It primarily served with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm in anti-submarine and search and rescue roles.

It was also exported to other countries, and the Whirlwind was succeeded by the turbine powered Westland Wessex (based on the Sikorsky H-34) which was developed from the H-19/Whirlwind.

While a Sikorsky-built pattern aircraft was flown by Westland in June 1951, converting the design to meet British standards (including the provision of a revised main-rotor gearbox), was time-consuming,[1] and the first prototype British aircraft, registered G-AMJT, powered by the 600 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-40 Wasp did not fly until August 1953.

The Gnome featured an early computer controlled fuel system that removed variations in engine power and made for much easier handling by the pilot.

[9] The model numbers for the US-built evaluation models were Austria[12][13] Brazil[14][15][16] Brunei[14] France[5] Ghana[17] Iran[17] Italy[17] Kuwait[18] Nigeria[19] Qatar[20] United Kingdom[21][22] Yugoslavia 19 helicopters [23][24] United Kingdom[25][26][27] Data from Westland Aircraft since 1915 [62]General characteristics Performance Armament In the Beatles first film, A Hard Day's Night, the group is seen flying away from the concert venue at the end of the film on the BEA Whirlwind, G-ANFH.

[64] The character of Harold the Helicopter from The Railway Series and Thomas & Friends is based on a Westland Whirlwind with fitted pontoons.