Written off on 17 december 1969 when operating from HMS Endurance. It ran out of fuel after carrying external loads (barrels of jet fuel) between Port Salvador, East Falklands and Foam Creek for two hours. It ditched and the floatation gear was deployed but it rolled to port. The four crew swam 80 yards to shore. After 12 hours floating inverted it beached at Sheila Creek, Port Salvador. It was then towed to the settlement where it became a children's plaything. During the Falklands War, Argentine pilots reported its presence to higher authorities who thought it had been used to insert the SAS.

Written off on 31 Aug 2002 at Lythe Creek, California, following loss of control while fire-fighting.

The first prototype of the S-55, first flown on 10 November 1949. The S-55 was the first successful single-rotor helicopter capable of transporting significant loads. The key was to put the big piston engine in the nose, and the changeable payload and fuel in the centre of gravity. Initially 49-2012 had a half horizontal tailplane with endplate on this side instead of the two canted fins seen here. Print stamped June 1952.

Delived to the RAF as Whirlwind HAR.2 XJ727 in 1956. Converted to an HAR.4 in 1962 and an HAR.10 in 1963/4. To Halton for use as ground trainer 8661M in 1980. To RAF Manstion History Museum for parts in 1998 then to Richborough, Kent in 2007 and Thetford - Combat Paintball Park, Norfolk by 2018.

To GI March 1967, allocated maintenance serial A2571. SOC September 1967. To IWM, Duxford by road 13th June 1974. Various loans; to RAF Leconfield October 1990 as GI, allocated 9050M. Scrapped early 2001.

Delivered to the Royal Navy as XL839 in 1958. Used as ground trainer A2665 at Lee-on-Solent from 1977. To the Fleet Air Air Museum, Yeovilton in 1978 and used as a travelling exhibit then to Lee-on-Solent in 1982 as a fire trainer. Burnt and destroyed in 1984.

First flew as Whirlwind HAR4 XD779 then reserialled as XJ409 before delivery to the RAF in 1954. Converted to an HAR10 in 1964. Preserved at the Wales Aircraft Museum, Cardiff from 1979. Moved to Grangetown in 1991 then to Maes Artro Village, Llanbedr in 1994. Probably scrapped when it closed in 2005.

Location should be the West 30th Street Heliport, which New York Airways used before 1960. Photo from: Smithsonian Institution

Mishap in the Malayan jungle. Serial WV195 readable, code G of No 848 Sqn confirmed. Ex BuNo 130188, supplied to Britain as early as November 1952 to fight communist rebels in Malaysia. Repaired after this accident. Sent back to Britain in 1957, but retired in 1958 and burnt in 1963 for an instructional filming. Photo by: Harrison Forman / University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

To our surprise the black S-55 in this nice photo is an early YH-19, one of two tested in Korea. Perhaps the helo is seen in its last hours, since Joe Baugher's website reports: 'With 3rd ARS, crash landed in mudflats near Inchon, South Korea May 2, 1952 after engine failed while returning from evacuation mission. All 3 crew survived and were rescued.' The helicopter did not survive. Photo from: National Archives at College Park, Maryland

Delivered to the USAF as 52-7578 in 1954. To Venezuela as 4BHR1 in 1963. Repainted as 4AHR1 by 2004.

Igor Sikorsky arrived from his Bridgeport, Connecticut factory in style for a luncheon. Sikorsky chief test pilot Jimmie Viler flew a display. The landing spot is now occupied by the Museum of Science's parking garage. N410A was apparently used as a demonstrator and was delivered to the Argentine navy in 1959. Photo by: Edmund Mitchell / Boston Public Library

Another shot of OO-SHA, seen this time at the Lille heliport near Flandres railway station. The Brussels - Lille helicopter service was first flown on 5 August 1953. Photo from: Sabena

Assigned HMS Protector

32 Squadron Based at Northolt. Delivered on 03 Nov 1954 as a HAR3. Converted to a HAR10 on 28 Nov 1962. To the UK civil register as G-BKHB on 25 Aug 1982. Cancelled 15 Jun 1988 and exported to the US register as N7013H. DBR at Whatfield Aug 1988.

Operated by 32 Squadron. One of two communications squadrons based at Northolt. The Whirlwind was a license built development of the Sikorsky S-55 / H-19. Delivered to the RAF as XP328 on 07 Nov 1961. Transferred to the UK civil register as G-BKHC on 25 Aug 1982. W/O on 22 Aug 1988 when it crashed on landing at Whatfield. Remains to North Somercotes, Lincs @2020.

Preserved at the E.E.S.T. Nº 7 "T.R.Q" or Escuela de Educación Secundaria Técnica Nº7 "Taller Regional Quilmes" (Technical Secondary School #7 "Regional Workshop Quilmes").

Ex G-BAMH, XG588. Later displayed at East Midlands Aeropark in RAF yellow SAR markings as XG588.