Westland Wasp

The Westland Wasp was a general purpose helicopter, basically a derivative of the British Army Scout helicopter, with the requirement of being small enough to land on Royal Navy frigates. At that time, frigates of the Royal Navy were much smaller compared to today's Type 22 and Type 23 frigates, and so had much smaller landing decks. Privately-owned Westland Wasp HAS.1 (XT781/426) at the Classic-Jet Air Show, Kemble, England, in June 2003. ... Privately-owned Westland Wasp HAS.1 (XT781/426) at the Classic-Jet Air Show, Kemble, England, in June 2003. ... The British Army is the land armed forces branch of the British Armed Forces. ... The Royal Navy of the United Kingdom is the senior service of the British armed services, being the oldest of its three branches. ... Frigate is a name which has been used for several distinct types of warships at different times. ... A group of Type 22s, with HMS Coventry in the foreground The Type 22 frigate is a warship class of the Royal Navy also known as the Broadsword Class. ... HMS Richmond The Type 23 frigate is a warship class of the Royal Navy also known as the Duke class. ...

General history

The first flight took place on 28 October 1962 and full production soon commenced, 98 in total being procured for the RN. She was a very successful aircraft, being exported to Brazil, The Netherlands, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand and South Africa. An impressive total of 125 aircraft was built in total. October 28 is the 301st day of the year (302nd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 64 days remaining. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1962: Events January US Army CH-21 Shawnees are dispatched to Vietnam, the first US military aircraft to be deployed there January 10-11 - a B-52 Stratofortress is flown from Okinawa to Madrid, establishing a new distance record of 12... The Netherlands (Dutch: Nederland) is the European part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (Dutch: Koninkrijk der Nederlanden). ...

Users

Royal Navy

The Wasp had been taken out of service in the late 1970s with the introduction of the Westland Lynx, a more capable and deadly aircraft. It was brought back into full operational service when war broke out against Argentina, after the latter had invaded and then occupied the Falkland Islands. Seven old frigates were recommissioned and with them being unable to operate the new Lynx it was decided to reintroduce the Wasp. During that war, a Wasp, operating from HMS Endurance, the Antarctic patrol ship, launched a number of torpedoes which homed in on and heavily damaged the Argentinean submarine Santa Fe, which posed a risk to the British Task Force that was steaming towards the Falkland Islands. The submarine was later run aground by her crew due to the damage she had sustained, thus becoming the first casualty of the sea war, as well as the first direct engagement by the Royal Navy Task Force. The last Wasp was finally withdrawn from service in 1988 when the last of the frigates that the Wasp had been designed for was decommissioned. This article provides extensive lists of events and significant personalities of the 1970s. ... The Westland Lynx is a helicopter designed by Westland Aircraft and jointly produced with Aérospatiale, first flying on 21 March 1971 as the Westland WG.13. ... There have been two Royal Navy ships with the name HMS Endurance. ... Greek ἀνταρκτικός, opposite the arctic) is a continent surrounding the Earths South Pole. ... USS Los Angeles A submarine is a specialized watercraft that can operate underwater. ... The ARA Santa Fe was a submarine in the Armada Republica Argentina from 1971 to 1982. ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1988: Events January January 26 - the French decence ministry approves full-scale development of the Dassault Rafale January 30 - a Boeing 747 sets a new around-the-world record of 36 hours 54 minutes April April 23 - Kanellos Kanellopoulos recreates the...

Royal Malaysian Navy

The Wasp came into service with the Royal Malaysian Navy quite late, compared to the others nations who procured the aircraft. She joined the RMN on 11 May 1990. She had a relatively short career with that Navy though, being phased out just ten years later. Her replacement is to be the Eurocopter Fennec. Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve The Royal Malaysian Navy had its roots in the formation in Singapore of the Straits Settlement Naval Volunteer Reserve (SSNVR) on 27th April, 1934 by the British Colonial Government in British Malaya. ... May 11 is the 131st day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (132nd in leap years). ... This is a list of aviation-related events from 1990: Events Pan American World Airways and Trans World Airlines, both in financial difficulty, transfer their coveted landing rights at London Heathrow Airport to American Airlines and United Airlines. ...

Royal New Zealand Navy

The first Wasp was purchased in 1966 being immediately assigned to the new Leander class frigate of the Royal New Zealand Navy, HMNZS Waikato. They provided numerous tasks, as well as taking part in the Armilla Patrol in the Persian Gulf during the 1980s. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1966: Events Puerto Rican International Airlines begin services. ... The Type 12M (Leander)-class, comprising twenty-six frigates, was arguably the most successful and popular class of frigates in the Royal Navys history. ... Royal New Zealand Navy Ensign The Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) is the navy of New Zealand. ... The Armilla patrol is the Royal Navys permanent presence in the Persian Gulf. ... Regional map showing the word Bahr Fars, (Persian Gulf) in Arabic, from the 9th century text Al-aqalim by the great geographer Istakhri. ... // Events and trends The 1980s marked an abrupt shift towards more conservative lifestyles after the momentous cultural revolutions which took place in the 60s and 70s and the definition of the AIDS virus in 1981. ...

In 1997, four Wasps performed a flypast, marking the arrival of the new ANZAC-class frigate, HMNZS Te Kaha. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1997: Events March 17–May 28 Linda Finch, pilot, aviation historian, and San Antonio, Texas businesswoman, flying a restored and specially equipped 62-year-old Lockheed Electra 10E, recreates the 1937 Amelia Earhart flight to circumnavigate the globe solo. ... Frigate is a name which has been used for several distinct types of warships at different times. ... Te Kaha ANZAC class frigate Pennant number F 77 Missions September 1999 Landing of the UN International Force in East Timor 2000-2001 Relieved sister ship Te Mana at Honiara, Solomons Island conflict Categories: Royal New Zealand Navy ships | Frigates ...

They were very venerable and long-serving aircraft for the RNZN, two continuing in service until 1988, after an astonishing 32 years in service. HMNZS Waikato, the ship that had first operationally deployed the Wasp, was herself decommissioned that same year. They have since been been replaced by the far more capable SH-2F Seasprite. This is a list of aviation-related events from 1998: Events Cirrus Aircraft successfully flight-tests the CAPS ballistic emergency aircraft parachute. ...

Other operators

The Wasps though carried on in service with the Brazilian, Indonesian, and South African navies. In the Royal Netherlands Navy, the Wasp has been replaced by the same helicopter that had replaced it in the Royal Navy. Royal Netherlands Navy Jack The Koninklijke Marine (Royal Netherlands Navy ) is the navy of the Netherlands. ...

Specifications (Wasp HAS.I)

General Characteristics

• Crew: one pilot
• Capacity: up to four passengers
• Length: 40 ft 4 in (12.29 m)
• Main rotor diameter: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
• Height: 8 ft 11 in (2.72 m)
• Main rotor area: 816 ft² (76 m²)
• Empty: 3,452 lb (1,566 kg)
• Loaded: lb ( kg)
• Maximum takeoff: 5,500 lb (2,495 kg)
• Powerplant: 1x Rolls-Royce Nimbus 103 turboshaft, 1,050 shp (783 kW)

Turboshaft engines are a type of jet engine, differing from the similar turboprop largely in name and use -- turboshaft engines are used in helicopters, the name referring to the way the torque of the engine drives the power shaft at 90 degrees to the engine mounting. ...

Performance

• Maximum speed: 120 mph (193 km/h)
• Range: 303 miles (488 km)
• Service ceiling: ft ( m)
• Rate of climb: ft/min ( m/min)
• Main rotor loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
• Power/Mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)

Related content

Related development: Westland Scout

Comparable aircraft: Kamov Ka-15 - Aérospatiale Alouette II - Aérospatiale Alouette III - H-19 Chickasaw The Kamov Ka-15 (NATO reporting name Hen) was a Soviet two-seat utility helicopter with coaxial rotors. ... The Alouette II is a light helicopter originally manufactured by Sud Aviation and later Aérospatiale of France. ... The Aérospatiale Alouette III is a light utility helicopter originally manufactured by Aérospatiale of France. ... The H-19 Chickasaw (later UH-19, also widely known outside the US by its manufacturers designation of S-55) was a multi-purpose helicopter used by the United States Army. ...

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