Aircraft

Westland Dreadnought

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For some time the Air Ministry’s Directorate of Technical Development had been interested in the theories of a Russian inventor, M.Woyevodsky, whose idea of the perfect aeroplane was that the fuselage and wings should be in the form of a continuous aerofoil, with external wing bracing eliminated, rather like the modern conception of the “flying wing.”
Several Woyevodsky models were tested in wind-channels and, when the results seemed to confirm the inventor’s claims, the final model was handed over to the Westland design staff to be put into practical form. This rather idealistic model was of a twin-engined freight-carrying monoplane of 21.1m span and a length of 17.08m, with a wing area of 78.04sq.m. A retractable undercarriage was also a feature of the model design, and the single 450hp Napier Lion engine.
The original model design was translated into an all-metal monoplane and construction methods employed were also ahead of the times, use being made of drawn metal channelling and corrugated metal panels, much in the style of the modern “stressed skin” method of manufacture.

The Dreadnought was completed in the spring of 1923, and its taxying trials attracted considerable local interest. Captain Keep conducted these tests, often accompanied by Mr. Bruce, and had the machine satisfactorily airborne for a few yards in short hopping flights.
Everything pointed to the success of this unique design, but the initial test flight, which took place on an afternoon in early May, 1923, ended in disaster. After a seemingly smooth take-off the Dreadnought rose steadily towards the aerodrome boundary, but near the factory buildings it was apparent Captain Keep was having difficulty in controlling the machine. Shortly after this the Dreadnought stalled and crashed from a height of about one hundred feet, the engine and wings striking the ground squarely and the fuselage breaking off at the cockpit.
Captain Keep was seriously injured and had to have both his legs amputated, but this major personal misfortune did not lessen his interest or work in aviation, and he has since added many years of technical and advisory service to his career.
The Dreadnought design was abandoned from this point.

Wingspan: 21.1 m / 69 ft 3 in
Length: 17.08 m / 56 ft 0 in
Wing area: 78.04 sq.m / 840.01 sq ft

Westland Dreadnought

Westland Walrus

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The years following the conclusion of the First World War were notable for an official lack of attention to the needs of the fighting services. The Westland design staff was asked to produce, in 1920, a carrier-borne fleet reconnaissance biplane for the Royal Navy.
The machine required had to be, basically a D.H.9A, but was to have a 450hp Napier Lion engine in place of the 400hp Liberty motor, and to be equipped with the various items of gear as a naval aircraft.
Westland Aircraft produced thirty-six aircraft of the type demanded. The machine, which was given the name of Walrus, carried a crew of three. The pilot’s cockpit was situated immediately aft of the wing trailing edge, with a Scarff-mounted Lewis gun over the cockpit behind him. The floor of the rear fuselage was fitted with a glazed observation blister, for use in the prone position, while a radio transmitter – operated by the observer – was situated in a third cockpit, aft of the rear gunner’s position.
Features of the machine included rubber flotation bags, which could be inflated from compressed air bottles, a patent jettison valve on the main fuel tank, which allowed the petrol to be discharged in a few seconds and then, if the machine alighted on the sea, would automatically re-seal the tank into an additional flotation chamber. The aircraft had folding wings. Another special feature was the undercarriage, capable of being dropped by the pilot in the event of an emergency and fitted with a set of jaws for gripping the carrier’s deck arresting-wires. These wires ran along the length of the flight-deck and not across the beam of the ship.
The prototype Walrus, and the subsequent production machines, were flight-tested by Captain A. S. Keep, M.C., who reported the aircraft as being somewhat vicious in its behaviour. In Service use the Walrus did not shine and the type was not produced beyond the original contract number – which in those days was regarded as a big order.

Engine: 1 x 450hp Napier Lion
Wingspan: 14.06 m / 46 ft 2 in
Length: 9.14 m / 30 ft 0 in
Height: 3.52 m / 12 ft 7 in
Armament: 1 x Vickers gun, 1 x Lewis gun

Westland Walrus

Westland Limousine 4 Seat

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Immediately after the signing of the Armistice, in November 1918, Mr. Bruce and Mr. Davenport directed their accumulated design experience into more peaceful channels and produced, in the summer of 1919, the first Westland commercial aircraft.
This machine was the four-seat Limousine, and was one of the first efforts to introduce an element of luxury to flying, the well-ventilated and upholstered cabin being comparable to the accommodation of the most expensive motor-cars, while the running costs of its 275hp Rolls Royce Falcon engine made it an attractive proposition to air-line operators and business executives.
The Limousine, unfortunately, suffered from having been introduced at a time when public interest in air travel was almost a minus quantity and, although a few were constructed, Westland activity was soon switched to the design of a larger version, the Six-seat Limousine, which seemed to offer better prospects.
The original Limousine, however, created tremendous interest in the aeronautical world and a demonstration of its commercial possibilities, in which one of the company’s directors, Mr. R. J. Norton, dictated letters to his secretary, Miss Stanfield, and had them typed while in flight, was widely publicised.

The handling qualities of the Limousine were once ably demonstrated by Captain Keep during a cross-country flight, with an Air Ministry official and Miss Jean Bruce as passengers. While flying over the Dorset Hills they noticed, in a field below, an extraordinarily large crop of mushrooms and, without further ado, Captain Keep made a landing in the field, a rugful of mushrooms was gathered and the flight resumed with the greatest ease!

Of the Limousines produced, one was used in Newfoundland by Mr. Sidney Cotton, while the original model had a long period of useful service as the Westland communication machine, the latter being finally written off in a remarkable accident at Netheravon. Major Openshaw had flown Mr. Bruce to the R.A.F. Station there on business, and they had just parked the Limousine in a “safe” space, on the aerodrome, when the outer machine of a flight of R.A.F. Fairey Fawn biplanes, then taking off, collided with the rear fuselage. The resulting crash was quite spectacular, wreckage being scattered over a considerable area and no part of the R.A.F. machine’s remains was more than two or three feet above the level of the grass. The amazing feature, however, was that the Service pilot and his observer were quite unharmed!

Engine: 1 x 275hp Rolls Royce Falcon or 300hp Hispano Suiza
Max take-off weight: 1533 kg / 3380 lb
Empty weight: 990 kg / 2183 lb
Wingspan: 11.6 m / 38 ft 1 in
Length: 8.4 m / 28 ft 7 in
Height: 3.26 m / 11 ft 8 in
Wing area: 40.8 sq.m / 439.17 sq ft
Max. speed: 160 km/h / 99 mph
Ceiling: 5180 m / 17000 ft

Westland Limousine 4 Seat

Westland Weasel

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In April 1918, Westland gained a three-prototype contract for a two-seat fighter-reconnaissance aircraft that was designed to provide a successor to the Bristol F.2b fighter. In configuration, the new fighter, to which the name Weasel was given, closely resembled a scaled-up Wagtail. The pilot was located beneath the trailing edge of the upper wing, with the observer/ gunner close behind, with a single 7.7mm Lewis gun on a Scarff ring. Two fixed and synchronised forward-firing Vickers guns of the same calibre were provided for the pilot. The Weasel had a two-spar wooden wing and a wire-braced wooden fuselage, with fabric covering for all but the ply-covered front fuselage. In common with the competing Austin Greyhound and Bristol Badger, the Weasel was powered by the 320hp ABC Dragonfly nine-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, which (like the ABC Wasp in the Wagtail) proved so unsatisfactory as to rule out any possibility of production, even if the ending of World War I had not removed the urgency from the requirement. Flight testing did not begin until November 1918 and a Weasel went to Martlesham Heath in April the following year, followed by the third prototype in November. Subsequently, two of the Weasels were used for engine development at the RAE Farnborough, one being re-engined with a 385hp Cosmos Jupiter II nine-cylinder radial and the other with a 350hp Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar II 14-cylinder radial. A Jupiter II was also used to power a fourth Weasel, which was ordered in August 1919 and delivered in 1920 with full armament, although also used primarily for engine development.

Engine: 320hp ABC Dragonfly
Max take-off weight: 1393 kg / 3071 lb
Empty weight: 847 kg / 1867 lb
Wingspan: 10.82 m / 36 ft 6 in
Length: 7.56 m / 25 ft 10 in
Height: 3.07 m / 10 ft 1 in
Wing area: 34.19 sq.m / 368.02 sq ft
Max. speed: 210 km/h / 130 mph
Ceiling: 6310 m / 20700 ft

Westland Weasel

Westland Wagtail

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A contemporary of the Sopwith Snail and the BAT Bantam, the Wagtail was similarly designed to comply with the A.l(a) Specification drawn up by the Air Board in 1917 to define its requirements for a single-seat fighter. Emphasis was to be placed upon manoeuvrability and climb, with the ability to achieve 217km/h at 4570m when carrying oxygen equipment and three machine guns. Like its competitors, the Wagtail was powered by the 170hp ABC Wasp I seven-cylinder radial, an engine that eventually thwarted further development of all three A.l(a) types. A well-proportioned, diminutive single-bay biplane, the Wagtail gained a contract for three prototypes late in 1917, and the first was flown in April 1918. Construction was of fabric-covered wood, with metal-framed rudder and elevators, and two synchronised 7.7mm Vickers guns were fitted. An overwing Lewis gun was planned, but not fitted to the prototypes. Whereas the first Wagtail to fly had equal dihedral (2° 30″) on upper and lower wings, the second and third were completed (and the first later modified) to have a larger cutout in the upper wing centre section with 5° of dihedral on the outer panels of the upper wing and a flat lower wing. Destroyed in a fire at Yeovil soon after its first flight on 29 April 1918, the second Wagtail had to be replaced later that year; the third went to Martlesham Heath on 8 May, but problems with the Wasp limited flying. In October 1918, the engine was officially abandoned, and with it any plans to produce Wasp-engined aircraft. Two more Wagtails were ordered from Westland in 1919, to serve as test-beds for the 160hp Armstrong-Siddeley Lynx seven-cylinder radial engine. Unarmed, these two aircraft were delivered to the RAE in September/October 1921.

Max take-off weight: 603 kg / 1329 lb
Empty weight: 338 kg / 745 lb
Wingspan: 7.06 m / 23 ft 2 in
Length: 5.77 m / 19 ft 11 in
Height: 2.44 m / 8 ft 0 in
Wing area: 17.65 sq.m / 189.98 sq ft
Max. speed: 201 km/h / 125 mph

Westland Wagtail

Westland Welkin

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On 9 January 1941, Westland was authorised by the Ministry of Aircraft Production to proceed with two prototypes of its P.14 design for a twin-engined high-altitude fighter, in compliance with Specification F.4/40. Conceived as a two-seater with six 20-mm cannon armament, the P.14 went ahead as a four-cannon single-seater with a pressurized cockpit. Revised to conform to F.7/41, and thus competing with the Vickers Type 432, the P.14, to be named the Welkin, first flew on 1 November 1942. The wing was located in the mid position, and power was provided by two Rolls-Royce Merlin Mk 61s of 1,565 hp, these being succeeded by 1,650 hp Merlin 72/73 or Merlin 76/77 in the production Welkin I. Pressurization of the cockpit was achieved by means of a Rotol blower on the starboard engine. Production of the Welkin I was initiated in 1941, contracts for 100 and then 200 being placed, and the first series aircraft was under test at Boscombe Down by mid-September 1943. However, handling problems combined with reduced operational interest in high-altitude fighters led to cancellation of production after the completion of 75, plus 26 airframes without engines. The Welkin I saw no service use. Welkin NF Mk II During 1943, Westland studied a number of possible derivatives of the Welkin I in order to take advantage of the design work already completed. Of these possibilities, one for a two-seat night fighter variant received a go-ahead on 4 February 1943, subsequent development of this as the Welkin NF Mk II being in accordance with Specification F.9/43. Two prototypes were ordered, as conversions of Mk I airframes during production, and orders were given for 60 of the final production batch of Mk Is to be to this standard. As flown on 23 October 1944, the prototype Welkin NF Mk II introduced AI Mk VIII radar in a lengthened bulbous nose and a new one-piece canopy over a two-seat cockpit in which the observer faced aft behind the pilot. Production plans for the Welkin NF Mk II were cancelled during 1945, along with those for the F Mk I, and the second prototype was not completed.

Westland Welkin
Engine : 2 x Rolls Royce Merlin 76, 1233 hp
Length : 41.568 ft / 12.67 m
Height : 15.748 ft / 4.8 m
Wingspan : 70.013 ft / 21.34 m
Wing area : 459.946 sq.ft / 42.73 sq.m
Max take off weight : 17503.3 lb / 7938.0 kg
Weight empty : 12612.6 lb / 5720.0 kg
Max. speed : 336 kts / 623 km/h
Service ceiling : 43996 ft / 13410 m
Wing load : 38.13 lb/sq.ft / 186.0 kg/sq.m
Range : 1043 nm / 1931 km
Crew : 1
Armament : 4x 20mm MG

Welkin Mk 1
Max take-off weight:8970 kg / 19776 lb
Empty weight: 6520 kg / 14374 lb
Wingspan: 21.34 m / 70 ft 0 in
Length: 12.65 m / 42 ft 6 in
Height: 4.65 m / 15 ft 3 in
Wing area: 42.73 sq.m / 459.94 sq ft
Max. speed: 623 km/h / 387 mph
Ceiling: 13410 m / 44000 ft
Range: 2400 km / 1491 miles

Westland Welkin I

Westland N.1B / N.16 / N.17

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Westland Aircraft began design of its first aircraft in 1917, in response to an Admiralty requirement for a single-seat fighting scout seaplane. In the Admiralty’s N.1B category, the aircraft was designed by Robert Bruce and Arthur Davenport, and was a compact two-bay equi-span biplane of conventional wooden structure and fabric covering. First flown in August 1917, it was powered by a 150hp Bentley BR1 rotary engine. Inboard of the ailerons, on both upper and lower wings, the trailing-edge camber could be varied to obtain the effect of plain flaps. The wings could be folded backwards for shipboard stowage. Armament comprised one synchronised 7.7mm Vickers gun and a flexibly-mounted Lewis of the same calibre above the upper wing centre section. Two prototypes were built and sometimes referred to as the Westland N16 and N17 from their RNAS serial numbers. The first was flown with short Sopwith floats and a large strut-mounted tailfloat whereas the second was used to evaluate long Westland floats that eliminated the need for a tail float. This second aircraft, which lacked the camber-changing mechanism on the wings, also flew with the Sopwith floats and a tail float directly attached to the underside of the rear fuselage. By the time the N.1Bs were on test at the Isle of Grain, the RNAS was experimenting successfully with the shipboard operation of wheeled aircraft and the requirement for a floatplane fighting scout faded away.

Westland N17
Max take-off weight: 897 kg / 1978 lb
Empty weight: 682 kg / 1504 lb
Wingspan: 9.53 m / 31 ft 3 in
Length: 7.76 m / 25 ft 6 in
Height: 3.40 m / 11 ft 2 in
Wing area: 25.83 sq.m / 278.03 sq ft
Max. speed: 175 km/h / 109 mph

Westland N17

Westland F.7/30

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To meet the requirements of Specification F.7/30 for a four-gun day and night fighter powered by the Rolls-Royce Goshawk engine using evaporative cooling, Westland schemed a parasol monoplane in continuation of the Wizard concept, but found it impossible to combine the required slow landing speed with the 402km/h maximum. An alternative biplane, the P.4, was successfully tendered, however, one prototype being ordered in 1931. With a 600hp Goshawk VIII buried in the fuselage behind the pilot, driving the propeller via a long extension shaft, this single-bay biplane featured a gulled upper wing with short inboard struts in place of the usual cabane, and a staggered lower wing of slightly shorter span. When first flown on 23 March 1934, the F.7/30 had an open cockpit, but a full canopy was soon added. Armament of four 7.7mm Vickers guns was concentrated in the nose. Construction was of metal throughout, with metal skins for the forward fuselage and engine bay, and fabric elsewhere. Ailerons were fitted to the upper wing only, this also having Handley Page slots.
Although it handled well, the F.7/30 was found deficient in performance when tested at Martlesham Heath, and no further development occurred.

Max take-off weight: 2359 kg / 5201 lb
Empty weight: 1672 kg / 3686 lb
Wingspan: 11.73 m / 39 ft 6 in
Length: 8.99 m / 30 ft 6 in
Height: 3.28 m / 11 ft 9 in
Wing area: 34.37 sq.m / 369.96 sq ft
Max. speed: 298 km/h / 185 mph

Westland F.7/30

Westland PV.7

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In 1931 Air Ministry Specification G.4/31 called for a General Purpose aircraft, capable of level bombing, army co-operation, dive bombing, reconnaissance, casualty evacuation and torpedo bombing. The Vickers Type 253 won against the Fairey G.4/31, Westland PV-7, Handley Page HP.47, Armstrong Whitworth AW.19, Blackburn B-7, Hawker PV-4 and the Parnell G.4/31.

The Westland team produced the two-seat high-wing monoplane design, the P.V.7. This machine was capable of fulfilling all the standard general-purpose requirements and could, alternatively, be used as a torpedo-bomber, carrying an externally slung 450kg torpedo or an equivalent bomb load.

The preliminary test-flights at Yeovil, in the hands of Mr. H. J. Penrose, produced extremely satisfactory results and there were high hopes that the machine would have a long production run. However, while undergoing extended official trials at Martlesham Heath, the P.V.7 was unfortunately wrecked.

Mr. Penrose, who was flying the machine solo at the time, was engaged in making a series of dives under overload conditions and, while travelling at high speed in rough air, the port rear outrigger strut failed under an unexpected down-load. The resulting fracture brought about the collapse of the complete wing structure and, as it broke away from the machine, it severed the empennage. The pilot made what must be one of the first parachute escapes from an enclosed-cockpit military aeroplane, emerging through one of the small side doors of the coupe and eventually landing unhurt some distance from the wreckage.

The inevitable delay caused by the necessary investigation into the cause of the accident rendered the risk of building a further Private Venture too great, and the type, despite its great promise, was dropped.

Engine: 1 x 722hp Bristol Pegasus III M.3 9-cyl air-cooled radial
Max take-off weight: 3395 kg / 7485 lb
Empty weight: 2048 kg / 4515 lb
Wingspan: 18.36 m / 60 ft 3 in
Length: 11.88 m / 39 ft 0 in
Height: 3.65 m / 12 ft 0 in
Wing area: 49.8 sq.m / 536.04 sq ft
Max. speed: 278 km/h / 173 mph
Ceiling: 6900 m / 22650 ft

Westland PV.7

Westland PV.6 Wallace

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Westland PV.6 Wallace Article

In the year 1931 a British Empire Exhibition was held in Buenos Aires, Argentina, at which Westland was represented by a special A.S. Panther-engined Wapiti, G-AAWA, piloted by Mr. H. J. Penrose. This machine embodied the accumulated experience gained with the first 500 Wapitis constructed, and was fitted with a lengthened fuselage and braked undercarriage.
After a successful tour in South America the machine was returned to Yeovil, where further refinements were made, including the fitting of a divided axle chassis, improvements to the fuselage lines, and the installation of a Pegasus engine with Townend ring. By this time both the performance and the appearance of the aircraft differed considerably from that of the standard Wapiti and it was given the designation P.V.6, under which it successfully completed Air Ministry acceptance trials as a general-purpose machine.
With the placing of a production order the type was given the name of Wallace, but the original machine, again returned to Yeovil, underwent yet another change and was converted for service with the Houston-Mount Everest Expedition.
The very successful realisation of the Expedition’s object brought this veteran aircraft once more into Westland hands, this time to be converted back into a standard Wallace and issued to a Squadron.
On the early Wallace machines the cockpits were of the open type, with a Scarff gun-ring over the rear cockpit, but the type is now best remembered by reason of a later development. This was the fitting of a transparent cabin over both cockpits, thus making it the first R.A.F. aeroplane to be so equipped. Apart from the greatly increased comfort, this enabled the Wallace to use its rear gun with increased accuracy when operating at maximum speed.
The Wallace had a long period of service with the Royal Air Force, and with the various Auxiliary Squadrons, and although succeeded by the Lysander and other general-purpose types.

The Wallace was the last of the inter-war general purpose biplanes, but its useful life was extended, with many being converted into target tugs and wireless trainers.

Engine: 1 x 655hp Bristol Pegasus IV 9-cylinder air-cooled radial
Max take-off weight: 2610 kg / 5754 lb
Empty weight: 1670 kg / 3682 lb
Wingspan: 14.1 m / 46 ft 3 in
Length: 10.4 m / 34 ft 1 in
Height: 3.5 m / 12 ft 6 in
Wing area: 45.4 sq.m / 488.68 sq ft
Max. speed: 289 km/h / 180 mph
Ceiling: 9150 m / 30000 ft
Armament: 1 x Vickers gun + 1 Lewis gun

Westland Wallace Mk. II
Length : 34.154 ft / 10.41 m
Height : 11.516 ft / 3.51 m
Wingspan : 46.424 ft / 14.15 m
Wing area : 488.04 sq.ft / 45.34 sq.m
Max take off weight : 5750.6 lb / 2608.0 kg
Weight empty : 3841.1 lb / 1742.0 kg
Max. speed : 137 kts / 254 km/h
Cruising speed : 117 kts / 217 km/h
Service ceiling : 24098 ft / 7345 m
Wing load : 11.89 lb/sq.ft / 58.0 kg/sq.m
Range : 408 nm / 756 km
Engine : Bristol Pegasus IV, 671 hp
Crew : 2
Armament : 2x cal.303 MG (7.7mm)
Bombload : 263kg

Westland Wallace