Westland Helicopters Lynx

Twin Rotorcraft

The Westland Lynx is a British multi-role military helicopter that held the absolute speed record for helicopters for over a decade, reaching 249.09 mph in 1986 with a specially modified Lynx demonstrator. Developed in the late 1960s and entering service in 1977, the Lynx became one of the world's most capable naval and battlefield helicopters, serving with the Royal Navy, British Army, and over a dozen international operators. Its distinctive semi-rigid rotor system and sleek fuselage gave it exceptional agility and speed compared to contemporaries like the UH-60 Black Hawk or SA 330 Puma. The type spans numerous variants: the Army Air Corps operates the AH.7 and AH.9 for battlefield reconnaissance and anti-tank missions, while the Royal Navy's HMA.8 provides ship-based anti-submarine warfare and surface strike capabilities from frigates and destroyers. The Lynx pioneered wheeled undercarriage for shipboard operations and features a fully articulated tail rotor for precise control in maritime environments. Its twin Rolls-Royce Gem turboshaft engines deliver around 1,120 shp each, enabling a cruise speed of 140 knots and a never-exceed velocity of 175 knots, exceptionally fast for a helicopter of its era. Though production ended in the early 2000s and the type is being replaced by the AgustaWestland Wildcat (a heavily redesigned derivative), the Lynx remains operational with several air arms worldwide. It saw extensive combat service in the Falklands War, Gulf War, Balkans, Iraq, and Afghanistan, proving its versatility across anti-armor, reconnaissance, search-and-rescue, and naval strike roles. The Lynx's combination of speed, agility, and shipboard compatibility made it a benchmark for naval helicopter design that influenced successors for decades. SkyMeter has tracked 14 flights across 7 airframes and 1 operators, covering routes.