Westland Weasel

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Weasel
Role
Fighter
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Westland Aircraft
First flight November 1918
Retired 1925
Status Prototype
Number built 4

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.

Development and design

The Westland Weasel was designed by

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,

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
  • Wing loading: 8.35 lb/sq ft (40.8 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 0.10 hp/lb (0.16 kW/kg)

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References

  1. ^ a b c James 1991, p.81.
  2. ^ Bruce 1969, pp.137-138.
  3. ^ James 1991, pp.81-82.
  4. ^ a b Bruce 1969, p.138.
  5. ^ James 1991, p.83.
  6. ^ James 1991, pp.83-84.
  7. ^ 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

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westland Weasel.
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