Contact | Advertising | Copyright & Disclaimer
Site map | About

Saunders-Roe W.14 Skeeter helicopter

Choose unit system:

Specifications Comment this helicopter
Picture W14_Skeeter
General
Manufacturer Saunders-Roe
Type W.14 Skeeter
Introduced 10/1/1956
In production? No
Units produced 77
Price US $ 0.00
Dimensions
Overall Length 39 ft
Length 25.6 ft
Height 9.8 ft
Width 0 ft
   
   
Description

The Skeeter W.14 is the original variant of the legendary Saunders-Roe Skeeter scout and training helicopter.

The Skeeter first took flight in 1948 and was officially introduced in 1956.

Saunders-Roe were not in fact the ones who started the Skeeter project, in fact it was the Cuervo Autogiro Company that started what was originally the W.14 Cierva.

The W.14 was intended as a military light observation craft and was powered by a single piston-engine. It seated only two occupants and its air-cooled Jameson FF-1 produced 110 horsepower.

The design of the Skeeter is conventional, with a three-bladed main and anti-torque rotor. It was fitted with a fixed tricycle landing gear design.

The Skeeter has the unique distinction of being the first ever helicopter adopted by the British Army Air Corps.

The development of the Skeeter was however quite protracted, spanning 10 years in total.

Early models had many severe problems, such as pronounced ground resonance in the W.14 Skeeter 2, which directly followed the W.14 original model.

A later variant, the Skeeter 6, was ordered in quantity by the British Army. In total they asked for 64 units. These were then re-designated AOP.12.

Many military helicopter pilots in the UK would cut their teeth in a Skeeter, given its role at the RAF Central Flying School.

The Skeeter was quite widely used and found a home not just with the British Army and RAF, but also with the German army and navy.

Advertisement
Design features
  • Developed by J. G. Weir (hence W.14) at the Cierva Autogiro Company
  • Fixed tricycle landing gear
  • Steel tube fuselage structure
  • Main rotor made of metal spars with wooden ribs and a fabric skin
  • Wooden tail rotor blades
Description

The Skeeter W.14 is the original variant of the legendary Saunders-Roe Skeeter scout and training helicopter.

The Skeeter first took flight in 1948 and was officially introduced in 1956.

Saunders-Roe were not in fact the ones who started the Skeeter project, in fact it was the Cuervo Autogiro Company that started what was originally the W.14 Cierva.

The W.14 was intended as a military light observation craft and was powered by a single piston-engine. It seated only two occupants and its air-cooled Jameson FF-1 produced 110 horsepower.

The design of the Skeeter is conventional, with a three-bladed main and anti-torque rotor. It was fitted with a fixed tricycle landing gear design.

The Skeeter has the unique distinction of being the first ever helicopter adopted by the British Army Air Corps.

The development of the Skeeter was however quite protracted, spanning 10 years in total.

Early models had many severe problems, such as pronounced ground resonance in the W.14 Skeeter 2, which directly followed the W.14 original model.

A later variant, the Skeeter 6, was ordered in quantity by the British Army. In total they asked for 64 units. These were then re-designated AOP.12.

Many military helicopter pilots in the UK would cut their teeth in a Skeeter, given its role at the RAF Central Flying School.

The Skeeter was quite widely used and found a home not just with the British Army and RAF, but also with the German army and navy.

- Advertisement -
Design features:
  • Developed by J. G. Weir (hence W.14) at the Cierva Autogiro Company
  • Fixed tricycle landing gear
  • Steel tube fuselage structure
  • Main rotor made of metal spars with wooden ribs and a fabric skin
  • Wooden tail rotor blades
Performance
Persons 2
Max. Range 260 mi
Cruise Speed 106 mph
Max. Speed 109 mph
Max. rate of Climb 1150 ft/min
HOGE ceiling 0 ft
Service Ceiling 12800 ft
Gross Weight 2350 lb
Empty Weigt 1750 lb
Useful Load 600 lb
Dynamic system
Fuel Capacity 0 gallons
Number of Engines 1
Engine Type Piston
Engine Code de Havilland Gipsy Major 140
Horse Power 215
Rotorhead Fully articulated
Number of rotorblades 3
Rotor Diameter 32 ft
Number of tail rotorblades 2
Tailrotor Diameter 6 ft
Blueprints & model
Manufacturer Website manufacturer..
- Advertisements -



2 Comments

ItemInfoText
1  Dave Currie

Wednesday, June 28, 2017 9:58 AM

The blueprint shows a Westland Scout rather than the Skeeter!
2  HeliStart

Sunday, April 8, 2018 10:22 AM

Hi Dave,

You are right. The blueprint has been updated.

Thanks

Page: 1 

Do you want to comment the Saunders-Roe W.14 Skeeter helicopter?

Comments are disabled.



Best Sellers

1: (Book) Cyclic and Collective
2: (Book) Principles of Helicopter Flight
2: (Book) Learning to fly helicopters
4: Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick
5: Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals

[ Log In ]