Westland Walrus

infobox Aircraft
name = Walrus
type = Spotter
manufacturer = Westland
national origin =United Kingdom


caption =
designer =
first flight =1921
introduced = 1921
retired =1925
produced =
number built = 36
status =
unit cost =
primary user = Fleet Air Arm
more users = Royal Air Force
developed from = Airco DH.9A
variants with their own articles = The Westland Walrus was a British spotter/reconnaissance aircraft built by Westland Aircraft.

Design and development

In 1919 the Royal Navy had an urgent need for a three-seat spotter/reconnaissance aircraft. In order to save money, it was decided to adapt the existing Airco DH.9A, for which part completed airframes were available in large numbers following the end of the First World War and the subsequent cancellation of production orders. Thetford 1978, p.344.] 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. James 1991, p.94-95.]

Further development, however, 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 was jettisonable 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. James 1991, p.96.]

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". Despite this, a further 35 were ordered. James 1991, p.96-97]

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. James 1991, p.97-98.]

Operators

;UK
*Royal Air Force
**No. 3 Squadron RAF (Fleet Air Arm from 1924)

pecifications

aircraft specification

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Westland Aircraft since 1915 James 1991, p.98.]
crew=Three
length main=29 ft 9 in
length alt= 9.07 m
span main=46 ft 2 in
span alt= 14.07 m
height main=11 ft 7 in
height alt= 3.53 m
area main=496 ft²
area alt= 46.1 m²
empty weight main=3,180 lb
empty weight alt= 1,445 kg
loaded weight main= 4,998 lb
loaded weight alt= 2,272 kg
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
engine (prop)=Napier Lion II
type of prop=12-cylinder water-cooled W-block piston engine
number of props=1
power main=450 hp
power alt=298 kW
max speed main=124 mph
max speed alt=108 knots, 200 km/h
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main=19,000 ft
ceiling alt=5,800 m
climb rate main= 950 ft/min
climb rate alt= 290 m/min
loading main=10.8 lb/ft²
loading alt=49.3 kg/m²
power/mass main=0.09 hp/lb
power/mass alt=0.13 kW/kg
armament=
* 1 × forward firing Vickers machine gun
* 1 or 2 rear Lewis guns on Scarff ring

ee also

aircontent

related=
*DH.9A

similar aircraft=

sequence=

lists=
*List of aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm
*List of aircraft of the RAF

see also=

References

*cite book |title= Westland Aircraft since 1915|last=James |first=Derek N. |authorlink= |coauthors= |year= 1991|publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=0 85177 847 X |pages= |url=
*cite book |title=British Naval Aircraft since 1912 |last= Thetford |first=Owen |authorlink= |coauthors= |edition= Fourth edition|year=1978 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=0 370 30021 1 |pages= |url=
*cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)|year= |publisher= Orbis Publishing|location= |issn=

External links

* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=507 British Aircraft Directory]