The Cierva Autogyro Company was among the early pioneers of rotary winged flight and before World War 11 had designed and flown several models of autogyro and helicopter. G & J Weir Ltd. of Glasgow had a licence to produce the Cierva designs and this company went on to design and fly the Weir W-5 two seat helicopter which first flew in 1938 as the first British helicopter. The Skeeter was first flown in 1948 as the Cierva W-14 Skeeter 1 and was a direct result of the research and development made by Weir in the pre-war years. Saunders-Roe acquired the rights to the Skeeter in 1951. The production Skeeter AOP 12 was used by the British Army in the utility and observation roles between 1957 and 1968. A few airworthy examples remain although the CAA suspended the Permits to Fly for this type in late 2007 due to concerns over the fatigue life of certain components.

G-AWSV         c/n S2/5107           United Kingdom

2 seat helicopter first flown in 1956