The Sikorsky R-4 Hoverfly was the first helicopter to enter service with the RAF in 1945. It was an Anglicised version of the American Sikorsky R-4B, renamed the Hoverfly 1 by the RAF. It entered service with No.529 Squadron operating with the Helicopter Training School at Andover. It was purely an experimental project as the Hoverfly was underpowered and fundamentally impractical, but it proved the concept of helicopter use within the British military.
The Sikorsky S-51 was developed in the USA in 1947, and an agreement was signed to allow Westland Aircraft to produce a version under license in the UK. After many delays due to modifications for British use the first Westland WS.51 Dragonfly HR.1 was the result. One of the major alterations was the addition of the British Alvis Leonides 50 radial engine. The first prototype flew in October 1948 with production beginning in early 1949. Initial orders were small, 13 HR.1 for the FAA and 3 HC.2 types for the RAF.
The Westland Dragonfly HR.1 is a three-blade rotor multiple function utility helicopter built under license by Westland Aircraft. Most had a crew of two. The Army and RAF version was able to accommodate outboard enclosed stretchers for evacuation purposes. The Naval version was used for Air Sea Rescue off carriers and shore bases. The distinctive shape made it very recognisable with its all-glass front making it rather ‘Retro’.
The Dragonfly entered service in 1950 in various roles. It was the first British-built helicopter to enter service with 72 being operational with the FAA by mid-1951. The first unit was 705 NAS believed to be the first all helicopter squadron outside of the USA. The remaining 15 were used by the RAF and Army Air Corps mainly for evacuation and relief operations. During the Malayan Emergency the Dragonfly was employed for this role.
There were five variants built mainly for the FAA. The HR.1, HR.3 and HR.5 were all Air Sea Rescue versions with gradual improvements in engine power and avionics. The HC.2 and HC.4 were Casualty evac versions for the RAF. There were 51 Civilian versions built as the WS-51 Mk.1A and Mk.1B. In total, seven countries used the type in a military capacity with four countries using the civilian types.
The Dragonfly had a short career being replaced by the Westland Whirlwind in the late 1950’s, another Sikorsky/Westland conversion project. There are 17 surviving Dragonfly helicopters worldwide including 8 in the UK on static display, all of which are HR.5 versions.
