Westland Widgeon (helicopter)


 * For the 1924 aeroplane, see Westland Widgeon (fixed wing)

The Westland Widgeon helicopter was a private venture by Westland Aircraft as an improvement on the Westland WS-51 Dragonfly.

Design and development
Westland Aircraft decided to make a private venture improvement on the Westland WS-51 Dragonfly, which was a licensed Sikorsky design, helicopter by increasing the cabin capacity and replacing the Dragonfly's rotor head, blades and gearbox with the units used in the Westland Whirlwind. Three Dragonfly Series 1As were converted to WS-51 Series 2 Widgeons, and the first one flew on 23 August 1955.

There was a plan to take up to 24 existing Fleet Air Arm Dragonflies to Dragonfly HC.7 standard (as the Naval Widgeon was to become) but this was abandoned and it contributed to the decision to stop progress.

Operators

 * Brazilian Navy
 * 🇱🇰 Ceylon
 * Royal Ceylon Air Force
 * 🇭🇰 Hong Kong
 * Royal Hong Kong Auxiliary Air Force
 * Royal Jordanian Air Force
 * Bristow Helicopters
 * Royal Jordanian Air Force
 * Bristow Helicopters
 * Bristow Helicopters