Westland Scout The Westland Scout was a general purpose military light helicopter developed by Westland Helicopters . It was closely related to the Westland Wasp naval helicopter . Design and development . Both the Scout and the Wasp were developed from the Saunders - Roe P . 531 , itself a development of the Saunders - Roe Skeeter . With the acquisition of Saunders Roe , Westland took over the P . 531 project , which became the prototype for the Scout ( originally called Sprite ) and the Wasp . The P . 531 was developed with the Bristol Siddeley Nimbus and the de Havilland Gnome H . 1000 engine , which flew from 3 May 1960 . The production Scout AH . 1 used a Rolls - Royce ( RR having acquired Bristol Siddeley by then ) Nimbus 101 engine , torque limited to , and achieved its first flight on 29 August 1960 . The Nimbus power ratings were for five minutes , for one hour and could be maintained up to at 30 degrees Celsius . The Scout has a rigid tubular skid undercarriage with two oleos connecting the rear cross - tube to the fuel tank rear bulkhead . Despite appearances the oleos act in tension , not compression , damping the reflex action to prevent the aircraft bouncing and ground resonance when landing . Energy absorption on landing is mainly through the two cross - tubes . Additional rigidity is given to the undercarriage through diagonal struts connecting the rear cross tube to the main fuselage longitudinal webs . These struts also help stiffen the airframe vertically and laterally , and are fitted with quick release pins to allow access to the fuselage access panels . The rear cross - tube is anchored centrally and the front cross - tube is fixed to the two main fuselage longitudinal webs . The port skid also acted as a storage tube for the long HF aerial , the skid was accessed via a screw - fixed cap at the rear . The vertical spigot at the front of each skid is used to mount ballast weights to alter the aircraft ' s centre of gravity . Behind the two front seats was a three - seat bench , although this could be replaced with a four - seat bench when fitted with modified rear doors ( see main photograph ) . It was used for general light work including observation , liaison , training , and search and rescue . When fitted as a light attack helicopter it carried either two , skid - mounted , forward - firing machine gun ( L8A1 GPMG ) packs or a single pintle mounted machine gun in the rear cabin . The pintle mount was available in both port and staboard mountings . The gun - packs , which were both aimed at a pre - set convergence angle , carried 200 rounds of ammunition and were mounted on a tubular spar that was fixed between the front and rear undercarriage legs . In the anti - tank role it could carry four guided missiles ( the Nord SS . 11 ) . The sighting unit was the AF . 120 , the result of a joint venture between Avimo and Ferranti and had x2 . 5 and x10 magnification . The APX Bezu sight unit was also evaluated but rejected , although it was adopted for use on the Westland Wasp . Additional testing and trials were carried out with the Hawkswing ( initially known as Airstrike Swingfire ) missile . Initial firings were carried out in early 1972 , to test the system for the Westland Lynx , the associated AF . 530 sight was subsequently trialled in 1974 . The Hawkswing system was cancelled in 1975 due to its manual control system ( MCLOS ) compared to the semi - automatic ( SACLOS ) system utilised by its rivals HOT and TOW . In the casualty evacuation role ( CASEVAC ) , the Scout could carry two stretchers internally or two on externally mounted pods , the co - pilots seat could also be reversed to allow an attendant to face the casualties . Although the general design of the aircraft was robust , with an airframe fatigue life of 7200 hours , the cockpit ergonomics were less than perfect . An example of this was the cabin heater switch being mounted next to the fuel cock . Unfortunately this led to the loss of at least four aircraft when the pilot misadvertantly closed the fuel cock instead of switching off the cabin heater , causing the engine to shut down . The autorotational qualities of the Scout have also been described by some pilots as ' startling ' . In service trials and testing were carried out by the AAC ' s Development Wing at Middle Wallop , Hampshire . A wide variety of weapons and equipment were evaluated , although many were never adopted . Amongst these were the 7 . 62mm General Electric Minigun and the two - inch rocket pod . The rocket pods were mounted either side of the central fuselage section on the multi - spar weapon booms and both smooth tube and fin - stabilised rockets were tested , although the accuracy was described as ' indifferent ' . Studies were also carried out for a pintle mounted M2 Browning machine gun in place of the standard 7 . 62 GPMG , and the French AME . 621 20mm cannon . Another was the installation of a Bendix R . 100 lightweight weather and ground - mapping radar , which had a range of eight and forty miles . This was mounted behind the fibreglass nose access panel along with a small viewing screen in the cockpit . The radar antenna was moved further forward later in the development and a small , pronounced nose cone was fitted onto the panel . During the development of the WG . 13 Westland Lynx , two Scouts were used as testbeds and fitted with full - scale , semi - rigid Lynx main rotor heads , despite the fact that the WG . 13 rotor diameter was greater by around three metres . The first test flight was achieved 31 August 1970 . A prototype MBB BO 105 also used a Scout main rotor head and blades during the development phase , unfortunately this aircraft was destroyed due to ground resonance during its initial trials . About 150 Scouts were built through 1968 , primarily at the Fairey Aviation Division factory at Hayes . Operational history . The Scout formed the backbone of the Army Air Corps throughout the 1960s and well into the 1970s ; the first Scout flew on 29 August 1960 and an initial order for 66 aircraft followed a month after its first flight . Engine problems delayed the introduction of the Scout until 1963 , and as an interim measure the Army Air Corps received a small number of Allouette II helicopters . Although the aircraft ' s entry into service was delayed , the Scout still had a number of teething troubles when it was introduced . One of the earliest losses was XR596 , which crashed into the jungle near Kluang airfield in Southern Malaya , 16 July 1964 , following a fuel pump failure . The two crew died in the incident . Engine failures were responsible for the loss of at least eleven military and civilian registered aircraft . The engine life of the Nimbus during the early part of its service was notoriously low , with four to six flying hours being the norm . A competition was allegedly held , with a prize to the first unit that could achieve an engine life of twenty - five flying hours . Operational experience and development work steadily improved the reliability of the Nimbus and by 1964 engine life had improved to two / three engine changes per 1 , 000 flying hours . The Scout AH Mk 1 was operated by the Army Air Corps on general light work , including observation and liaison . Like the Wasp , the Scout could be fitted out with different role equipment including flotation gear and a Lucas , air - driven hoist which had a lift capacity of . In the light attack role it was capable of carrying one pintle machine gun in the rear cabin ( it is possible to carry two pintle mounted GPMGs in the cabin , although this would , unsurprisingly , be somewhat cramped ) or two forward - firing 7 . 62mm L7 General Purpose Machine Guns ( GPMG s ) fixed to the undercarriage skid . These GPMG combinations were sometimes used in unison to great effect . The forward firing GPMGs were electrically operated , being fired by the pilot and aimed using a rudimentary system of drawing a small cross on the windscreen with a chinagraph pencil . In sandy conditions these weapons could jam , which necessitated one of the free crew to lean out of the cockpit door and ' boot ' the offending weapon in hope of clearing it . This procedure was not strictly in accordance with the flight reference cards . The L7A1 pintle mounted weapon was operated by a door gunner . In the anti - tank role four SS . 11 ATGWs were carried , these could be carried in conjunction with the pintle mounted GPMG . During the Falklands campaign the SS . 11 achieved some success , being used to attack Argentine positions 14 June 1982 . For night time reconnaissance the Scout could carry four parachute flares mounted on special carriers . In addition , two smaller parachute flares could be carried to allow emergency landings at night . These were fitted on the starboard rear fuselage on a special attachment point . About 150 Scout helicopters were acquired for the Army Air Corps and were operated by them up until 1994 . The way British Military Aviation has been established has meant that the Royal Marines have never actually “ owned ” their own aircraft . The larger Whirlwind , Wessex and Sea King helicopters have been “ Royal Navy ” Helicopters and , like today ’ s Lynx AH Mk 7 , the Scout AH Mk 1s operated by 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron ( 3 CBAS ) were British Army helicopters on loan . 3 CBAS flew the Scout from 1979 through to 1982 , when the Scout was replaced by the Westland Lynx , and the squadron was eventually renumbered as 847 Naval Air Squadron . The Scout saw operational service in Borneo , Aden , Oman , Rhodesia , Northern Ireland and then in the South Atlantic . The Territorial Army ( AAC ) formed 666 Squadron with a number of Scouts in the late 1980s . Borneo . Mystery still surrounds a Scout that went missing 20 September 1965 . " XR599 " set off for a night flight from Lundu to Kuching , the mission being to transport a local communist suspect to the Sarawak capital for interrogation . At 23 : 00 hrs the aircraft was posted as missing and a search and rescue mission was mounted . Although the aircraft and the remains of the pilot , the escort rifleman and the suspect were never found , a fisherman later dredged up small parts of the aircraft wreckage . On 23 September a local newspaper , The Strait Times , printed a story speculating that the Scout had been hi - jacked by the prisoner who had somehow managed to capture his escort ’ s weapon and then ordered the pilot to either fly out to sea or over the jungle towards the Indonesian border until they ran out of fuel . Tragedy struck a second time on 25 September when an RAF Westland Whirlwind HAR . 10 of 225 Sqn , searching over jungle for " XR599 " , crashed killing the five crew . Aden and Radfan . In Aden and Radfan a number of Scouts were shot down , although these usually resulted in a forced landing and the aircraft were recovered , repaired and returned to service . An example of this occurred 26 May 1964 when the CO of 3 Para , Lt Col Anthony Farrar - Hockley , used a Scout to reconnoitre the Wadi Dhubsan area , Radfan . The aircraft was hit by enemy fire , the pilot made an emergency landing and the aircraft was subsequently recovered . Three Scouts were written off during the campaign , the first , " XR634 " , was through pilot error whilst landing , 16 May 1966 . Although initially repairable this aircraft was subsequently damaged beyond economic repair when it was dropped by the RAF Westland Wessex sent to recover it . The second aircraft , " XT635 " , flew into a hillside during a night patrol at Jebal , 5 May 1967 , killing the two crew and the two passengers . The third aircraft , " XT641 " , was destroyed on the ground in an incident where the pilot , and his F . O . intelligence officer passenger were captured and shot dead by the NLF after landing in a wadi bed whilst on a flight from Ataq to Mayfa ’ ah on 3 September 1967 . The NLF then set fire to and destroyed the aircraft . Dropping recovered aircraft from helicopters is not the preserve of the Royal Air Force . On 1 August 1968 , Westland Sioux " XT123 " crashed at Sharjah , Oman , and was subsequently written off when it was dropped by the Westland Scout that was attempting the recovery . Lt David John Ralls , RCT , was awarded the DFC for counter - attacking a large group of enemy which had previously attacked an army road repair party on the road to Habilayn . Lt Ralls attack , on 30 May 1967 , utilised both the forward - firing and pintle mounted weapons , forcing the enemy to retreat . Despite his aircraft being hit a number of times , he then directed three Hawker Hunter airstrikes onto the target . Falklands War . At the start of “ Operation Corporate ” six Scouts from 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron were operating alongside three machines from No . 656 Squadron AAC , and when 5 Infantry Brigade landed they were joined by another three Scouts from 656 Squadron . During the Falklands conflict the Scout was engaged in CASEVAC , re - supply and Special Forces insertion roles . One aircraft , " XT629 " , was one of two Scouts of B Flight 3 Commando Brigade Air Squadron , that was attacked by two FMA IA 58 Pucará s ( the only Argentine air - to - air victory in the war ) of Grupo 3 near Camilla Creek House , North of Goose Green . " XT629 " was hit by cannon fire and crashed , killing the pilot and severing the leg of the crewman , who was thrown clear of the wreckage on impact . The second Scout evaded the Pucarás and later returned to the site to CASEVAC the survivor . Another Scout , " XR628 " , of 656 Sqn AAC , suffered a main rotor gearbox failure whilst in a low hover over MacPhee Pond , 8 June 1982 . " XR628 " had taken cover as two pairs of A - 4 Skyhawks from Grupo 5 approached , these aircraft later attacked the RFA LSLs " Sir Galahad " and " Sir Tristram " at Bluff Cove . Once the threat had passed and the pilot began to climb away , the main gearbox failed at the main input drive and the aircraft made a forced landing at the lakeside in around four feet of water . The two crew were picked up another 656 Sqn Scout piloted by Capt J G Greenhalgh later that day . The aircraft was eventually recovered and airlifted to Fitzroy by Sea King on 11 June , but was subsequently written off on its return to the UK . Following research at the National Archive , Kew , it has been determined that " XR628 " was the same aircraft that was shot down , 26 May 1964 , carrying 3 Para CO Lt Col Farrar - Hockley . Scouts armed with SS . 11 anti - tank missiles were used to great effect during the Falklands campaign . On 14 Jun 1982 , an Argentine 105 mm Pack Howitzer battery dug in to the West of Stanley Racecourse was firing at the Scots Guards as they approached Mount Tumbledown . As the guns were out of range of the Milan ATGWs of nearby 2 Para , their 2IC , Major Chris Keeble , contacted Capt J G Greenhalgh of 656 Sqn AAC on the radio and requested a HELARM using SS . 11 missiles to attack on them . As he was engaged in ammunition re - supply , his Scout was not fitted with missile booms . This was in order to reduce weight and increase the aircraft lift capability . Capt Greenhalgh then returned to Estancia House , where his aircraft was refuelled , fitted out , and armed with four missiles in 20 minutes with the rotors still turning . An ‘ O ’ group was then held with the crews of two Scouts of 3 CBAS and Capt Greenhalgh took off on a reconnaissance mission , while the other aircraft were fitted out and readied . Within 20 minutes he had located the target and carried out a detailed recce of the area . He fired two missiles at the enemy positions and then returned to a pre - arranged RV to meet up and guide in the other two Scouts . The three aircraft , positioned 100 metres apart , then fired a total of ten missiles ( nine missiles hit , one failed ) from the ridge overlooking the Argentine positions 3000m away and succeeded in hitting the howitzers , nearby bunkers , an ammunition dump and the command post . The Argentine troops returned mortar fire , a round landing directly in front of Capt Greenhalgh ’ s Scout . Northern Ireland . In Northern Ireland the Scout pioneered the use of the Heli - Tele aerial surveillance system , having a gyro - stabilised Marconi unit shoe - horned into the rear cabin . The Heli - Tele unit weighed some , although later developments reduced this significantly . The aircraft was also used for mounting Eagle patrols . In this role the rear cabin doors and seats were removed and four troops sat in the rear cabin with their feet resting on the skids . Operating with two aircraft in unison , this allowed an eight man patrol to be quickly inserted into an area and mount snap Vehicle Check Points ( VCPs ) if necessary . Up until 1973 , the standard tail rotor colour scheme for the Scout were bands of red and white . On 14 September 1973 a soldier died during training at Gosford Castle , Armagh , after coming into contact with the tail rotor blades whilst the aircraft was on the ground . Following this accident the tail rotor blade colour scheme was changed to the distinctive black and white bands . Because of the specialist nature of operations in Northern Ireland , a particularly important piece of role equipment was introduced in the form of the ' Nightsun ' 3 . 5 million candle power searchlight . Operations at night were greatly enhanced with the introduction of Night Vision Goggles ( NVGs ) , although these missions could still be hazardous . This was evident on the night of 2 December 1978 , when the pilot of XW614 , 659 Sqn , became disorientated during a sortie and crashed into Lough Ross , killing the two crew . XW614 was the last of five Scouts written off during operations in the Province . Exports . Unlike its naval counterpart , the Scout did not achieve the same export success as the Wasp , with the Royal Jordanian Air Force acquiring three helicopters , two were operated in Uganda , and Bahrain had two helicopters which were operated by the Bahrain Public Security Force in police service roles . The Scout never received civilian air worthiness certification which prevented it from being sold to civilian operators , the design being used purely for army use from the outset . All current operators require an ' Experimental ' certificate to fly them . Two Scout helicopters were acquired by the Royal Australian Navy ( RAN ) in April 1963 and were operated by the 723 Naval Air Squadron , with the aircraft being rotated aboard the hydrographic survey ship HMAS " Moresby " . The RAN Scouts proved the practicalities of operating helicopters from small ships for the RAN , and the RAN operated these helicopters up until 1973 , when they were replaced by Bell 206B - 1 Kiowas . The RAN experience with the Scouts aboard HMAS " Moresby " illustrated the need for a higher - level maintenance regime as a result of operating the helicopters in areas with high concentrations of abrasive coral sand encountered around the Australian coastline and the detrimental effect that it had on the rotor blades , airframe and engine components . Despite the additional effort to maintain the helicopters , the Scouts were considered to be superior to the seaplanes and flying boats that had previously been used in this role . One of the Scouts ditched in Wewak Harbour while taking off from HMAS " Moresby " , April 1967 , although it was subsequently recovered the aircraft was written off . Survivors . Although the operational flying days are behind them , there are still Scouts in the air ; mainly in the UK ; at the present time there are six Scouts remaining on the UK Civil Register along with the Army Air Corps Historic Flights aircraft . Outside the UK , the last of six Scouts that were taken down to New Zealand has been withdrawn from use , leaving ZS - HAS flying in South Africa .