Westland Plc

James W Schofield

Roy L Cowdery

A helicopter includes missile storage means (29) adapted to store a plurality of missiles (26) laterally within a fuselage (28) and missile launcher means (40) located at the end of a lateral outrigger (27) for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis (42) between a loading position generally laterally of the fuselage and a launch position generally parallel with a longitudinal centreline of the fuselage. In the illustrated embodiment, the launcher means comprises an elongated support beam (45) for selective engagement by a longitudinally extending tubular member (32) attached to each missile and includes transfer means (51, 52, 60, 61) for transferring a missile between the storage means and the launcher means when the latter is in said loading position.

Helicopter including missile transporting and launching apparatus

A helicopter (10) has a fuselage (11) provided with storage means (19, 20, 24) for storing a plurality of missiles (16) longitudinally of the fuselage, reloadable turret means (17) beneath the fuselage for movement in azimuth and elevation and transfer means (20b, 21) for transferring a missile from the storage means to the turret means. In the illustrated embodiment the missiles are stored externally of generally vertical side walls (13) and a lower generally horizontal wall (14) of the fuselage and fairings (39) are provided to protect the externally mounted missiles.

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Sherborne, United Kingdom

James W Schofield