The Saro Skeeter was designed in 1948 by the Cierva Autogiro Company and the prototype first flew on the 8th of October 1948, production aircraft were were eventually built by Saunders-Roe ("Saro") in Cowes and Southampton in England following their takeover of Cierva in 1951. The Saunders-Roe Skeeter did not enter UK military service until 1957 when it became the first helicopter to be used by the British Army Air Corps who used it as an Air Observation Platform designating the helicopter the AOP.12, unfortunately, by this time it was an outdated design and consequently only had a short service life, the German military also operated this helicopter type for a short time. Specifications: Saunders Roe AOP.12 Skeeter - Crew: Pilot and observer
- Length: 28 ft 5 in
- Main rotor diameter: 32 ft
- Height: 10 ft 2 in
- Maximum takeoff weight: 2,202 lb
- Engine: Single 200 hp air cooled de Havilland Gipsy Major inverted straight four piston engine
- Maximum speed: 106 mph
- Service ceiling: 12,800 ft
- Range: 240 miles
| 
