Harold the Helicopter from Thomas the Tank Engine was clearly inspired by the Whirlwinds used for BEA's short-lived airport shuttle from Waterloo Station in London. Floats were fitted because the risk of the single-engined helicopters ending up in the Thames was somewhat real. Photo from: Westland

Scheduled passenger helicopter services between Waterloo and Heathrow began on 25 July 1955. Received from Westland two months earlier, G-ANUK operated the first flight. Pontoons were fitted to the S-55s because of the riverside location of the heliport. Even if all eight trips on a day were sold out, BEA still made a loss of over £300 and the flights were terminated on 31 May 1956. Photo from: Nationaal Archief (Netherlands)