Malcolm V Lowe describes the development and service of the Westland Wessex helicopter, which represented a leap forward in power and capability for the RAF and Royal Navy
A growing acceptance of rotorcraft by Britain’s Royal Navy (RN) and RAF emerged in the years following World War Two. One of the established aviation companies that recognised the potential of becoming involved in rotary-wing development and manufacture was Westland Aircraft of Yeovil, Somerset, which created a fruitful relationship with an emerging giant in the new rotorcraft world – the US firm Sikorsky. This led to Westland producing various derivatives of Sikorsky designs, which kept the British military supplied with viable and competent helicopters during the Cold War.
