PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Westland. End of the line for British helicopters?
Old 22nd May 2004 | 20:45
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Cyclic Hotline
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Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Beyond the black stump!
Just ask anyone that ever operated/flew/maintained them.

Then ask them if they would ever buy another Westland product?

This is the only helicopter that comes to mind, where the manufacturer actually cancelled the Type Certificate!

Designed in secret to meet a perceived market, that when it was unveiled, nobody wanted it.

For political reasons British Airways Helicopters and the Indian government operated them. All the ships in North America were returned to the leasing company, stored in the desert until the leases expired (10 years or so, later) and were then chopped up for scrap - a fitting end to the aircraft according to a good friend of mine - who worked for Westland!

Definitely eligible for a position in the worlds worst aircraft list.

However - when this topic was discussed some years ago, one satisfied customer stepped forward to defend it!

WG 30 testimonial (with some caveats)

Last edited by Cyclic Hotline; 22nd May 2004 at 23:37.
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