Westland Wapiti
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Westland Wapiti | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | general purpose |
| Manufacturer | Westland |
| Designed by | Arthur Davenport |
| Maiden flight | March 1927 |
| Primary users | RAF IAF, RCAF, AAF |
The Westland Wapiti was a British general purpose military single engined biplane of the 1920s built by Westland Aircraft Works to a specification for a replacement of the DH9a in RAF service.
It first flew on 7 March 1927.
It was used in Iraq and India, and by Australia and Canada. With the latter it saw service at the start of the Second World War.
Contents |
[edit] Service
[edit] Variants
All built by Westland at Yeovil
- Wapiti I
-
- Two-seat general-purpose biplane for the RAF. Powered by a 420-hp (313-kW) Bristol Jupiter IV radial piston engine. 56 built.
- Wapiti IA
-
- Improved version for the RAF and RAAF. Powered by a 480-hp (358-kw) Bristol Jupiter IIIF radial piston engine.
- Wapiti IB
-
- Four exported to South Africa.
- Wapiti II
-
- 440
- Wapiti IIA
- Wapiti III:
-
- Two-seat general-purpose biplane for the SAAF. 27 were built under licence in South Africa.
- Wapiti V:
-
- 37
- Wapiti VI:
-
- Two-seat training version for the RAF. 16 built.
- Wapiti VII
- Wapiti VIII:
-
- Two-seat general-purpose biplane for China. Four built.
[edit] Specifications (Wapiti IIA)
Data from The British Bomber since 1914[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 31 ft 8in (9.65 m)
- Wingspan: 46 ft 5 in (14.15 m)
- Height: 13 ft (3.96 m)
- Wing area: 488 ft² (45 m²)
- Empty weight: 3810 lb (1732 kg)
- Loaded weight: 5410 lb (2459 kg)
- Useful load: lb (kg)
- Max takeoff weight: lb (kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Bristol Jupiter VI Radial, 420 hp (313 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 112 knots (129 mph, 208 km/h) at 6500ft (1980 m)
- Cruise speed: knots (mph, km/h)
- Stall speed: knots (mph, km/h)
- Range: 313 nm (360 mi, 580 km)
- Service ceiling: 18,800 ft (5730 m)
- Rate of climb: 1140 ft/min (5.8 m/s) [2]
- Wing loading: 11.1 lb/ft² (57.9 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.0776 hp/lb (0.127 kW/kg)
- Climb to 10,000 ft 15 minutes
Armament
- One 0.303 in forward firing Vickers gun and one Lewis gun on Scarff ring on rear cockpit,
- up to 580 lb of bombs.
[edit] Reference
- ^ Mason, Francis K (1994). The British Bomber since 1914. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN ISBN 0 85177 861 5.
- ^ Thetford, Owen (1957). Aircraft of the Royal Aircraft 1918-57, 1st edition, London: Putnam.
