Westland Walrus
Walrus | |
---|---|
Role | Spotter |
National origin | United Kingdom |
Manufacturer | Westland Aircraft |
First flight | 1921 |
Introduction | 1921 |
Retired | 1925 |
Primary user | Royal Air Force |
Number built | 36 |
Developed from | Airco DH.9A |
The Westland Walrus was a British spotter/reconnaissance aircraft built by Westland Aircraft.
Design and development
In 1919 the
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
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]
Operators
- Royal Air Force
- No. 3 Squadron RAF (Fleet Air Arm from 1924)
Specifications
Data from Westland Aircraft since 1915 [7]
General characteristics
- Crew: 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 IIW-12 water-cooled piston engine, 450 hp (340 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
- 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 ring
See also
Related development
Related lists
References
- 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.