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Westland WS-55 Whirlwind Series 1, G-ANFH, c/n WA/15, was built in 1954, powered by a single 600 hp Pratt & Whitney Wasp R-1340-40 nine-cylinder radial piston engine. |
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It was the third WS-55 to be built in Yeovil for civil use. With eight passenger seats it was delivered to the BEA Helicopter Unit on 2nd November 1954, named "Sir Ector" and used for experimental scheduled services between Heathrow airport and Southampton, carrying the red and black BEA livery of the day. Other inter-city routes were operated by BEA for short periods, using G-ANFH and two other WS-55s, but none proved successful financially, though valuable experience was gained. |
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Still in BEA livery and retained for general charter work, G-ANFH was used for
crop-spraying demonstrations in 1959 (below) and, on 9th September 1961, carried
the Golden Jubilee Mail between Hendon and Windsor (left). This
commemorated the first aerial post to Windsor in 1911.
In 1963 G-ANFH took part in one of the infamous Farne Islands seal culls. |
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| G-ANFH was employed as a camera platform to photograph the introduction of Sikorsky S-61s on the new Penzance - Isles of Scilly route in 1964 and, in the same year, appeared in the final scenes of the Beatles film "A Hard Day's Night". In July 1966, it was flown to Brands Hatch to be available as an air ambulance for the British Grand Prix. | ||
| Having flown over 4000 hours with BEA, Sir Ector, G-ANFH, was sold to Autair Helicopter Services in April 1969 but was acquired, a few weeks later, by Bristow Helicopters and used for pilot training, crop-spraying and offshore oil and gas exploration support in the Irish Sea. When its C.of A. expired in 1971 it was stored at Bristow's North Denes base, near Great Yarmouth, until transferred to Redhill in 1977. It was soon acquired for The Helicopter Museum and was moved to Weston-super-Mare, in 1978. | ||
| Please note that, for safety reasons, this machine is not yet on display for visitors. | ||
| Back to Bristow's 50th Anniversary Pages | ||
