The Westland Wallace was a British two-seat, general-purpose biplane of the Royal Air Force, developed by Westland as a follow-on to their successful Wapiti. As the last of the interwar general purpose biplanes, it was used by a number of frontline and Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons. Although the pace of aeronautical development caused its rapid replacement in frontline service, its useful life was extended into the Second World War with many being converted into target tugs and wireless trainers. In 1933 a Westland Wallace became the first aircraft to fly over Everest, as part of the Houston-Mount Everest Flight Expedition.[1]
In 1931, Westland produced the PV-6, a private-venture development of its successful Wapiti. This updated aircraft embodied a number of improvements including a lengthened fuselage, brakes and wheel spats on the undercarriage and a new engine. By this time both the appearance and performance differed considerably from the standard Wapiti, so the company designated it the "PV6 Wallace." Compared with the earlier Wapiti, the Wallace was 20 inches (0.51 m) longer, incorporated an improved undercarriage and was powered by a 655 hp (488 kW) Bristol Pegasus IV engine. The first batches of MK I Wallaces were conversions of Wapitis, a total of 68 powered by 570 bhp (430 kW) Pegasus IIM3 engines.
Westland designed an improved version, the Mk II which was fitted with a more powerful engine and the then-novel idea of an enclosed canopy over both crew positions. This offered greater comfort for the crew and improved the rear gunner's aim by protecting him from the slipstream. Three Wallace Is (K4346-K4348) were later converted to Mk II standards, including fitting the closed canopy.
Operational historyEdit
Westland Wallace Mk II
The original PV-6 prototype, registeredG-ACBR (and also known as the Houston-Wallace) along with Westland PV-3G-ACAZ, was part of the Houston Everest Expedition, named after Lucy, Lady Houston the patron, an attempt to fly over Mount Everest. Both aircraft received modifications that included fitting heating and oxygen equipment, fully enclosing the rear cockpits and using highly supercharged Bristol Pegasus IS 3 engines.[2] Flown by Flight Lieutenant D.F. McIntyre and Douglas Douglas-Hamilton, 14th Duke of Hamilton, otherwise known as Lord Clydesdale, the two aircraft became the first to fly over Mount Everest on 3 April 1933.[3]
Most of the Wallaces served with the Auxiliary Air Force: 501, 502, 503 and 504 squadrons beginning with the converted Wapitis early in 1933.[4] Others operated with the Anti-Aircraft Cooperation Flight at RAF Biggin Hill. The last Wallace was completed in October 1936.
The first RAF casualties of WW2 occurred when a Wallace of the RAF Observer School (K6028) crashed at Bennachie, near Aberdeen. Pilot Officer Ellard Alexander Cummings (23) from Ottawa, Canada and Leading Aircraftman Alexander Ronald Renfrew Stewart (24) both lost their lives.[citation needed]
When withdrawn from the general purpose role, many Wallaces were converted into target tugs. A total of 83 Wallaces remained in service at the beginning of the Second World War. The last were withdrawn in 1943.[5]
VariantsEdit
Westland PV-6
Prototype, later converted to military configuration as a Wallace I.
Houston-Wallace
Alternative name for the PV-6 as modified for the Everest expedition.
Wallace Mk I
Conversion from Wapiti powered by a 570 hp (430 kW) Bristol Pegasus IIM3 engine, 68 converted.
Wallace Mk II
New aircraft with glazed cockpit and powered by a 680 hp (510 kW) Bristol Pegasus IV engine, 104 built.
James, Derek N. Westland Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1991. ISBN0-85177-847-X.
James, Derek. "To The Top of the World". Aeroplane. Vol. 36, No. 4, Issue No 420, April 2008, pp. 20–25.
Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1994. ISBN1-85152-668-4.
Thetford, O. Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57. London: Putnam, 1957.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westland Wallace.
Westland Wallace Mk II
August 29, 2023
westland, wallace, british, seat, general, purpose, biplane, royal, force, developed, westland, follow, their, successful, wapiti, last, interwar, general, purpose, biplanes, used, number, frontline, auxiliary, force, squadrons, although, pace, aeronautical, d. The Westland Wallace was a British two seat general purpose biplane of the Royal Air Force developed by Westland as a follow on to their successful Wapiti As the last of the interwar general purpose biplanes it was used by a number of frontline and Auxiliary Air Force Squadrons Although the pace of aeronautical development caused its rapid replacement in frontline service its useful life was extended into the Second World War with many being converted into target tugs and wireless trainers In 1933 a Westland Wallace became the first aircraft to fly over Everest as part of the Houston Mount Everest Flight Expedition 1 Westland WallaceRole Two seat general purpose biplaneManufacturer WestlandFirst flight 31 October 1931Introduction 1933Retired 1943Primary user Royal Air ForceProduced 1933 1936Number built 104 68 conversions from Wapitis Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications Westland Wallace II 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksDesign and development EditIn 1931 Westland produced the PV 6 a private venture development of its successful Wapiti This updated aircraft embodied a number of improvements including a lengthened fuselage brakes and wheel spats on the undercarriage and a new engine By this time both the appearance and performance differed considerably from the standard Wapiti so the company designated it the PV6 Wallace Compared with the earlier Wapiti the Wallace was 20 inches 0 51 m longer incorporated an improved undercarriage and was powered by a 655 hp 488 kW Bristol Pegasus IV engine The first batches of MK I Wallaces were conversions of Wapitis a total of 68 powered by 570 bhp 430 kW Pegasus IIM3 engines Westland designed an improved version the Mk II which was fitted with a more powerful engine and the then novel idea of an enclosed canopy over both crew positions This offered greater comfort for the crew and improved the rear gunner s aim by protecting him from the slipstream Three Wallace Is K4346 K4348 were later converted to Mk II standards including fitting the closed canopy Operational history Edit Westland Wallace Mk IIThe original PV 6 prototype registered G ACBR and also known as the Houston Wallace along with Westland PV 3 G ACAZ was part of the Houston Everest Expedition named after Lucy Lady Houston the patron an attempt to fly over Mount Everest Both aircraft received modifications that included fitting heating and oxygen equipment fully enclosing the rear cockpits and using highly supercharged Bristol Pegasus IS 3 engines 2 Flown by Flight Lieutenant D F McIntyre and Douglas Douglas Hamilton 14th Duke of Hamilton otherwise known as Lord Clydesdale the two aircraft became the first to fly over Mount Everest on 3 April 1933 3 Most of the Wallaces served with the Auxiliary Air Force 501 502 503 and 504 squadrons beginning with the converted Wapitis early in 1933 4 Others operated with the Anti Aircraft Cooperation Flight at RAF Biggin Hill The last Wallace was completed in October 1936 The first RAF casualties of WW2 occurred when a Wallace of the RAF Observer School K6028 crashed at Bennachie near Aberdeen Pilot Officer Ellard Alexander Cummings 23 from Ottawa Canada and Leading Aircraftman Alexander Ronald Renfrew Stewart 24 both lost their lives citation needed When withdrawn from the general purpose role many Wallaces were converted into target tugs A total of 83 Wallaces remained in service at the beginning of the Second World War The last were withdrawn in 1943 5 Variants EditWestland PV 6 Prototype later converted to military configuration as a Wallace I Houston Wallace Alternative name for the PV 6 as modified for the Everest expedition Wallace Mk I Conversion from Wapiti powered by a 570 hp 430 kW Bristol Pegasus IIM3 engine 68 converted Wallace Mk II New aircraft with glazed cockpit and powered by a 680 hp 510 kW Bristol Pegasus IV engine 104 built Operators Edit Westland Wallace at RAF Museum London United KingdomRoyal Air Force No 501 Squadron RAF No 502 Squadron RAF No 503 Squadron RAF No 504 Squadron RAFSpecifications Westland Wallace II Edit Westland Wallace 3 view drawing from NACA AC 179Data from The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II 6 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 34 ft 2 in 10 41 m Wingspan 46 ft 5 in 14 15 m Height 11 ft 6 in 3 51 m Wing area 488 sq ft 45 3 m2 Empty weight 3 840 lb 1 742 kg Max takeoff weight 5 750 lb 2 608 kg Powerplant 1 Bristol Pegasus IV 9 cylinder air cooled radial piston engine 680 hp 510 kW Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 158 mph 254 km h 137 kn at 15 000 ft 4 572 m Cruise speed 135 mph 217 km h 117 kn Range 470 mi 760 km 410 nmi Service ceiling 24 100 ft 7 300 m Armament Guns 2 x 0 303 inch 7 7 mm machineguns Bombs total of 580 pounds 260 kg of bombsSee also EditAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Hawker Hardy Vickers Vincent Westland WapitiRelated lists list of aircraft of the Royal Air ForceReferences EditNotes The Times 15 February 1933 James 2008 pp 22 23 James 2008 p 24 Thetford 1957 pp 456 457 James 1991 p 208 Mondey 1994 p 226 BibliographyJames Derek N Westland Aircraft since 1915 London Putnam Aeronautical Books 1991 ISBN 0 85177 847 X James Derek To The Top of the World Aeroplane Vol 36 No 4 Issue No 420 April 2008 pp 20 25 Mondey David The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II London Aerospace Publishing 1994 ISBN 1 85152 668 4 Thetford O Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918 57 London Putnam 1957 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westland Wallace Westland Wallace Mk II Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Westland Wallace amp oldid 1159770250, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
