The concept of the WG-13

Extract

After the merging of the British helicopter industry under the Westland banner in early 1960, the three larger constituent parts continued on a semi-autonomous basis putting into service such aircraft as the Wessex, Belvedere and Wasp. Future thinking was still contained within the separate groups with activities related principally to the Westminster, Bristol 194 and the Rotodyne. All three of these projects had merit but were in competition and obviously could not all continue. In the event, however, all were unfortunately abandoned and in 1963 the Group's project activities were centralised at Yeovil. The first task of this new Project Group was to attempt to make proposals for a rational range of future products particularly with respect to the future requirements of our major customer—the British Armed Forces.