Saro Skeeter
Encyclopedia : S : SA : SAR : Saro Skeeter
| Saunders-Roe Skeeter | ||
|---|---|---|
| Description | ||
| Role | Helicopter | |
| Crew | 2 | |
| Manufacturer | Saunders-Roe | |
| Nationality | British | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 28 ft 5 in | |
| Main rotor diameter | 32 ft | |
| Height | 10 ft 2 in | |
| Mass (empty) | 1,607 lb | |
| Mass (Maximum takeoff) | 2,202 lb | |
| Powerplant | One 200 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major four cylinder inverted air cooled engine | |
| Maximum speed | 107 mph | |
| Range | 240 miles | |
| Rate of climb | 365 ft/min | |
| Armament | None | |
The Saro Skeeter was a 2 seat training and scout helicopter produced by Saunders-Roe ("Saro") of Cowes and Southampton, in the United Kingdom. The Skeeter has the distinction of being the first helicopter to be used by the British Army Air Corps.
Service History
Initially designed around 1948 by the Cierva Autogiro Company, the Skeeter did not enter service until 1957. This long development period ensured that it was outdated before it even entered service. Plagued by ground resonance problems due to underpowered 145 hp engines, it was not until Saro, which had taken over Cierva in 1951, had put in a 200 hp Gypsy engine that any significant orders were procured, in 1956. The British Army ordered 64 Skeeter 6's to be designated as AOP.12 (Air Observation Platform), and the Skeeter finally entered service in October of 1956. With the merger of the helicopter activities of Bristol Aeroplane Company, Fairey and Saro with Westland Aircraft in 1960, plans to develop a turbine powered version were abandoned. Although this knowledge was used in the development of the of the Westland Scout and Westland Wasp through the P.531 which was based on the Skeeter airframe. Today, there is only one remaining flying example of the Skeeter though a number are held by British museums.
Versions
- Cierva W.14 Skeeter 1 -- Original design, first flown on 8 October 1948, powered by a Jameson 106 hp FF-1 engine. It had a triangular cross section to its tail boom. Only one was built.
- Skeeter 2 -- First flew in 1949. Powered by 145 hp Gipsy engine. Suffered badly from ground resonance and eventually shook itself apart. This version had circular tail, as did all future versions. Only one was built.
- Skeeter 3 -- Started to show some progress, powered by 180 hp Blackburn engines. Two were produced. No orders were procured by the British Army.
- Skeeter 4 -- Version for the Royal Navy, was rejected. Similar to Skeeter 2 and 3. Only one was produced.
- Skeeter 5 -- Similar to other earlier Skeeters. Only one was produced.
- Skeeter 6 -- See sidebar for information. Only three prototypes were procured.
- *Skeeter AOP.10 -- Three evaluation aircraft were built for the British Army Air Corps.
- *Skeeter T.11 -- One dual-control trainer was built for the British Army Air Corps.
- Skeeter 7 -- Had Gypsy 215 hp engine. This was the most successful Skeeter. 64 were built and acquired by the British Army Air Corps.
- *Skeeter AOP.12 -- Air Observation Platform helicopter for the British Army Air Corps.
- *Skeeter T.13 -- Training version for the RAF. The Skeeter T.13s were used to train army helicopter instructors.
- Skeeter Series 8 -- Commercial version, with Gypsy 215 hp engine. Orders for it never materialised. Three were built.
- Skeeter Mk.50 -- Federal German Army designation for the Skeeter 7. 11 were ordered and exported.
- Skeeter Mk.51 -- Federal German Navy designation for the Skeeter 7. Four were ordered and exported.
See also
- Saunders-Roe P.531
External Links
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