Saunders-Roe Skeeter
Price : £POA
Aircraft Information
REG – XL812 / G-SARO
About XL812
- Type: Saunders-Roe Skeeter AOP.12 (Air Observation Post, a military scout and training variant).
- Military Service: It was delivered to the British Army Air Corps (AAC) in March 1959. It served until 1967, including a period with No.651 Squadron and later with No. 656 Squadron in Germany (British Army on the Rhine – BAOR).
- Civil Registration: After its military service, it was at one point registered as G-SARO (a nod to the manufacturer, Saunders-Roe), and underwent restoration to a flying condition in the late 1970s. This civil registration was cancelled in 2010 as it was no longer airworthy.
- Current Status: XL812 is now part of the Historic Army Aircraft Flight (HAAF), based at the Army Aviation Centre, Middle Wallop, Hampshire, UK. It is used for static display (meaning it does not fly), having last flown in 2006.
About the Saunders-Roe Skeeter
- Historical Significance: The Skeeter holds the distinction of being the first helicopter to enter service with the British Army Air Corps (AAC), starting in 1957.
- Manufacturer: Developed originally by the Cierva Autogiro Company as the Cierva W.14, the project was taken over and produced by Saunders-Roe (Saro).
- Role: It was a two-seat helicopter used primarily for Air Observation Post (AOP) duties (scouting and artillery spotting) and training.
- Powerplant: It was powered by a single De Havilland Gipsy Major piston engine.
- Legacy: The Skeeter proved the viability of small, light helicopters for the Army, paving the way for later, more powerful designs like the Westland Scout.
Currently not in an airworthy condition, but the spares package includes a set of unused rotor blades still in their box.
