The Brantly B.2 first flew in 1953 and had a simplified the rotor head, with flapping hinges at the end of aerodynamically-faired stub arms that reduced vibration. The drive from the main gearbox did away with the usual rotor mast, resulting in a very low rotor disc and low centre of gravity and so reduced the risk of a roll-over during takeoff or landing. Improvements to the basic design eventually led to the B.2B, which introduced a new cockpit canopy, new metal rotor blades and an uprated fuel-injected 180 hp Lycoming piston engine. The production of both versions totalled 334 units.

Ex G-ASXE. "Flown" by James Bond in the 1967 movie 'You Only Live Twice'. Registration cancelled on 14 May 2002 on sale to the USA as N2052Y. This registration was cancelled on 15 October 2012, and the helicopter is now preserved in the Air Museum in Västerås, Sweden.

Registered as G-ASXE in 1964, G-WASP in 1977 then N2052Y in 2002. Preserved at Västerås Flygmuseum Västerås, Sweden by 2006.

The registration was canceled from the US register in October 2012.

Registered owner: Western Air (Scotland) Partners Ltd.