Westland WG Series Designations

overscan (PaulMM)

overscan (PaulMM)

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WG.3A (two PT6A engines)
WG.3C (two Gnome engines)
WG.13F (early Lynx configuration)
WG.13Q (utility model with defensive nose armament)
WG.13R (armed escort, T72 engines)
WG.13X (one of the final designs prior to the Lynx)

Source:
  • 'Lynx: Yeovil's Revolutionary Yearling' Air Enthusiast June 1972 p283-290
 

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Re: Westland helicopter projects

According to the Lynx article, Westland projected a series of 4 helicopters around 1963 to cover the full spectrum of roles.

1963

WG.1 To meet HLH and ASW requirements. Tandem rotors powered by 4 Gnome H.1600 engines grouped around rear pylon. Gross weight up to 16,216kg; rotor diameter 17.37m; fuselage length 15.54m. 3 crew, up to 33 troops.

WG.3 Light tactical helicopter, 2 x PT6A turboshaft engines, gross weight 3630-4990kg.

WG.4 Single rotor, twin engine medium logistic & ASW project, to carry 24 troops with gross weight 7710kg.

WG.5 3 seat light helicopter, single engined with gross weight 1090kg

1964

WG.7 Suceeded WG.4, gross weight reduced to 5,670kg

WG.13 Refined WG.3 with 3630kg gross weight

1965

WG.11 Modified WG.1 with 3.66m fuselage extension for civil application, 60 passengers, fitted with wings in canard configuration.

WG.12 Succeeded WG.5 design, 4 seats and 1135kg gross weight
 
Re: Westland helicopter projects

The WG.1/11 was dropped in favour of Chinooks for the Army and Sea Kings for the Royal Navy.

WG.4/7 ultimately lost out to the Puma, WG.5/12 to the Gazelle, in the 1967 agreement which launched Puma, Lynx and Gazelle as joint UK/French programmes, with Westland having leadership on Lynx and Aerospatiale having leadership on the other two.
 
Re: Westland helicopter projects

What was the Westland project in HR.144T specification for ultra light helicopter.
 
Just to kick things off ... I thought it'd be useful to compile a WG designation list in one place. overscan covered most of this already.

Can anyone fill gaps? Notably missing are variations on the 6-8 seat tiltrotor and the 1973 study for a naval helicopter with supersonic rotors. Of course, those may have been given numbers in the WE sequence.

Then there is the question of the 1975 WG.25 Mote RPV follow-ons:

- Westland Wisp: Dec 1976, larger version of Mote RPV, 3 prototypes built
- Westland Wideye: 1976/77, further enlarged vers. of Wisp with live feed
- Westland Sharpeye: [Project] 1983 stealth RPV, tailless, counter-rotating rotors
-- aka VTUAV (Vertical Takeoff Unmanned Air Vehicle), mockup/wind tunnel model only

As usual, questions about the designation system also abound. Eg:

* What do Westland designation letters stand for?
-- The pre-Westland Helicopters W prefix is self-evident. And one presumes that WA came from the Westland Aircraft Limited logo. But what about WE and WG? Westland Helicopters was formed in 1961 so do the WE and WG prefixes have something to do with Bristol, Fairey, or Saunders-Roe divisions? Or did all these designs originate with the Yeovil Division?

* Why did some tilt-rotor designs get WE prefixes, while others received WG designations?
 
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Westland Group 'WG' Series Aircraft Designations

WG.1 -- (Project) 1962/63 HLH derived from licenced* V-107, to OR.358
- WG.1: Derived from earlier Westonian Mk.2 studies, May-July 1963
- WG.1: 4 x 1,600 shp R-R H.1600 Gnome turboshafts**
- WG.1: Alt., 3 x 1,600 shp R-R H.1600 Gnome turboshafts
- WG.1: Alt., 2 x 2,700 shp General Electric T64-GE-4 turboshafts
- WG.1: 3 + 33 troops, 35,740 lb MGW, 51' long, dropped in favor of Chinook/Sea King
-- * Licence for the Chinook bought around same time by Agusta-owned Meridionali
-- ** Gnomes grouped in external pairs (in contrast with 'buried' V-107 arrangement)

WG.2 -- (??)

WG.3 -- (Project) 1960 light tactical helicopter (Whirlwind repl.), 2 + 10 troops
- WG.3 layout approx. miniature Sea King - engines above cockpit, sloping fuse.
- WG.3A: 2 x 720 shp P&WC PT6, TO wt 3600 kg, external load to 3000 lb
-- As orig. proposed, PT6s drove mod. Whirlwind gearbox & Belvedere rear rotor
-- http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1974/1974 - 1301.html
- WG.3B: Sycamore gearbox (in place of WG.3A's Whirlwind transmission)
-- NB: WG.3A and WG.3B scaled to fit into RAF Hercules or AW.681 cargo holds*
-- * Requiring folding main rotor blades and/or detachable undercarriage skids
- WG.3C: 2 x 1200 shp R-R Gnome, 15 troops, 5 tons, ext'l load 4000 lb Land Rover
-- WG.3C consid. overpowered; project reverted to PT6, becoming WG.13 (qv)

WG.4 -- (Project) medium logistic & ASW helicopter (Wessex repl.), 2 + 24 troops
- WG.4: 2 x 1200 shp R-R Gnome (??), single rotor, gross weight 17,000 lb.

WG.5 -- [Project] 1963 light multi-purpose 3-seat LOH/'squad carrier' (Scout repl.)
- WG.5: single-engined [PT6?], 2,400 lb; succeeded by 4-seat WG.12 project (qv)

WG.6 -- 1955 Westminster PV military/civil HLH, 2 x 2,920 shp Napier Eland E.229A
-- Westminster based on licensed Sikorsky S-56 rotors, gearbox, & control system
- WG.6: 1956 Westminster Flying Test Rig (with steel-tube fuselage framework)
- WG.6: (Project) 1955, 40 pax civil transport, 100 mi range, cabin mockup built
-- Westminster civil cabin layout: 8 rows of 5 abreast (luggage racks above)
- WG.6: (Project) 1955, flying crane (under-slung loads/pods & outsized cargo)
-- WH.6 flying crane to lift 15,000 lb load, up to fifty-one troops, or 4 x Jeeps
-- http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,11931.0.html

WG.7 -- (Project) Mid-1963 medium military logistic helicopter
- WG.7: single-rotor helicopter to OR.365, developed from WG.4
- WG.7: 2 x (??) shp R-R (??) Gnome, 12,500 lb (??)
- WG.7A - (??) no details
- WG.7B - (??) no details
- WG.7C - (??) no details
- WG.7D - (??) no details
- WG.7E - 14,000 lb, take-off weight
- WG.7F - (??) no details
- WG.7G - 15,500 lb, take-off weight
-- Aérospatiale Puma adopted for this role

WG.8 -- (? Project ?) possibly an enlarged version of the WG.4 project (??)
WG.9 -- (??)
WG.10 - (??)

WG.11 - (Project) 1965 WG.1 derivative transport helicopter with canard wings
- WG.11: 4 x 1,200 shp Rolls-Royce (??) Gnome turboshaft engines*
- WG.11 military version: short canards/wings/fuselage, to NASR.358 trans./ASW
- WG.11 civil version: 60 pax, 12' fuselage extension (comp. with military WG.11)
-- http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1967/1967 - 1335.html
-- * Gnome turboshafts paired on either side of fuselage (as per WG.1 layout)
-- WG.11 abandoned when Chinook chosen for Army/RAF and Sea King for Royal Navy

WG.12 - (Project) 1965 successor to the WG.5 LOH project, 4 seats, 2,500 lb gross
- WG.12 abandoned when Aérospatiale Gazelle chosen instead for British services

WG.13 - 1964, refined WG.3, 8,000 lb. (Whirlwind/Wasp repl.), becomes Lynx
- WG.13: PT6 forward-placed engines, higher cabin, pod-and-boom fuselage
- WG.13D: (following WG.3C) 1965 to GSOR 3335 multipurpose 3 + 7 Army helo
-- WG.13 orig. rotor diameter 49' 4" dictated by avail. engine power (720 shp)
- WG.13Q: utility vers., rear-placed 2 x 770 shp Continental T72,* nose turret
-- * 'Stretched' Astazou (T72 progenitor) considered for added French content
- WG.13R: tandem 2-seat armed escort version, 2 x 770 shp T72s, nose turret
- WG.13S: combined utility/ armed escort version, 2 x T72s, dev. abandoned
-- 1966 WG.13 naval vers. devel. prompts a rotor diameter reduction to 44'
- WG.13T: armed reconnaissance version, 2 x 770 shp Continental T72s
- WG.13U: revised utility vers., 2 x 770 shp T72s, narrower tail boom
- WG.13W: revised civil vers., T72s, narrower tail boom, rounded nose
-- 1967 French Navy req. dictates further rotor diam. reduction to 42'
- WG.13X: revised utility vers., smaller rotor, semi-rigid hub, 2 x BS.360**
-- ** 900 shp Bristol Siddeley BS.360 becomes Rolls-Royce RS.360 then R-R Gem
- WG.13[?]: wheeled maritime vers. for RN FFH/DDH and France's Aéronavale***
--- *** Due to initial Gem limitations, Aéronavale consid. alt. PT6s until 1972
- WG.13(?): (Project) Armée de Terre attack deriv., 30mm gun, low-set wings
-- WG.13 gunship tandem 2-seat, French wanted 3-seater, abandoned Oct 1969
-- http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1968/1968 - 0705.html
-- http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,975.msg124001.html
- WG.13(?): (Project) 1970 PT6-powered vers. considered for N. American sales
-- PT6-powered WG.13 revived 1974 to increase North American sales potential
- WG.13(?): (Project) 1971 12-pax civil vers.**** with 18" cabin stretch
-- **** Stretched civil WG.13 to be in service by 1975, replaced by WG.30 (qv)

- NB: The first WG.13 Lynx (XW835) flew 21 March 1971. All production Lynx appear to have generic WG.13 factory designation without suffix letters (Srs and/or mark numbers being used to distinguish Lynx variants)

WG.14 - (??)

WG.15 - (Project) 197? tilt-wing twin-rotor inter-city airliner

WG.16 - (Project) 197? asymmetrical* 10 ton-lift helicopter crane
- WG.16: Tip-jet driven rotor, empty weight 7,000 lb
-- * Cabin pod offset to port, tail rotor boom offset to starboard

WG.17 - (Project) Further development of WG.11 concept as a compound helicopter
-- WG.17 : Stretched compared with WG.11, multiple powerplants/types
- WG.17A: (??)
- WG.17B: (??)
- WG.17C: (??)
- WG.17D - 138-pax, 4 x GE T64-GE-16 + 2 x BS M45H turbofans, rear ramp
-- WG.17D stretched compared with WG.11, M45H turbofans over wings, buried T64s

WG.18 -- (Project) 19?? Six compound helicopter
- WG.18: Short-range military transport helicopter
- WG.18: 2 x turboshafts, 4 x propeller-turbines

WG.19 - (??)
WG.20 - (??)

WG.21 - (Project) 1970 2-seat ground attack tilt-engine a/c, 2 x turboshafts*
- WG.21: initial design - straight-winged tilt-rotor, under-nose cannon turret
-- WG.21 rotor diameter 37.5 ft, length 41 ft, TO wt 22,000-26,000 lb, 530 kt
-- WG.21 derived from Westland's work on WE-01 6-8 seat tilt-rotor a/c project
- WG.21: later design concept - swept-winged tilt-wing, nose-mounted cannon
-- * 2 x RR Snecma M45 turboshaft (RB.411?) or 5,000 shp Avco Lycoming LTC4V-1
-- http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,324.msg104785.html#msg104785

WG.22 - (Project) tilt-wing VTOL 100-pax intercity airliner, 4 x 9450 shp* turboshafts**
-- * 6,580 shp normal rating, NB: Flight lists 9000 shp, other sources only 7000 shp
-- ** RR RB.411-01 or Lycoming LTC4V-4 turboshaft engines, mounted in pairs
-- NB: RB.411 was the Rolls-Royce version of Snecma M57HA, a M45D turboshaft deriv.

WG.23 - (??)

WG.24 - (Project) 1970 anti-submarine helicopter studies
- WG.24: For Royal Navy's Multi-Role Fleet Helicopter (MRFH)
- WG.24: Various configurations studied; 24,000-32,500 lb AUW
- WG.24 (B1): Single-rotor configuration
- WG.24 (?1): Tandem-rotor configuration
- WG.24 (D1): Lateral twin-rotors configuration
- WG.24 (F1): Tilt-rotors configuration

WG.25 - Mote, 1975 PV reconnaissance RPV
- WG.25: Open-framed, counter-rotating rotors
-- NB: WG.25 seems to be an entire programme, not just Mote - see: reply #19

WG.26 - (Project) 197? Multi-Role Fleet Helicopter study
- WG.26: Eclipsed by WG.31 (SKR) and WG.34 (qv)

WG.27 - (Project) 1973 Single-rotor anti-submarine helicopter
- WG.27: For Royal Navy's Multi-Role Fleet Helicopter (MRFH)
- WG.27: Internal weapons stowage, 28,000 lb AUW

WG.28 - (Project) Royal Navy Sea King Replacement (SKR) studies
-- (??) To NSR.6646 for Sea King Replacement (SKR) study (??)
-- (??) For 1975 MRFH (Multi Role Fleet Helicopter) study (??)

WG.29 - (??)

WG.30 - Westland 30, 1979 22-pax Lynx evol. (orig. WG.30 Super Lynx), 40 built
- WG.30: Lynx dynamics (with longer, 'uncropped' blades) and new fuselage
- WG.30-100: initial prod. version, 2 x 1135 shp R-R Gem Mk 41-1, 14 built.
- WG.30-100-60: Series 160, 2 x 1260 shp R-R Gem 60-3 turboshafts, 24 built.
- WG.30-200: Series 200, 1983, 2 x 1712 shp GE CT7-2B, 1 built (c/n 007)
-- WG.30 TT30: Series 200 14-seat tactical transport derivative
-- WG.30 maritime: 1983 dedicated naval deriv. considered for export
-- http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1983/1983 - 0402.html
- WG.30-300: Series 300, 1986, 2 x 1712 shp GE CT7-2B, 1 Series 100 conv.
-- Series 300: 2 x CT7 or RTM 322, 5-blade BERP rotor, glass cockpit
-- WG.30 TT300: 1986 30-300 prototype conv. to 17-seat tactical trans., G-17-22
- WG.30-400: [Project] Series 400, R-R/Turbomeca RTM322 turboshafts, not built

WG.31 - (Project) 1977-78 single-rotor anti-submarine helicopter
- WG.31: To NSR.6646 for Sea King Replacement (SKR)*
- WG.31: Also mentioned as early '80s British Airways Heliliner study
- WG.31: 24,000 lb AUW- WG.31: 2 x Lycoming PLT-27B** turboshafts
-- ** The PLT-27 devel. for US competition won by GE T700
- WG.31: 2 x Alt., Turbomeca Turmo 1800s***
-- *** Presumably a ref. to the 1,800 hp Turmo VI

WG.32 - (Project) 1973-76 Supersonic Rotor Helicopter (SSRH)
- WG.32: Various SSRH naval role layout/arrangement studies
- WG.32: Single-engined variant (no other details)
- WG.32: Twin-engined, twin contra-rotating blades
-- WG.32: Utility type (??), inverted V tail, 25,000 lb AUW (??)
- WG.32: Twin-engined, twin contra-rotating blades
-- WG.32: Transport, rear ramp, twin fins, (??) lb AUW
- WG.32: 3-engined, 3-bladed contra-rotating (BERP-type) rotors
-- WG.32: Inverted V tail, engines grouped in tail 33,500 lb AUW
-- https://hushkit.net/2018/11/29/the-supersonic-rotor-helicopter/

WG.33 - (Project) 1977 2-seat light Air Observation Post (AOP)
- WG.33: 2 m circular-section fuselage, 5 m diam. coaxial rotors
- WG.33: 1 x 200 shp Plessey Meon turbine* (F-104S APU)
-- * Alternative powerplant: 1-or-2-cylinder piston engine
- WG.33: 1977 mockup 1977, entire project abandoned in 1979
-- http://www.secretprojects.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,605.msg4505.html
-- http://aviastar.org/helicopters_eng/west_wg33.php
-- http://helimuseum.com/heli.php?ident=wg33

WG.34 - (Project) 1977 SKR study to SR(S) 6646, eclipsed by EH101
- WG.34 : Evol. of 1973 WG.27 (qv) project (SKR ASW helicopter)
- WG.34 : 2 x (later 3) Rolls-Royce/Turbomeca RTM321 turbines
- WG.34 : 3 x General Electric T700-GE-401, Oct 1977-Oct 1980
- WG.34 : All-Up Weight 26,500 lb (later 27,000 lb)
- WG.34A: WG.34 Concept Demonstrator Program (incl. prototype)
- WG.34A: Mock-up built
- WG.34A: Transmission testbed (using elements of WG.30, qv)
- WG.34A: Dynamic Test Vehicle (DTV), to fly by April 1981*
-- October 1980: DTV scrapped when only partially completed
-- * MoD planned operational WG.34 on ASW by the late 1980s
- WG.34 : Canc. in favour of 1979 Anglo-Italian MoU, led to EH101**
-- ** GE regarded WG.34 DTV as the prototype T700-powered EH101
-- Three-Engine Control System for the Prototype EH-101 Helicopter
-- http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1978/1978 - 3004.html
-- http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1979/1979 - 2276.html
WG.35-WG.36 - (??)

WG.37 - (Project) Advanced Combat Helicopter; aka 'Warrior'
- WG.37: 2-seat tandem attack helicopter; co-axial lift offset rotor
- WG.37: Twin-booms with shrouded pusher fans

WG.38 - (Project) Twin endplate-style tail rotor deriv. of WG.34

WG.39-WG.41 - (??)

WG.42 - (Project) January 1983 Light Battlefield Helicopter concept
- WG.42: 2-seat,* singled-engined, armed helicopter under 4 tonnes
- WG.42: Meant to meet requirements published as FINABEL 19.A.12
-- * Side-by-side in armour-protected, dome-topped, cockpits

WG.43 - (??)

WG.44 - (Project) Attack helicopter from existing research/tech*
- WG.44: Eclipsed by WG.45 (which better matched GST 3971)
- WG.44: (Single engine option) 1 x 2,300 shp Step 1 RTM 322-03
- WG.44: (Twin-engined option) 2 x 2,100 shp RTM 322-01s
- WG.44: Reduced RCS fuselage design; retract. weapon pods
-- * Lynx 3 rotor system; BERP 3; WG30-300 interm. gear box

WG.45 - (Project) 1985 attack helicopter using original dynamics*
- WG.45: Tandem 2-seat; fixed tricycle u/c; mast-mounted sight
-- * In contrast with the WG.44; 5- or 6-bladed BERP rotor blades
- WG.45 (I) : 2 x 2,300 shp RTM 322-03s; 6-bladed main rotor**
- WG.45 (I) : Single-engined also proposed; engine type (??)
- WG.45 (II): 2 x 2,100 shp RTM 322-01s; 5-bladed main rotor**
-- ** Rotor diameter was 14.5 m (versus 12.8 m for the WG.44)
- WG.45: 1 x 12.7 mm GECAL; 8 x EMDG TRIGAT LR; unspec. SAM
- WG.45: Rejected as too complex/expensive comp. with WG.44

WG.46 - (??)

WG.47: (Project) 1986 attack helicopter; min. RCS/heat signature
- WG.47 : Tandem 2-seat (in two distinct canopy configurations)*
-- * Conventional flat-sided & tiny, low-glint individual canopies
- WG.47A: Conv'l tail rotor design; single, long cockpit canopy
- WG.47B: 2 x canted tail rotors; individual, faceted canopies

WG.48 - (??) ...
 
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I am not sure about this info,


as I heard;


WG.8 was a large version project of WG.4.
 
Apophenia, you've done an amazing job! Thank you so much for this.
 
Cheers Stéphane :)

hesham said:
I am not sure about this info, as I heard; WG.8 was a large version project of WG.4.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Thanks Hesham. If true, Westland had single-rotor project between the WG.4 and WG.6.
 
Westland WG.33 mockup, 1977 (manned Wisp development, 2-seat light AOP., 2m circular fuselage, 5m coaxial rotors)
 

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Does anyone know why no pictures or impressions
of WG 4, 7 and 8 have ever appeared. Were they
simply based on the WG6 Westminster?
I am intrigued by the idea of a British helicopter
for my what-if RAF 1975 orbat.
 
Some updates/corrections:

WG.1 - tandem-rotor helicopter to OR.358, developed from earlier Westonian Mk.2 studies, May-July 1963. 4x H.1600 Gnome turboshafts (alternative studies 3x H.1600, 2x GE T64-4)

WG.7 - single-rotor helicopter to OR.365, developed from WG.4, 2x Gnome turboshafts, mid-1963.
-WG.7A - ?
-WG.7B - ?
-WG.7C - ?
-WG.7D - ?
-WG.7E - 14,000lb Take-Off Weight
-WG.7F - ?
-WG.7G - 15,500lb Take-Off Weight

WG.24 - Anti-submarine helicopter studies for Multi-Role Fleet Helicopter (MRFH), configurations include single-rotor (B1), tandem-rotor, lateral twin-rotors (D1) and tilt-rotors (F1), 24,000-32,500lb AUW, 1970

WG.27 - Single-rotor anti-submarine helicopter for Multi-Role Fleet Helicopter (MRFH), 28,000lb AUW, internal weapons stowage, 1973

WG.31 - Single-rotor anti-submarine helicopter for NSR.6646 for Sea King Replacement (SKR), 24,000lb AUW, 2x Lycoming PLT-27B or Turmo 1800, 1977-78

WG.32 - Supersonic Rotor Helicopter, 25,000lb AUW, 1973-76

WG.34 - development of WG.27 SKR, 26,500lb (later 27,000lb) AUW, 3x T700-GE-T401, October 1977-October 1980
-WG.34A Dynamic Test Vehicle (DTV), 3x T700-GE-700, transmission testbed using elements of WG.30, mock-up and prototype built but scrapped incomplete October 1980
 
Apophenia said:
The pre-Westland Helicopters W prefix is self-evident. And one presumes that WA came from the Westland Aircraft Limited logo. But what about WE and WG? Westland Helicopters was formed in 1961 so do the WE and WG prefixes have something to do with Bristol, Fairey, or Saunders-Roe divisions? Or did all these designs originate with the Yeovil Division?
Click to expand...
For a while after the merger of the British helicopter industry into Westland in the early 1960s, you see material published by the various divisions of the ‘Westland Group’ such as Bristol Division, Westland Group. As the W.G. designation system started at this time, and incorporated projects from the various divisions, then I would speculate that W.G. originally stood for Westland Group.
 
Hood said:
WG.24 - Anti-submarine helicopter studies for Multi-Role Fleet Helicopter (MRFH), configurations include single-rotor (B1), tandem-rotor, lateral twin-rotors (D1) and tilt-rotors (F1), 24,000-32,500lb AUW, 1970

WG.27 - Single-rotor anti-submarine helicopter for Multi-Role Fleet Helicopter (MRFH), 28,000lb AUW, internal weapons stowage, 1973

WG.31 - Single-rotor anti-submarine helicopter for NSR.6646 for Sea King Replacement (SKR), 24,000lb AUW, 2x Lycoming PLT-27B or Turmo 1800, 1977-78

WG.32 - Supersonic Rotor Helicopter, 25,000lb AUW, 1973-76

WG.34 - development of WG.27 SKR, 26,500lb (later 27,000lb) AUW, 3x T700-GE-T401, October 1977-October 1980
-WG.34A Dynamic Test Vehicle (DTV), 3x T700-GE-700, transmission testbed using elements of WG.30, mock-up and prototype built but scrapped incomplete October 1980
Click to expand...

Please my dear Apophenia add those designations to the list,also;

WG.16;

and from Putnam book,here is a WG.18 ;
 

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The Westland 'WR' series designations that I known of are nested within the larger WG.25 remotely-piloted helicopter project. Were all 'WR' designations part of Westland's WG.25 series?

We know that the WG.25 can be traced back to 1968 when WHL Future Projects began assessing battlefield observation system - including unmanned rotary-wing types. In 1970, Westland formed a new Future Projects team at Yeovil under Reginald Austin (WHL Head of Project Office) and David Wright (backed by Tony Ives and Mike Breward). This team was intended to focus on the design and development of remotely piloted helicopters (RPH). This was aimed at what became the General Staff Target 3494 for a Multi-Role Unmanned Airborne Surveillance and Target-Acquisition System (MRUASTAS).

GST 3494 became GSR 3494 - a General Staff Requirement - before leading to the British Army's Supervisor programme. But, in the meantime, Professor Austin's team were refining their concepts. The original plan for WG.25 was for a turbine-powered co-axial RPH. This air vehicle was considered 'semi-disposable' but its chances of survival would be enhanced through its small size and low noise signature. A reduced-scale flying testbed was created to test the viability of the co-axial concept - this emerged in 1975 as the WR 05 Mote.

The Westland 'WR' Series Designations

Frustratingly, WR 05 is the first 'WR' series designation that I have. It can be reasonably assumed that there were four design iterations considered prior to building the WR 05 Mote. But we have absolutely no evidence for such designations. Nor do we have any strong suggestion that designations of any kind were even applied to those earlier concepts.

The challenge of figuring out the 'WR' series is further compounded by not knowing what that 'R' stood for. If 'R' was for 'Remotely-piloted', we could likely assume that all 'WR' designations would be nested within the larger WG.25 project. On the other hand, if 'R' was for something more generic - like 'Rotor' or 'Research' - does this imply that the 'WR' series might extended to everything devised by Reg Austin's Future Projects group? [1]

All this continues to be a puzzle. I'll list the obvious 'WR' series designations below but am hoping that other members will be able to fill in gaps or otherwise add to the list.

____________________________________________________

[1] If so, should we be seeking out a 'WR' designation for the manned WG.33 project? And what about the barrel-shaped WR 08 replacement project? Was that given a 'WR 08/?' designation? Or a new number? Or was the Phoenix programme decided before the WR 08 replacement design even emerged?

____________________________________________________

Westland Helicopters 'WR' Aircraft Designations

WR 01 - WR 04 - (??) hypothetical designations

WR 05 Mote - 1975 WG.25 Remotely-Piloted Helicopter
- WR 05 : Private venture 'Proof-of-Concept' demonstrator
- WR 05 : 2 x 1.4 hp Veeco engines; rotor diameter 1.5 m
- WG.25: Open-framed body with counter-rotating rotors*
-- * Coaxial, 2-bladed, teetering rotors with mass balances

WR 06 Wisp: Dec 1976 short-range surveillance RPH; x 3
- WR 06 : Enlarged development of the WG.25 Mote RPV
- WR 06 : Power: 2 x 5 hp Korba 2-strokes; rotor diam. (??) m
- WR 06 : Saucer-shaped; MoD Conga programme demonstrator

WR 07 Wideye - 1978 quasi-operational WG.25 w/ live feed
- WR 07 : Full-scale demonstrator; MoD Supervisor programme
- WR 07 : Egg-shaped RPH; RAM covering on fuselage pod
- WR 07 : 2 x 18 hp Weslake 274-5s;* rotor diameter 2.3m
- WR 07 : Stabilised daylight TV; command and video links
- WR 07 : First PV demo prototype; flown in August 1978
- WR 07 : Second PV demo prototype; flown in April 1979
-- * Each engine drives 1 x rotor via toothed belts and dry gears
-- * Weslake Aeromarine's Stihl chainsaw 2-stroke HO2 derivative
-- NB: Photos show 'open' rotor hubs; not drawing's shrouded

WR 08 - (Project) Further radar signature reduction; mockup
- WR-08 : Relied on shaping rather than on RAM materials
- WR-08 : Wind tunnel testing of conically-bodied mockup
- WR-08 : Reduced RCS but w/ poor aerodynamic qualities
- WR (?) : (Project?) WR 08 evolution or replacement (??)
- WR (?) : 'Barrel'-shaped fuselage pod rather than conical
- WR (?) : To GST/GSR 3494; MoD Supervisor programme

WR 09 Sharpeye - (Project) 1981 tailless stealth RPH
- WR 09 : Directional fuselage; retains counter-rotating rotors
- WR 09 : To GST 3846; under MoD Phoenix programme
- WR 09 : 2 x 'model aircraft engines'; rotor diameter 2.3m
-- Sharpeye mechanical components taken from Wideye
- WR 09 : Mockup/wind tunnel model; abandoned 1983
-- Mockup: https://helimuseum.com/heli.php?ident=sharpeye

____________________________________________________


Wind tunnel testing proved that the shape chosen for Sharpeye was stable and exhibited low drag. However, no further work was done after March 1983 when Westland staff downed tools on RPH research. The British Army had announced its preference for the decidedly non-stealthy GEC-Marconi Phoenix - a fixed-wing drone developed with Flight Refuelling Ltd.

For now, I am assuming that WR 09 is the end of the line for 'WR' series designations ... but I'd love to be proven wrong :)

____________________________________________________

Outside Sources

Westland Wideye, M.J. Breward, BSc (Assistant Chief Designer), Westland Helicopters Limited, Fifth European Rotorcraft and Powered Lift Aircraft Forum, Sept 1979, Amsterdam.
-- https://dspace-erf.nlr.nl/server/api/core/bitstreams/61f1990a-7807-4ac3-b239-1c78368307a0/content

Westland and the Attack Helicopter – from Lynx to Apache, Dr R. V. Smith, FRAeS and J. P. Graham, FRAeS, Journal of Aeronautical History Paper 2020/05
-- https://www.aerosociety.com/media/16819/paper-2020-05-smith-westland-attack-helicopters2.pdf
 

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