jamesstables wrote:The Akrotiri one is a HAR.10.
None of the versions alphasim are doing (in this release anyway) are RAF.
There wasn't much difference between the S-55/HU-19A/HAS.22 and the HAS.1 and HAR.2 though. The rest had quite a few differences, mainly the bent boom on the Leonidies versions and obviously the nose on the gnome powered ones.
I'm surprised they're only doing the HAS.22 and not the British built series 1 versions too, since they were virtually identical. The only difference was an increase in weight which came from replacing all the american nuts and bolts with BA/BSF ones!
The RAF did indeed use this version both as support and SAR................
The first S-55s received by the Royal Navy in 1950 were built by Sikorsky, but Westland acquired a license in 1950 and the first British-made S-55 flew at Yeovil in November 1952. Like the American models, the first Whirlwinds had Pratt & Whitney engines and were delivered to No.705 Squadron based at Gosport.
The RAF also ordered this helicopter for transport and rescue missions: the Whirlwind HAR Mk.2 (the same as the naval version except for some differences in equipment) joined the Transport and Coastal Command Units from 1955. With Wright R.1300 engines, the Whirlwind Mk.3 went into production for the Royal Navy in 1953 and operated for many years from both ship and shore bases. The subsequent RAF HAR Mk.4 version was modified for use in the tropics and fitted with a new variant of the Pratt & Whitney R-1340. It was used in Malaysia.
and for those who can be bothered to read...........................
The Whirlwind is a license-built version of the Sikorsky S-55, manufactured in the 1950s for use by both the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.
The first Whirlwinds were actually former U.S. Navy and Marine Corps H04S-3 and HRS-2 units, transferred to Britain and used for air rescue and anti-submarine work after November 1952. The nose-mounted engine drove the main rotor through an extension shaft, allowing the main cargo compartment to be located on the aircraft's center of gravity.
Through the 1950s the Whirlwind proved itself as an effective assault transport, anti-submarine and rescue platform, participating in the war against Communist insurgents in Maylaya and also in the 1956 Suez Canal crisis. The first Westland-built RAF variant was the HAR.2 (Helicopter, Air Rescue), which entered service in 1955 for duty with the Transport and Coastal Commands. Used as a light transport and rescue helicopter and powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1340-40 radial engine, it carried up to eight passengers.
The HAR.10 was the first in the series to be powered by a gas turbine, all earlier models using either the Pratt & Whitney or Alvis Leonides piston engines. Its nose-mounted Gnome engine was offset to the left, creating space on the right for an electrical equipment bay. With the Gnome the Series 3 Whirlwind showed an improved lifting capacity, higher altitude capability and better high-temperature performance. Another design change involved the fitting of a downward-sloping tail boom to increase main rotor clearance.
The Whirlwind Mk. 10 prototype first flew on February 28, 1959, and the type entered RAF service at Odiham with No. 225 Squadron, Transport Command, in November 1961. Since the airframe and systems remained largely unchanged aft of the engine compartment, scores of older piston-powered variants were retrofitted with the Gnome turboshaft and redesignated as Mk. 10 (Series 3) Whirlwinds. Back in service, they were mainly used as ambulances, transports and search & rescue aircraft over the next two decades. Additionally, at least two Whirlwinds were modified for service with the Queen's Flight, designated as HCC.12. Series 3 production ended in 1968.
In 1952 the RN received 25 Sikorsky S55 helicopters (designated HAR21 and HAS22) under the Mutual Defence Aid Plan. These proved highly successful and resulted in an order for licence-built versions a year later, the first of which, a Whirlwind HAR1, flew on 15 August 1953. The Pratt and Whitney Wasp (600 shp) powered HAR1 and HAR3 were built in small numbers between 1953 and 1955 and were soon followed by Alvis powered HAR5s. All the HAR models saw extensive service in ships flights, particularly as the planeguard on carriers. The only anti-submarine Whirlwind, the HAS7, first flew on 17 October 1956 and entered squadron service with 845 NAS. in August 1957. It was equipped with a dipping sonar and had provision to carry a torpedo but could not carry both simultaneously. Due to early problems the HAS7 did not see fleet wide service until 1960 and was soon replaced in the anti-submarine role by the Wessex. The large surplus of HAS7 Whirlwinds saw their use in a commando transport role from 1960 onwards with some being converted to HAR9s with a Rolls Royce Gnome turbine, entering service with SAR flights in 1967. The HAR1, HAR3 and HAR5 were retired from service by the mid 1960s but the HAS7 continued as a training helicopter until 1975. The HAR9 left SAR service in 1977. A total of 37 various HAR models and 120 HAS7 Whirlwind were built, in addition to 10 HAR21 and 15 HAS22 Sikorsky S55.
jamesstables wrote:The Akrotiri one is a HAR.10.
None of the versions alphasim are doing (in this release anyway) are RAF.
There wasn't much difference between the S-55/HU-19A/HAS.22 and the HAS.1 and HAR.2 though. The rest had quite a few differences, mainly the bent boom on the Leonidies versions and obviously the nose on the gnome powered ones.
I'm surprised they're only doing the HAS.22 and not the British built series 1 versions too, since they were virtually identical. The only difference was an increase in weight which came from replacing all the american nuts and bolts with BA/BSF ones!
The HAR.2 isn't listed as being in the alphasim one though, only the HAS.22 out of the british versions, which were the original batch of sikosky built ones and were only used by the navy.
The HAS.1 and HAR.2 were identical but did differ in weight as a result of changing all the american nuts and bolts to BA/BSF ones which weighed more!
Thanks James, if a slight weight issue is the only difference, I hope the painting fraternity can overlook this, once it is released. Shame the HAR 10 is not in the package, as there are some really great schemes around for those.
