98 RAF CENTENARY CELEBRATION PATROLLERS AND AIRLIFTERS
RAF
ROTARY ASSETS
1918 2018A
n important part of RAF post-
war operations has been its use
of helicopters to ferry men and
equipment to the battlefield... often
in support of British Army troops.
The RAF has also been partly
responsible for the search and
rescue (SAR) fleet guarding Britain’s
coastlines and rural areas (although
this was privatised in February
2016). Today, RAF helicopters are
used in various roles, including
heavy-lift support of RAF ground
units and the Royal Marines, and
are now operated by the tri-service
entity Joint Helicopter Command.
Agusta A109 helicopters also fly
with 32 (The Royal) Squadron to
provide VIP transport.HEAVY LIFTING
The service’s first transport
helicopter was the British-built
Westland Dragonfly, developed
from the Sikorsky S-5 and
introduced in 1950. Powered by
a 500hp (373kW) Alvis Leonides
engine, the aircraft was mostly used
for SAR and casualty evacuation.
In 1953 these roles passed to
the new, more versatile Bristol
Sycamore, which provided valuable
contributions to the Malayan,
Cyprus and Aden Emergencies, and
served until August 1972 with the
Royal Squadron.
In 1954 the RAF experienced a
transformation in its helicopter
capabilities with the arrival of the
first Westland Whirlwind. The
machine was much larger than its
forebears and later turbine-powered
versions were used for both SAR and
heavy lifting duties.Above
Boeing Chinook HC.4
ZD983 was painted
with special markings
to commemorate the
RAF’s 100th anniversary
in 2018. The aircraft
was built as an HC.1
in 1987 and has
been progressively
modernised. ANDY HAY/
WWW.FLYINGART.CO.UKBelow right
An RAF Westland
Dragonfl y operates at
Segamat, Malaysia in- KEY
Whereas the Whirlwind was
developed from the Sikorsky
H-19, the RAF’s Westland Wessex,
introduced in 1961, was a variant of
the Sikorsky H-34. Although best
remembered for its SAR role, the
Wessex also participated in extensive
military operations in Malaya,
Borneo, the Falklands and Northern
Ireland. In the Borneo campaign,
RAF Wessex helicopters routinely
ferried 16 troops or 4,000lb
(1,814kg) of supplies directly to the
front lines.
From 1978 the Wessex was
eventually replaced by the Westland
Sea King in the SAR role, with the
new helicopter also flying in support
of the SAS and Royal Marines in
times of conflict. Bell Griffin HAR.2
helicopters of 84 Squadron have
also provided a SAR service at RAF
Akrotiri, Cyprus, since 2003.
The RAF’s heavy lifting capabilities
were also boosted by the arrival ofthe Westland Puma in 1971 and the
AgustaWestland Merlin in 2001.
Although the latter has now passed
to the Royal Navy, the Puma firmly
remains as one of the RAF’s key
cargo-lifting assets.TWIN ROTOR CLASSICS
Perhaps the most distinctive of all
helicopters to serve with the RAF
have been the twin-rotor Bristol
Belvedere and Boeing Chinook.
Belvedere was introduced via 66
Squadron in 1961 and went on
to join 26 and 72 Squadrons. The
type was involved in combat in
both Aden, and Borneo during the
Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation.
The Chinook joined the RAF
in March 1980 and served in the
Falklands War, as well as over the Gulf,
Kosovo, Sierra Leone, Afghanistan
and Mali; the RAF has operated 72
Chinooks and the type is set to remain
in service until the 2040s.n important part of RAF post-
war operations has been its use
of helicopters to ferry men andWhereas the Whirlwind was
developed from the Sikorsky
H-19, the RAF’s Westland Wessex,the Westland Puma in 1971 and the
AgustaWestland Merlin in 2001.
Although the latter has now passed1945 TO PRESENT