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The Sea King series of
helicopters was developed from the Sikorsky S-61 under a licence
agreement agreed between Westland Helicopters Ltd. of Yeovil, England
and Sikorsky. The main differences were the Westland aircraft were
powered by RR Gnome H.1400 engines and had Louis Newmark Mk.31 flight
control systems. The Sikorsky built aircraft were powered by General
Electric engines. The HAS.Mk.1 (56 built) was first flown in 1969 and
entered service with the Royal Navy in the anti-submarine role. The
HAS.Mk.2 (21 built) was first flown in 1976 and had a more powerful
engine and a six-bladed tail rotor. The Mk.2 AEW (10 converted from the
HAS.Mk.2) was developed for the airborne early warning role and first
flew in 1982. The HAR.Mk.3 (19 built) was first first flown in 1977 and
were operated by the RAF in the search and rescue role. The HAR.Mk.3
aircraft were upgraded to Mk.3A standard with improved avionics and
communications equipment. The HC.Mk.4 (89 built) was a utility version
of the Commando Mk.2 which was the main export production tactical
helicopter for Egypt. The HC.Mk.4 was first flown in 1979 and was
operated by the Royal Navy as a commando assault helicopter. The
HAS.Mk.5 (30 built plus 10 upgraded HAS.Mk.2's) was was first flown in
1980 and operated in the dual anti-submarine/search and rescue roles.
The HU.Mk.5 is a utility conversion of the HAS.Mk.5. The HAS.Mk.6 (25
built plus 5 conversions from the Mk.5's) were improved anti-submarine
versions for the Royal Navy. The ASaC Mk.7 is a version of the HAS.Mk.5
for airborne surveillance and area control. Several versions of the Sea
King were built for export including the Mk.41 (23 built) for the German
Navy, the Mks.42 (12 built) 42A (3 built) 42B (12 built) and 42C
(6 built) for the Indian Navy. The Mk.Mk.43 (10 built) for the Royal
Norwegian Air Force. The Norwegian aircraft were subsequently upgraded
to Mk.43A and Mk.43B standard. The Mk.45/45A (7 built) for the Pakistan
Navy. The Mk.47 (6 built) for the Egyptian Navy. The Mk.48 (5 built) for
the Belgian Air Force. The Mk.50/50A (12 built) for the Royal Australian
Navy. The Westland Commando Mk.1 (5 built) was a tactical helicopter
based on the Sea King and made its first flight in 1973. The Commando
Mk.2 (27 built) was exported to Egypt and Qatar. The Commando Mk.3 (8
built) was delivered to Qatar. When production of the Sea King ended in
1990 a total of 328 had been built. A Mk.42B of the Indian Navy is
illustrated below.
IN552 c/n WA885
United Kingdom 28
seat helicopter first flown in 1980
Engines: 2X 1,660shp(1238kW) RR Gnome
H.1400-1T
Length: 55'10"(17.02m) Height:
15'6"(4.72m)Rotor diameter: 62'0"(18.9m) No.built:
40 Range: 921miles(1,482km) Cruising speed:
126mph(204kmh)Empty weight: 12,194lb(5,530kg)
Maximum take-off weight: 21,500lb(9,752kg)
A Sea King HU.5 of the Royal Navy is
illustrated below.
ZA130
c/n WA891
A Sea King Mk.43B of the Royal Norwegian Air
Force is shown below.
066
c/n WA748
A Sea King HAS.Mk.6 of the Royal Navy is
illustrated below.
XV710
c/n WA681
A Sea King HAS.Mk.5 of the Royal Navy is
shown below.
ZD634
c/n
A Sea King HAR.3 of the Royal Air Force is
shown below.
XZ588
c/n
A Sea King Mk.4X is shown below. Three
examples were fitted with nose radomes for research and development work
from 1982.
ZB506
c/n
Photo: John Chalmers |
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