Scout AH1

The Westland Scout AH‑1 was a light two‑seat helicopter developed in the early 1960s as a direct descendant of the Westland Wasp naval variant. Conceived to meet the Royal Navy’s requirement for a compact, agile aircraft capable of shipboard operation, the Scout entered service in 1964 with the Fleet Air Arm. Powered by a Rolls‑Royce Nimbus‑MPT—an uprated version of the Nimbus engine delivering 850 shaft horsepower—the machine could hover on a single rotor diameter and operate from the deck of destroyers and frigates without a dedicated hangar. Its all‑metal airframe featured a distinctive “slim‑line” fuselage, fully articulated three‑blade rotor, and a glass‑cockpit layout that placed the pilot and observer side‑by‑side for optimal visibility. The Scout AH‑1 proved versatile, performing anti‑submarine patrols, liaison duties, and search‑and‑rescue missions, while its modest payload allowed carriage of light torpedoes, depth charges, or external fuel tanks. Though only 83 were built, the Scout’s compact design and reliable performance paved the way for later Westland models such as the Wasp and the larger Sea‑King, cementing its role as a pivotal step in British naval rotary‑wing development.

Westland Aircraft

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