In 1919 the Royal Navy had an urgent need for a three-seat spotter/reconnaissance aircraft. To save money, the Airco DH.9A was adapted from part completed airframes, available in large numbers following the end of the First World War and the cancellation of orders.[1] The initial attempt was carried out by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, adding provision for an observer and removing the stagger from the wings to produce the Armstrong Whitworth Tadpole.[2]
Further development was passed on to Westland, who further modified the aircraft to produce the Walrus, with a 450 hp (336 kW) Napier Lion II engine replacing the Liberty engine of the DH.9A and Tadpole. Like the DH.9A, the Walrus was a single-engined, two-bay biplane. It was fitted with an extra cockpit for the observer/radio operator behind the gunner's cockpit, while the observer also had a prone position for observing in a ventral pannier. The undercarriage could be jettisoned and the aircraft was fitted with floatation bags and hydrovanes to aid safe ditching, together with arresting gear to aid landing on aircraft carriers. The wings were detachable to aid storage.[3][4] The prototype first flew in early 1921, proving to have poor flying characteristics, being described by Westland's test pilot Stuart Keep as "a vicious beast" but despite this, a further 35 were ordered.[5]
Operational history
Production aircraft began to be delivered to No. 3 Squadron RAF at RAF Leuchars in 1921. No. 3 Squadron was split up to form independent Fleet Spotter Flights in 1923, although despite the extensive navalisation, the Walrus never operated from carriers. The Walrus continued in service in the Fleet spotting role until replaced by the Avro Bison and Blackburn Blackburn in late 1925.[6]
James, Derek N. (1991). Westland Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam. ISBN0-85177-847-X.
Thetford, Owen (1978). British Naval Aircraft since 1912 (Fourth ed.). London: Putnam. ISBN0-370-30021-1.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
January 30, 2023
westland, walrus, british, spotter, reconnaissance, aircraft, built, westland, aircraft, walrusrole, spotternational, origin, united, kingdommanufacturer, westland, aircraftfirst, flight, 1921introduction, 1921retired, 1925primary, user, royal, forcenumber, bu. The Westland Walrus was a British spotter reconnaissance aircraft built by Westland Aircraft WalrusRole SpotterNational origin United KingdomManufacturer Westland AircraftFirst flight 1921Introduction 1921Retired 1925Primary user Royal Air ForceNumber built 36Developed from Airco DH 9A Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Operators 4 Specifications 5 See also 6 ReferencesDesign and development EditIn 1919 the Royal Navy had an urgent need for a three seat spotter reconnaissance aircraft To save money the Airco DH 9A was adapted from part completed airframes available in large numbers following the end of the First World War and the cancellation of orders 1 The initial attempt was carried out by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft adding provision for an observer and removing the stagger from the wings to produce the Armstrong Whitworth Tadpole 2 Further development was passed on to Westland who further modified the aircraft to produce the Walrus with a 450 hp 336 kW Napier Lion II engine replacing the Liberty engine of the DH 9A and Tadpole Like the DH 9A the Walrus was a single engined two bay biplane It was fitted with an extra cockpit for the observer radio operator behind the gunner s cockpit while the observer also had a prone position for observing in a ventral pannier The undercarriage could be jettisoned and the aircraft was fitted with floatation bags and hydrovanes to aid safe ditching together with arresting gear to aid landing on aircraft carriers The wings were detachable to aid storage 3 4 The prototype first flew in early 1921 proving to have poor flying characteristics being described by Westland s test pilot Stuart Keep as a vicious beast but despite this a further 35 were ordered 5 Operational history EditProduction aircraft began to be delivered to No 3 Squadron RAF at RAF Leuchars in 1921 No 3 Squadron was split up to form independent Fleet Spotter Flights in 1923 although despite the extensive navalisation the Walrus never operated from carriers The Walrus continued in service in the Fleet spotting role until replaced by the Avro Bison and Blackburn Blackburn in late 1925 6 Operators Edit United KingdomRoyal Air Force No 3 Squadron RAF Fleet Air Arm from 1924 Specifications EditData from Westland Aircraft since 1915 7 General characteristicsCrew 3 Length 29 ft 9 in 9 07 m Wingspan 46 ft 2 in 14 07 m Height 11 ft 7 in 3 53 m Wing area 496 sq ft 46 1 m2 Empty weight 3 180 lb 1 442 kg Gross weight 4 998 lb 2 267 kg Powerplant 1 Napier Lion II W 12 water cooled piston engine 450 hp 340 kW Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 124 mph 200 km h 108 kn Service ceiling 19 000 ft 5 800 m Rate of climb 950 ft min 4 8 m s Wing loading 10 8 lb sq ft 53 kg m2 Power mass 0 09 hp lb 0 15 kW kg Armament Guns 1 forward firing Vickers machine gun 1 or 2 rear Lewis guns on Scarff ringSee also EditRelated development Airco DH 9ARelated lists List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm List of aircraft of the Royal Air ForceReferences Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westland Walrus Thetford 1978 p 344 James 1991 p 94 95 James 1991 p 96 The Westland Walrus Fleet Spotter FlIGHT 10 November 1921 photos showing observers station and flotation bags deployed James 1991 p 96 97 James 1991 p 97 98 James 1991 p 98 James Derek N 1991 Westland Aircraft since 1915 London Putnam ISBN 0 85177 847 X Thetford Owen 1978 British Naval Aircraft since 1912 Fourth ed London Putnam ISBN 0 370 30021 1 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Part Work 1982 1985 Orbis Publishing Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Westland Walrus amp oldid 1065821236, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
