The Westland Scout

[Savoia]

Steve, many thanks!


Army Westland Scouts over the Alton Barnes White Horse in Wiltshire

[Steve]

Hi Savoia,
I'm not sure about your first question but the second I can answer, the weights on the front of the skids were to keep the centre of balance in tolerance for when the SS.11 missile system was fitted.
Steve

ps, The tri-colour National tail markings were dropped when the AAC went over to the smaller low-viz roundels.

[Savoia]

Britten-Norman's Westland Scout AH1 G-BXRS (ex XW613) as seen at RAF Northolt on 8th June 2008 (Photo: Mark Kwiatkowski)

Some Scout observations:

Firstly, I've noticed that on a large number of Scouts the vertical join which attaches the skid cross-tubes to the skids, was not painted. Was there a specific reason for this?

Secondly, does anyone know the purpose of the (what seem to be) weights mounted at the front of the skids?

And finally, one sees that the Navy boys managed to attach a 'Fly Navy' decal to the Scout's nose perspex!

Didn't someone from Cornwall once affix a 'Fly Navy' sticker amidst the roundel of a RAF Whirlwind Mk10 at the British Helicopter Championships in the late 70's!

[Savoia]

Westland P531-2 G-APVM as seen at RAF Gaydon on 17th September 1960 (Photo: Peter Clarke)

The MkII prototype P531 was converted to pre-production Scout AH1 which became XR493 (below) and, so we are told, is apparently preserved in Oman.

"VM" was, to the best of my knowledge, the first Scout prototype fitted with the Gnome H-1000 engine (derated to 685shp) as opposed to the Blackburn A129 (later to become Nimbus) used in her sister-ship prototype No.3 G-APVL.

Our great thanks to Peter Clarke for his contribution of this photo.


The very first British Army Westland Scout XR493. This is a Vera Lynn photograph

[Savoia]

.. the letter was often repeated on the fuselage sides as well.

Yes, so I've noticed.

Do you happen to know if there was any 'method' as to how these letters were chosen?

I also saw that on some of your photos the aircraft were carrying the tri-colour tail-flash which seemed to be popular (I think across all the services) in the 60's and 70's.

More P531 ..


Saunders-Roe P531 second prototype G-APNV (Photo: Westland Archives)


A further prototype of the Saro P531 G-APVM as seen at the SBAC Show at Farnborough on 12th September 1959 (Photo: NA Archives)

[Steve]

That video clip takes me back a bit, the sky always seemed so much bigger than here in the UK.
Regarding the letter on the nose of the Scout, each Squadron would letter its aircraft so it could tell one from the other as the a/c serial could be hard to spot especially as it was only on the tail boom, the letter was often repeated on the fuselage sides as well.

The Scout with the P on the nose could be Royal Marines as it has that thing to the right of the pitot tube which you see on Royal Navy Wasp's.

[Savoia]

I still can't hear a Pipe Band without thinking about the Gurkha's practicing on our school field.

Ah well, this is for you then!

Other 'interesting' cross-cultural exports include (to this day) several South African regiments who wear the kilt on ceremonial parades and, in times past, the deplorable Idi Amin who had one Ugandan regiment 'kilted-up' in order to satisfy his admiration for all things Scottish.



As this is a Vera Lynn photograph there's not much I can say about it.

Was wondering though what the letters on the nose of many Army Scouts designated?

[Steve]

Hi Savoia,
We were in Malaya between 2nd Dec 67 to 2nd May 70, he was with 75 Aircraft Workshops in Kluang and we lived in Sunrise Park. I still can't hear a Pipe Band without thinking about the Gurkha's practicing on our school field.

Steve

[Phil Croucher]

The Sir Galahad! I used to load that thing before I started flying - I was a Movement Controller back then.



Phil

[Savoia]

Got 870 hours on those beasts - happy days.

It must have been wonderful indeed!

Steve: Those are some great photos from your Father!

Do you know how long he spent in Malaya?

Regarding Scout tail-rotors; I think the first tail-rotors were red with a white stripe and then became a combination of red, black and white before adopting the black and white scheme depicted in your 'instructional'.

The P531

The P531 was the aircraft my godfather flew as test pilot along with several others from 'Bristol Division' which had merged with Saunders-Roe (Saro) in what was to become Westland.

Design of the P531 was started in November 1957 as a private venture improvement of the company's earlier Skeeter. The first prototypes were powered by a derated 325 shp Blackburn Turbomeca Turmo 600, a free turbine engine allowing clutchless transmission. The P531 first flew on the 20 July 1958. Three more P531-0's followed and were delivered to the Royal Navy/Fleet Air Arm for trials. Following evaluation by the Navy a batch of 30 aircraft were ordered as the Westland Wasp.

Two militiarised P531-2's were completed in 1959, powered by the Blackburn Nimbus and the De Havilland Gnome H1000 free-turbine engines, both derated to 635 hp (once transmission tests had proved such power to be acceptable). Like the Turmo installation, these engines were mounted, uncowled behind the cabin for easy servicing. There were aerodynamic shape revisions and a floor extension to allow six, rather than five seats. The vision was improved with perspex panels in the doors, fuel capacity was increased and all-metal rotors introduced. These modifications increased gross weight by 1,200 lb (544 kg).

Saro had an order for eight pre-production aircraft from the Army Air Corps for evaluation and trials; these would have been known as the Saro Sprite, but the company was taken over by Westland and the aircraft became the first Scout AH1's. Another P531-2 was built for evaluation by the Indian government but following a lack of interest was re-worked as standard Scout for the Army Air Corps.


The second prototype P531 Mk1 G-APNV at Farnborough in September 1958


G-APNV at Farnborough in 1958


G-APNV at Farnborough in 1958



A Westland advert for the P531 dated 23rd September 1960 as it appeared in Flight International

Please note (as per the above) that Saunders-Roe originally named the Scout the 'Sprite' so .. when I affectionately refer to Scouts as 'Sprouts' .. its not a million miles away from what it was almost called!

[Steve]

I can still hear the Scout in my head from when I was little, wonderful sound

Here's some photos taken by my late Father from when he was on board the RFA Sir Galahad on the way to Australia from Malaya in the late 1960's



Here a Scout is being lifted out and off the ship onto the dock at Rockhampton in Australia



An engine change in Australia


This one was taken at the school in Kluang, Malaya


The spec on how to paint your tail rotor. :-)


Here's a couple of interesting shots, the first a Scout fitted with a .5 Browning machine gun while on trials but never used operationally, unless you know different, please tell if you do.


Now this picture has had me baffled for a number of years, does anyone know what type of missiles are fitted?



All the best
Steve

[Phil Croucher]

Got 870 hours on those beasts - happy days.

phil