Westland PV-3
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| PV-3 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Torpedo bomber |
| Manufacturer | Westland |
| Designed by | Arthur Davenport |
| Maiden flight | 1931 |
| Introduced | 1933 |
| Primary users | Royal Geographical Society Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 1 |
The Westland PV-3 was a British two-seat torpedo bomber of the 1930s built by Westland Aircraft Works. The aircraft was a private venture development and based on the Westland Wapiti. It never entered production the aircraft is best known as one of the first two to fly over Mount Everest.
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[edit] History
First flown in 1931 as a private venture to attract interest in a Torpedo Bomber version of the Wapiti. With little interest from the Air Ministry the aircraft, registered G-ACAZ, was remodelled with a rear cabin and a 525hp Bristol Pegasus engine for the 1933 attempt to fly over Mount Everest. It was test flown from Yeovil in the new configuration, and on 25 January 1933 reached a height of 35,000 ft.
Flown by Lord Clydesdale and accompanied by a Westland PV-6 the two aircraft became the first to fly over Mount Everest on 3 April 1933. The PV-3 was later exhibited as Selfridges department store in London in July 1933. In December 1933 the aircraft given military serial K4048 and issued to Bristol Aircraft as an engine test bed. The aircraft is also referred to as the Houston-Westland in honour of Lady Houston who had financed the 1933 expedition.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 34 ft 2in ()
- Wingspan: 46 ft 6 in ()
- Height: ()
- Wing area: 500 ft² ()
- Empty weight: 3,580 lb ()
- Max takeoff weight: 4,870 lb ()
- Powerplant: 1× Bristol Pegasus Radial, 525 hp ()
Performance
- Maximum speed: 163 mph
- Stall speed: knots ()
- Service ceiling 35,000 ft ()
[edit] References
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
- Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 370 10014 X.
[edit] External links
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