Westland Scout/Wasp

[ex82watcher]

A question,if I may,to those who may know:I have seen numerous photo's of Wasps flying without doors fitted.,but I don't recall seeing a picture of a Scout so configured.Was this in fact done,and if not,was there a reason ?
Many thanks in anticpation.

[Two's in]

The Scout was cleared for doors removed for flight. The AAC used them extensively in Hong Kong (660 Sqn AAC) with doors removed so they could lift the Chinese Illegal Immigrants (using Gurkha Regiment soldiers) crossing from China trying to reach Hong Kong. Quite a few pictures on the interwebs if your google-fu skills are up to it. The normal configuration was rear doors off, but all doors could be removed. There also were "flat" rear doors and "bulging" rear doors to accommodate a wider rear bench seat and more pax.

[megan]

Used to fly mine doors off on occasion.


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1105x824/scou_2a10f142e8bc5d0c25224029c57f727f3bbd6182.jpg

[Haraka]

Also often flew with a door off in N.I. when doing a bit of photography..

[Fareastdriver]

The Scout I underslung from Cadenas to Airport Camp in Belize had the doors off. It was a real sod to fly, swinging and bucking above 70 knots.

As the Puma was variable speed/constant fuel consumption I didn't have enough fuel to go direct so I dropped it off at an airstrip and my escorting Puma with the rotor blades, REME party etc looked after it.

I was night when I came back for it. I could only just see what was going on through the fog of mossies.

[Sloppy Link]

We still fly with the doors off if the weather permits or over water displays. Minus is the wind noise over the mike, throat mike’s are a thing of the past now.

[RAFEngO74to09]

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/800x534/33330755885_745847e6f2_c_9b9c1add1bfdcff0e3604f6322f88ef3626 b9eff.jpg
There were 2 types of bulged doors on the Scout. Small bulge to accommodate a stretcher transversely and the large bulge to accommodate 4 x pax or possibly 2 x stretchers. The Wasp only had the small bulge version due to the flotation gear above.

Large bulge:

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1197x715/1364716_a1d4913298ec4adc12cad3e27c6119f59000b873.jpg

[Fareastdriver]

Being picky it looks as if the small door have stretcher bulges built in.

[Harley Quinn]

Being picky it looks as if the small door have stretcher bulges built in.
That's exactly what RAFEngo said :ugh:

[Fareastdriver]

My fault, I didn't read it properly.

[Godknows]

Gents,

In the photo of the RAN Wasp we can see on top of the front part of the skids a pin either side, in the following photos we see what appear to be weights sitting on the pins. My question is what are they for? weight and balance or are they an early form of dampening?

Cheers

[Harley Quinn]

Gents,

In the photo of the RAN Wasp we can see on top of the front part of the skids a pin either side, in the following photos we see what appear to be weights sitting on the pins. My question is what are they for? weight and balance or are they an early form of dampening?

Cheers
Apparently the RAN didn't operate Wasps, that is a Scout in the picture. Scouts did have problems with ground resonance in development, and as you point out in the other pictures there seems to be a variation in the number of discs: none, two and three on the skid tips. Perhaps some AAC types are lurking?

[Davey Emcee]

A fairly lightweight single pilot operating the a/c could be right on the CofG limits, and so weights had to be used
to get the CofG back in limits.

[Fly3]

The RN Wasp operated without doors because in the event of a ditching the flotation gear left the body of the aircraft below the surface and it made egress through the roof panel rather tricky I believe. Deflector panels were fitted to the forward hinges of the front doors to avoid a ninety knot gale in the cockpit in flight. It did make operating in the northern climes pretty chilly until they came up with heated gloves and socks which were particularly nice during the "Cod War".

[megan]

A fairly lightweight single pilot operating the a/c could be right on the CofG limits, and so weights had to be used to get the CofG back in limitsNever used weights, and weighed less than 140lb dripping wet.

[Godknows]

Thanks Gents for the responses,

If it was to assist in C of G matters then I would have thought a few up the front would have been fairly handy if you have a crew member aft observing the under-slung loading party as in the RAN photo!

[diginagain]

Never used weights, and weighed less than 140lb dripping wet.
Can't recall seeing them used for anything more than propping-open the 700 door. ISTR using the posts when dragging them about the pan.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1024x768/ni_a2016d3c9c8a83607dbdce2ce4730821075071a5.jpg

[Senior Pilot]

Thanks Gents for the responses,

If it was to assist in C of G matters then I would have thought a few up the front would have been fairly handy if you have a crew member aft observing the under-slung loading party as in the RAN photo!

All weight in the cabin is forward of the mast and therefore adding to the fwd cg. Doesn’t matter that the crewie is behind the driver.

Probably why the lightweight racing snake got away with no skid weights ;)

[megan]

Does anyone have any REAL idea of why the weights existed? Seems obvious for CoG purposes, but never had any CoG problems without them. Then again I don't recall ever doing a CoG calc. In my time flying the aircraft never saw, or even knew they existed, certainly no reference to them during conversion.

[Sloppy Link]

In current flying practice on type, they are for CofG. If you had the SS-11 fit or have the dual instrument panel, not required, else, solo and under 9st (ish) and depending on fuel load, they would be required. Next time I’m in the Hangar, I’ll take a photo of the CofG chart to demonstrate. You’ll note the RAN Scout has the sand filters fitted which will bring the CofG aft.

MR

[MOSTAFA]

I seem to remember it was a problem occasionally with the hoist fitted if you looked carefully!

[megan]

Thanks SL, you seem to have explained it, we had the dual instrument panel. Explains why no mention of weights. The aircrafts configuration was never changed, its sole purpose was use on a survey ship, sling loading Hi Fix and tidepole camps ashore (and retrieval), and of course personnel. The RAN purchased two Scouts, but one was ditched well before my time.

[Lokwyr]

We still fly with the doors off if the weather permits or over water displays. Minus is the wind noise over the mike, throat mike’s are a thing of the past now.

I've still got a throat-mike. Much preferred by me to the boomy thing.

As for doors-off. Wind noise was the worst problem. Rear doors off made life safer when troops were loading/ unloading themselves, 'cos the door jettison handles produced no expensive after effects, no matter how many heaves given!

[Godknows]

Thank you to all who contributed your thoughts and memories, very informative and some great photos as well. I used to see one or two now and again as a lad walking to school as they buzzed around RNAS lee-on-the-Solent in the 70's.