'London's first heliport opens this afternoon at Battersea.' The site was at first run by Westland.

Part of the external display at the FAA Museum. Current in 2022 with the FAA Museum Reserve Collection in Cobham Hall.

XP345 initially served the CFS at Terhill in camouflage, later gaining the yellow overall scheme for SAR work. It is now exhibited by the Yorkshire Helicopter Preservation Group in the markings carried after being returned to camouflage for service at RAF Akrotiri with the UN Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus. Displayed outdoors at the 2018 RAF 100 airshow at Cosford, this Whirlwind had the distinction of making the final flight of the type by the RAF - on 1st March 1982 it was the last to land of a formation of Whirlwinds in a flypast at Akrotiri to mark the disbandment of 'B' Flight, 84 Sqdn.

The South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum houses some very rare helicopters, albeit in cramped conditions making photography difficult. Only the ninth Whirlwind to be built by Westland, XA870 first flew in May 1954 and was initially allocated for RN service in the Far East but was found to be unsuitable. It then spent much of its service life in these colours aboard HMS Protector and was notable for the rescue of scientists from Roux Island in Antarctica in 1956. A few days after taking this shot I discovered the wrapper from the 1960s Airfix kit of XA870 during a clear-out, long since forgotten!

XP330 and XP328 setting off on a farewell flight prior to disbandment of the 21 Sqn flight at RAF Benson in January 1976. They were fitted as VIP transports with 5 Britannia seats in the cabin along with carpet and trim/insulation. XP330 was shortly afterwards sent to the Board of Trade Fire School at Stansted and has since moved to Durham/Tees Valley Fire School and just about survives today (Nov 22). XP328 is at North Somercotes in Lincolnshire and is a hulk.

Withdrawn from flying duties in 1967 and used for several years as an instructional airframe at RNEC Manadon, this Whirlwind was moved to Yeovilton in 1976 with the intention that it be preserved in the FAA Museum. However this never happened and it was scrapped in 1988.

Caught in the process of being made to represent a Mil Mi-24, which was intended to be used in a promotional film. Acquired by Bofors in 1987 for use as a target at their base in Sweden, and destroyed there in 1988.

This aircraft was operating from HMS Protector during 1966/67 season. Protector was enroute from Montevideo to Falkland Islands February 10th 1967

This Soko-built S-55-5 was taken on charge by the Yugoslav Air Forces as serial 11714 in Dec-1965. On 02-Sep-1974 it flew to the Muzej Vazduhoplovstva Beograd to be displayed. The museum gives the cn as WA9-10-2319.

'To be used for experiments in Civil Defence reconnaissance and communications.' The Civil Defence organisation was to take care of affected areas after a nuclear attack.

Code 920 was allocated in Sept 1963

Written off on 9 October 1968 in a forced landing in a field near Weymouth. Although it was repaired at Fleetlands it never flew again, and it was eventually preserved by the Royal Australian Navy Museum in Nowra, NSW, where it has been since April 1994. The Varsity behind is WJ943/S, and must have been a challenge to land on Plymouth's short grass runway! It was struck off charge in 1976, and was burnt on the RAF Valley fire dump.

One of several aircraft resident at Lee-on-Solent with the Air Engineering School.

First flew 18th July 1962, taken on charge 1st August 1962. To Cyprus Sept.1983 as 8794M but brought back to the UK and stored 1985. Eventually went to the Gatwick Aviation Museum in July 1988 and is reported to have gone from there by June 2013 but with no details as to fate or whereabouts.

Previously XJ727 with 2 FTS, coded 'L', this Whirlwind was retired to No.1 SoTT at Halton for ground instructional use in 1980.

Delivered to the Royal Navy in 1958. Seen here, based at HMS Fulmar, RN Lossiemouth, on static display at the 1971 Lossiemouth Airshow. Scrapped at Middle Wallop in 1998.

Originally built as a Whirlwind HAS7, f/f 24th October 1958. Delivered to FAA 8th December 1958. Converted to Whirlwind HAR9 by Westland Jan.1965-Feb.1966. Allocated to the flight aboard the Antarctic patrol ship HMS Protector by July 1966 (hence the penguin symbol displayed on the aircraft) to October 1966. Eventually to Predannack by December 1980 and ended its days there in 1993.

This was how XK911 had returned after its visit to the Glastonbury festival. The friendly Whirlwind had become a monstrous carnivorous helicopter ;-)

Flown to Catterick Fire School on 2 November 1981 for "ground instruction" as 8720M. It had perished by 1984.