Helicopters In Service With The Army Air Corps

Reference Source: “British Military Helicopters” – John Everett-Heath

Published: 1986 by Arms And Armour Press Ltd, 2-6 Hampstead High Street, London NW3 1QQ

ISBN 0-85368-805-2

Note: During Colonel John Everett-Heath’s 24 years as a military fixed-wing and helicopter pilot, he has flown a number of aircraft described in the book. In 1964 he completed the instructor’s course at the RAF Central Flying School. He has served in Europe, Cyprus, East and West Africa, the Middle East, the Far East, Belize and in the USA, where he was the British Liaison Officer to the US Army Aviation Centre. He has commanded an Army Air Corps squadron and regiment, and has run the Operational Requirements Branch for Army Aviation in the Ministry of Defence.

1956 Farnborough Air Show - Skeeter Mk 11

(Museum of Army Flying)

(above, page 35) - Manoeuvring on to the back of a lorry

Skeeter AOP Mk 12

(above, page 36)

12 August 1960 – First Flight of Skeeter Mk 12 XM 528

(Westland Helicopters)

(above, page 39) – The only Skeeter to have skids was handed over to the Army Air Corps in November 1961 with wheels

(Museum of Army Flying)

(above, page 40) – A Skeeter Mk 12 about to leave a field location

Westland Whirlwind Mk 2

(Westland Helicopters)

(above, page 83) – Although apparently belonging to the Army Air Corps, this Whirlwind Mk 2 was actually on the strength of the Joint Experimental Helicopter Unit during the second half of the 1950s. It was later converted to a Mk 10 and found its way to Cyprus where it served in United Nations colours before being retired in 1982. In this photograph it is airlifting an Auster Mk 6 VF582.

Saunders-Roe P.531

(Westland Helicopters)

(above, page 113) – The second prototype. Note the slim tail fin and triangular ventral fin

Scout XT639

(Rolls-Royce)

(above, page 116) – On exercise with a stretcher pannier on each side

Scout XT614

(Rolls-Royce)

(above, page 116) – With passenger doors removed and floatation gear fitted, a Scout flies over Hong Kong

(above, page 117)

1970 – Scout fitted with SS-11 Anti-Tank Missiles

(Museum of Army Flying)

(above, page 118) – Note the larger bulged passenger door to permit a longer rear seat

Scout of 8 Flight – Fitted With Two 7.62mm Machine Guns

(Museum of Army Flying)

(above, page 118) – One machine-gun fixed, forward-firing and one mounted in the cabin

Scout XR635

(Rolls-Royce)

(above, page 120) – A Scout on eagle patrol in Northern Ireland. For these patrols the back seat was normally removed

Scout XT632

(Museum of Army Flying)

(above, page 121) – A missile-armed Scout is well camouflaged against the background. The protuberance in the cockpit roof is the housing for the AF.120 missile-aiming sight

2 April to 15 June 1982 - Falklands War

(Museum of Army Flying)

(above, page 121) – A Scout lands close to an infantry position. Although over twenty years old it proved itself as a battlefield machine, being rugged and reliable

1964 - Sioux AH Mk 1 XT172

Called “The Clockwork Mouse” in the Army Air Corps

(Westland Helicopters)

(above, page 128) – The Sioux was an American Bell Helicopter design built under licence by Westland in the 1960s. The Army’s planned in-service date was April 1964 and the original intention was to use it for no longer than five years. In the event the last one was not withdrawn from service until September 1978 because of the delay in the appearance of the Anglo-French Gazelle

(above, page 129)

1968 – Cyprus

(John Everett-Heath)

(above, page 131) – An Army Air Corps Sioux in service with the United Nations in Cyprus on landing pad ‘Juliet’ in the Greek area near Xeros.

666 Squadron, Army Air Corps

(John Everett-Heath)

(above, page 132) – A Sioux armed with a 7.62mm machine-gun in the starboard seat

1965 – Radfan Campaign

(Museum of Army Flying)

(above, page 132) – A Sioux on patrol

The Sioux in Malaya.

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Gazelle AH Mk 1 of N^o 2 Flight, Army Air Corps

(Rolls-Royce)

(above, page 159) – Diving over a ridge in Norway

Gazelle AH Mk 1

(above, page 162)

Gazelle AH Mk 1 of N^o 7 Regiment, Army Air Corps

(John Everett-Heath)

(above, page 163) – Parked on the rocky pad at Cadenas in Belize, Central America

Lynx AH Mk 1 XX153

(Westland Helicopters)

(above, page 168) – The first development Lynx in Army utility configuration, almost inverted during a barrel roll.

(Westland Helicopters)

(above, page 171) – XX153, the first Army Air Corps development Lynx, its nose larger than the prototypes, set two world speed records in June 1972

Lynx AH Mk 1

(above, page 171)

Lynx AH Mk 1

(Westland Helicopters)

(above, page 177) – A Lynx armed with eight TOW anti-tank missiles, four on each side of the fuselage. The gunner’s sight in the roof is clearly visible. The TOW has a maximum range of 3,750m and is wire-guided.

A Line-up of Army Helicopters

(Museum of Army Flying)

(above, page 180) – From the bottom: Skeeter XL814, Sioux, Gazelle, Scout and Lynx

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