chickasaw
 * Sikorsky H-34
 * Westland WS-55 Whirlwind

Comparable Aircraft

 * Harbin Z-5
 * Mil Mi-4