08/31/2012. Remarks by Ray Watkins: "This aircraft was an enhanced version of the WS.51 Dragonfly model which was itself an 'Anglicized' version of the Sikorsky S-51 design. Development was prompted by the availability of more powerful variants of the Alvis Leonides engine which allowed the redesign of the forward fuselage to accommodate an additional passenger. Although the thirteen produced aircraft were all registered as WS.51 Series 2, they were commonly known as Widgeons.

The Dragonfly gearbox was modified by substituting the top of the WS.55 Whirlwind unit which then allowed the use of the Whirlwind rotor head and shortened rotor blades which were more efficient. Metal main rotor blades and a three-blade wooden tail rotor were fitted. The extra mass of the Whirlwind rotor head and blade set was offset by the lighter front fuselage section which meant that 200 lb (90 kg) of extra payload could be carried.

The prototype Widgeon was converted, as a private venture, from a Dragonfly (originally built in 1949 and registered G-ALIK), and had its first flight on August 23, 1955. This aircraft had modified gearbox and rotor systems but retained the standard Dragonfly fuselage. Two further Dragonfly airframes were converted to the Widgeon standard, G-AKTW and G-ANLW.

The first prototype, G-ALIK, was brought up to full Widgeon standard and on November 3, 1958 it was reregistered as G-APPS, still owned by Westland. Subsequently it was operated by Bristow Helicopters Ltd. (1958) and by British United Airways (1960-1961), being used for pipe laying and other tasks. On November 6, 1961 it was registered to Bristow, a year later, December 5, 1962, it was registered in Nigeria as 5N-AGA. Later it was transferred to the Nigerian Air Force (s/n NAF-10), and it was written off on February 1, 1968."