Westland Dragonfly HR3

Serial Number: G-AJOV
Period: Post-WWII
Collection Ref: 85/A/1174
Location: RAF Museum Cosford, Transport & Training

The Dragonfly was a British built version of the American Sikorsky S51. A total of seventy-two Dragonflies served with the Royal Navy and fifteen with the RAF. British European Airways (BEA) used them for commercial operations.

Westland entered the helicopter business in 1947 by obtaining a licence to build the S 51 with British materials and powered by a British engine. The first example made its maiden flight in October 1948.

The RAF's Dragonflies served in anti-terrorist operations in Malaya. In three and a half years these helicopters evacuated 675 casualties, carried over 4000 passengers and transported over 38100kg (84000lbs) of supplies.

Royal Navy Dragonflies were used on aircraft carriers to rescue the crews of aircraft, which crashed into the sea. Shore based Dragonflies also had a rescue role, saving civilian lives and performing important work in the Dutch floods of 1953.

The world's first Helicopter-sustained, regular, scheduled service was operated by BEA on 1 June 1950, between Cardiff and Liverpool with G-AJOV. A month later it was routed via Wrexham. The service terminated on 31 March 1951.

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