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Westland Belvedere HC1

The Belvedere was the Royal Air Force’s first twin engined, twin rotor helicopter to enter service. During its operational service Great Britain began the slow and sometimes painful task of withdrawing from its Empire and this aircraft was involved in many of those operations in the Middle and Far East.

During it service life this aircraft served both in Singapore and then Aden before returning to Singapore. While operating in the more inaccessible parts of Borneo indigenous tribes nicknamed the Belvedere helicopter ‘the Flying Long-house’ as it so resembled their huts.