Westland Wessex

Wessex
Former Royal Navy Wessex HU.5 of the Historic Helicopters Collection
Role	Helicopter Type of aircraft
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Westland Aircraft Westland Helicopters
First flight	20 June 1958
Introduction	1961
Retired	2003 (Royal Air Force)
Primary users	Royal Navy Royal Air Force Royal Australian Navy Uruguayan Naval Aviation
Produced	1958–1970
Number built	382
Developed from	Sikorsky H-34

The Westland Wessex is a British-built turbine-powered development of the Sikorsky H-34 (in US service known as Choctaw). It was developed and produced under licence by Westland Aircraft (later Westland Helicopters). One of the main changes from Sikorsky's H-34 was the replacement of the piston-engine powerplant with a turboshaft engine. Early models were powered by a single Napier Gazelle engine, while later builds used a pair of de Havilland Gnome engines.

The Wessex was initially produced for the Royal Navy (RN) and later for the Royal Air Force (RAF); a limited number of civilian aircraft were also produced, as well as some export sales. The Wessex operated as an anti-submarine warfare and utility helicopter; it is perhaps best recognised for its use as a search and rescue (SAR) helicopter. The type entered operational service in 1961, and had a service life in excess of 40 years before being retired in the UK.