The Westland Weasel was a prototype British two-seat fighter/reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War. Designed to replace the Bristol Fighter, the Weasel was a single engined tractorbiplane. Four prototypes were built, but no production followed owing to the failure of its original engine, although the prototypes were used as engine test beds for the successful Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar and Bristol Jupiter engines.
The Westland Weasel was designed by Westland Aircraft of Yeovil to meet the Royal Air Force's Type IIIA Specification for a two-seat fighter/reconnaissance aircraft to replace the successful Bristol Fighter. An order for three prototypes was placed in April 1918, together with orders for competing designs from Bristol (the Badger) and Austin Motors (the Greyhound).[1] The Weasel was a two-bay biplane of wood and fabric construction, with the pilot and observer/gunner seated close together in separate cockpits, with the upper wing above the pilot being cut away to improve the upwards view. Armament was similar to the Bristol Fighter, with two synchronisedVickers guns and one or two Lewis guns for the observer.[2][3] Like the other two competitors, the Weasel was powered by the officially encouraged ABC Dragonfly 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine.[1]
The first prototype, although largely complete by the end of June,[4] had to wait for delivery of an engine, and did not fly until late November 1918, after the Armistice ended World War I.[5] As with the many other British aircraft projects of 1918, use of the Dragonfly engine proved a disaster, with the engine not only being underpowered and overweight, but more seriously, plagued with rapid overheating and severe vibration.[1] These problems were unsolvable, and although the Weasel had slightly better performance than the Bristol and Austin designs, the failure of the Dragonfly and the lack of urgent need to replace the excellent Bristol Fighter meant that large scale orders did not follow.[4]
Despite this, an order was placed for a fourth prototype to serve as an engine testbed. The first and third prototypes were fitted with the Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar radial, while the second and fourth aircraft were fitted with the Bristol Jupiter engine.[6] These aircraft proved valuable testbeds, with the last Weasel remaining in use until May 1925.[7]
Specifications (Dragonfly engine)
Data from War Planes of the First World War: Volume Three [7]
General characteristics
Crew: 2
Length: 24 ft 10 in (7.57 m)
Wingspan: 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m)
Height: 10 ft 1 in (3.07 m)
Wing area: 368 sq ft (34.2 m2)
Empty weight: 1,867 lb (847 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × ABC Dragonfly I 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 320 hp (240 kW)
Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
Maximum speed: 131 mph (211 km/h, 114 kn) 65,000 ft (19,812 m)
Service ceiling: 20,700 ft (6,300 m)
Time to altitude: 15,000 ft (4,572 m) in 19 minutes
Bruce, J.M. War Planes of the First World War: Volume Three Fighters. London:Macdonald, 1969. ISBN0-356-01490-8.
James, Derek N. Westland Aircraft since 1915. London:Putnam, 1991. ISBN0-85177-847-X.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westland Weasel.
Aircraft Data Sheet: Weasel (1918). AgustaWestland.
January 29, 2023
westland, weasel, prototype, british, seat, fighter, reconnaissance, aircraft, first, world, designed, replace, bristol, fighter, weasel, single, engined, tractor, biplane, four, prototypes, were, built, production, followed, owing, failure, original, engine, . The Westland Weasel was a prototype British two seat fighter reconnaissance aircraft of the First World War Designed to replace the Bristol Fighter the Weasel was a single engined tractor biplane Four prototypes were built but no production followed owing to the failure of its original engine although the prototypes were used as engine test beds for the successful Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar and Bristol Jupiter engines WeaselRole FighterNational origin United KingdomManufacturer Westland AircraftFirst flight November 1918Retired 1925Status PrototypeNumber built 4 Contents 1 Development and design 2 Specifications Dragonfly engine 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDevelopment and design EditThe Westland Weasel was designed by Westland Aircraft of Yeovil to meet the Royal Air Force s Type IIIA Specification for a two seat fighter reconnaissance aircraft to replace the successful Bristol Fighter An order for three prototypes was placed in April 1918 together with orders for competing designs from Bristol the Badger and Austin Motors the Greyhound 1 The Weasel was a two bay biplane of wood and fabric construction with the pilot and observer gunner seated close together in separate cockpits with the upper wing above the pilot being cut away to improve the upwards view Armament was similar to the Bristol Fighter with two synchronised Vickers guns and one or two Lewis guns for the observer 2 3 Like the other two competitors the Weasel was powered by the officially encouraged ABC Dragonfly 9 cylinder air cooled radial engine 1 The first prototype although largely complete by the end of June 4 had to wait for delivery of an engine and did not fly until late November 1918 after the Armistice ended World War I 5 As with the many other British aircraft projects of 1918 use of the Dragonfly engine proved a disaster with the engine not only being underpowered and overweight but more seriously plagued with rapid overheating and severe vibration 1 These problems were unsolvable and although the Weasel had slightly better performance than the Bristol and Austin designs the failure of the Dragonfly and the lack of urgent need to replace the excellent Bristol Fighter meant that large scale orders did not follow 4 Despite this an order was placed for a fourth prototype to serve as an engine testbed The first and third prototypes were fitted with the Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar radial while the second and fourth aircraft were fitted with the Bristol Jupiter engine 6 These aircraft proved valuable testbeds with the last Weasel remaining in use until May 1925 7 Specifications Dragonfly engine EditData from War Planes of the First World War Volume Three 7 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 24 ft 10 in 7 57 m Wingspan 35 ft 6 in 10 82 m Height 10 ft 1 in 3 07 m Wing area 368 sq ft 34 2 m2 Empty weight 1 867 lb 847 kg Powerplant 1 ABC Dragonfly I 9 cylinder air cooled radial piston engine 320 hp 240 kW Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellerPerformance Maximum speed 131 mph 211 km h 114 kn 65 000 ft 19 812 m Service ceiling 20 700 ft 6 300 m Time to altitude 15 000 ft 4 572 m in 19 minutes Wing loading 8 35 lb sq ft 40 8 kg m2 Power mass 0 10 hp lb 0 16 kW kg Armament Guns 2x forward firing synchronised 303 in Vickers machine guns and 1 or 2 Lewis guns on Scarff ring in rear cockpitSee also EditAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Bristol Badger Austin GreyhoundReferences Edit a b c James 1991 p 81 Bruce 1969 pp 137 138 James 1991 pp 81 82 a b Bruce 1969 p 138 James 1991 p 83 James 1991 pp 83 84 a b Bruce 1969 p 143 Bruce J M War Planes of the First World War Volume Three Fighters London Macdonald 1969 ISBN 0 356 01490 8 James Derek N Westland Aircraft since 1915 London Putnam 1991 ISBN 0 85177 847 X External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westland Weasel Aircraft Data Sheet Weasel 1918 AgustaWestland Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Westland Weasel amp oldid 1021185552, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
