AgustaWestland celebrates its centenary at Yeovil

Westland 100th years celebration

AgustaWestland has celebrated the centenary of the formation of the Westland Aircraft Works in Yeovil.

In April 1915 the Petter brothers made the decision to offer their company’s manufacturing resources to the Government to help the war effort. The Admiralty contracted them to build Short 184 seaplanes under licence with work starting immediately. The ‘Westland Aircraft Works’ was officially formed as a branch of Petters Ltd, beginning one hundred years of aviation history.

Westland began by building fixed wing aircraft before starting helicopter production. In 2001 AgustaWestland was formed with the bringing together of two aviation companies and since 2004 has been wholly owned by Finmeccanica. In 2007 Agusta celebrated its centenary and now in 2015 Westland has achieved the same historic aviation milestone.

AgustaWestland AW609

G-LYNX at Yeovil