Westland Lynx HAS.2, 702Sqn Fleet Air Arm,

HMS AVENGER, 1981

Airfix, with modeldecal markings. Scratch built Sea Skuas on Airwaves pylons. Link to Build Page

Westland's Lynx was the main UK contribution to the 1960s UK-French agreement to build a common family of helicopters, resulting in the Puma, Gazelle and Lynx. Originally intended as a utility battlefield helicopter, its Naval variant has been hugely succcessful, serving with the Navies of the UK, France, Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Norway (Coast Guard), Portugal, South Korea, Nigeria, Malaysia, Oman, Portugal, Quatar, South Africa, Thailand, Argentina, Pakistan and Brazil. Algeria expects to take delivery of a new Super Lynx fleet later this year (2009).

Did you know?

1. The original Lynx tail rotor was optimised for speed, with its top blade rotating against the direction of advance. This gave an approaching Lynx a distinctively loud banging sound as the tail rotor tips exceeded the speed of sound! More recent Lynx models have the direction of rotation reversed to give greater control whilst in the hover (the blade now rotates against the main rotor downwash), which is better suited for ship-borne operations.

2. The Lynx still holds the world speed record for a helicopter. It was also one of the first helicopters able to loop the loop, thanks to its rigid rotor system.

3. Parts of the Lynx tail assembly were apparently produced by convicts serving "hard labour" within the French penal system.

Westland Lynx HAS.3, 815 Sqn Fleet Air Arm,

HMS EXETER 1984

Airfix, out the box. Torpedoes converted to Sting Rays.

Westland Lynx HAS.3 ICE, 815 Sqn Fleet Air Arm,

HMS ENDURANCE, 2004

Airfix, with scratch Orange Crop antennae, scratch BERP Blades and scratch blade fold/handling frames Link to Build Page

Westland Lynx HMA.8, 815 Sqn Fleet Air Arm,

HMS RICHMOND 2004.

Airfix Mk3 with Airwaves conversion (resin nose,tail, weapons pylons & BERP blades) and Italeri Sea Skua missiles

Westland Lynx AH.7, 847 Sqn Fleet Air Arm,

HMS OCEAN (Royal Marines 3 Commando Brigade) 2003

Airfix AH.1/HMA.8 hybrid, with scratch countermeasures fit, sights, TOW missiles and decals

Agusta Westland Lynx HMA.8, 702 Sqn Fleet Air Arm,

Black Cats Display Team, Yeovilton 2009.

HobbyBoss with Model Alliance decals

Agusta Westland (Leonardo) Lynx HMA.8, 815 Sqn Fleet Air Arm,

HMS Somerset 2010.

Hobbyboss with scratch additions and Xtradecal markings

Agusta Westland Super Sea Lynx Mk.88A,

MFG-3 Deutsch Navy MarineFlieger, Flugplatz Nordholz, 2006.

Airfix with HobbyBoss decals

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The Westland Lynx……….

Early Helos Wessex Lynx Sea King Small Helos EH101 Chinook Puma Miscellaneous