Harold the Helicopter

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Harold the helicopter is a character in the Railway Series books by the Rev. W. Awdry and Christopher Awdry and the television series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends.

He is very proud of being able to fly, and the speed and versatility this gives him. This has led to rivalries with the engines, most notably a race with Percy the Small Engine in his first appearance. Despite this, he is a friend to the railway and has often been able to help the engines out- even though they do sometimes refer to him as "whirlybird".

He is owned by the Coastguard on Sodor and lives at Dryaw airfield by Thomas' branch line. He keeps a watchful eye over the Island in case of trouble, and speeds to the rescue of anyone in distress.

He speaks in a manner reminiscent of an RAF pilot as depicted in movies of the 1940s and 50s, using terms such as "wizard" in conversation.

Behind the Scenes

Harold first appeared in the book 'Percy the Small Engine'. [Martin Clutterbuck] suggests that the inspiration for the story in which he races Percy came from the British Department of Transport's claims that the helicopter would soon render railways obsolete.

Harold is based on a Sikorsky S-55 helicopter, known as the H-19 Chickasaw in the USA. This was one of the most successful early helicopters, with examples being used all over the world. They were nicknamed "Whirlwinds", which may be the origin of the nickname "whirlybird".

In the television series, Harold's flight is simulated by replacing his rotor blades with a sheet of clear plastic to give the illusion of blurring. He is held up by two pieces of see-through wire

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