Westland Limousine

infobox Aircraft
name = Limousine
type = Light Transport Biplane
manufacturer = Westland Aircraft


caption =
designer = Arthur Davenport
first flight = 1919
introduced = 1920
retired = 1925
produced =
number built = 8
status =
unit cost =
primary user =
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developed from =
variants with their own articles =The Westland Limousine was a 1920s British single-engined four-seat light transport aircraft built by Westland Aircraft.

History

At the end of the World War I the prospect of an expanding aviation market led Westland Aircraft to design a light transport aircraft for three-passengers. It was Westland's first commercial aeroplane and designated the Westland Limousine I, the first aircraft flew in July 1919. A biplane powered by one Rolls-Royce Falcon III engine. The passengers were in an enclosed cabin, the pilot sat in the port rear of the four seats. His seat was raised to enable his head to be raised through the cabin roof. The second aircraft G-EAFO was designated the Limousine II and was completed in October 1919.

Both the first and second aircraft were used from September 1920 for two months on an experimental express air mail service between Croydon and Le Bourget. A third aircraft was built and was at first test flown with new Cosmos Jupiter engine, but later was fitted with the Falcon III. Another four aircraft were built, two of which were used by Instone Air Line to fly from London to Paris and Brussels.

To meet the Air Ministry's 1920 Commercial Aircraft Competition the aircraft was re-designed as the larger Limousine III for five passengers. It also used the 450 hp Napier Lion engine. The aircraft won the £7,500 Air Ministry prize but only more aircraft was constructed which was later operated by Instone Air Line.

The first Limousine III (registered G-EARV) pioneered air transport in Newfoundland when it was operated by the Aerial Survey Company (Newfoundland) Ltd. It was used seal and fishery spotting including being used on skis. Two of the earlier Limousine IIs were also to end up in Newfoundland. The company operated in Newfoundland until the end of 1923 carrying mail and passengers to remote outposts.

Aircraft

;Limousine I:Prototype Falcon III powered aircraft G-EAFO, destroyed in 1925 in a ground collision with a Fairey Fawn at Netheravon.

;Limousine II:Four-seat production aircraft (five built).

;Limousine III:Larger five-seat version (two-built)

Specifications (Limousine III)

aircraft specification

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=cite book |last= Jackson|first= A.J.|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= British Civil Aircraft since 1919|year= 1974|publisher= Putnam|location= London|isbn=0 370 10014 X
crew=1
length main= 33 ft 6 in
length alt=
span main=54 ft
span alt=
height main= 12 ft 6 in
height alt=
area main= 720 ft²
area alt=
empty weight main= 3,823 lb
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
max takeoff weight main= 5,850 lb
max takeoff weight
engine (prop)=Napier Lion
type of prop=
number of props=1
power main=450 hp
power alt=
max speed main=118 mph
max speed alt=
range main= 520 mi
range alt=
ceiling main= 12,300 ft
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
armament=

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References

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External links

* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=428 British Aircraft Directory]