Westland Wapiti
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| Westland Wapiti | |
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| Type | general purpose |
| Manufacturer | Westland Aircraft |
| Designed by | Arthur Davenport |
| Maiden flight | 7 March 1927[1] |
| Introduced | June 1928 |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force IAF, RCAF, AAF |
| Number built | 558 + 27 licence built in South Africa[1] |
| Variants | Westland Wallace, Westland PV-3 |
The Westland Wapiti was a British two-seat general purpose military single engined biplane of the 1920s built by Westland Aircraft Works to the Air Ministry Specification 26/27 for a replacement of the Airco DH.9A in Royal Air Force service.
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[edit] History
To save time the Air Ministry specification called for the use of a high proportion of Airco DH.9A components. Westland had an advantage in that it was already a prime contractor for the DH.9A and won an initial contract for 25 aircraft. The prototype first flew on 7 March 1927. The Wapiti was a conventional biplane with tandem open cockpits. The type entered service with No. 84 Squadron RAF in Iraq in June 1928. 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.
The prototype Wapiti V, registered G-AAWA, was used for demonstration flights in Argentina and Uruguay on floats. It was then modified as the Bristol Pegasus powered Westland PV-6, re-registered G-ACBR (also known as the Houston-Wallace), for an attempt to fly over Mount Everest. Flown by Flt Lt D. F. McIntyre and accompanied by a Westland PV-3 the two aircraft became the first to fly over Mount Everest on 3 April 1933. The PV-6 was later designated the Wallace Mk I which introduced a number of improvements. A total of 68 Wapitis were converted to Wallace Mk I standard.
[edit] Military Operators
- Royal Australian Air Force
- No. 1 Squadron RAAF
- No. 3 Squadron RAAF
- No. 1 flying Training School RAAF
- Royal Canadian Air Force
- No. 3 Squadron RCAF
- No. 100 Squadron RCAF
- Royal Indian Air Force[2]
- No. 1 Squadron, Indian Air Force
- No. 2 Squadron, Indian Air Force
- No. 7 Squadron, Indian Air Force
- No. 1 Air Gunnery School (India)
- No. 1 AACU
- No. 2 AACU
- No. 3 AACU
- No.1 Coastal Defence Flight, IAFVR
- No.2 Coastal Defence Flight, IAFVR
- No.4 Coastal Defence Flight, IAFVR (Later No. 104 (GR) Squadron, Indian Air Force [3])
- No.5 Coastal Defence Flight, IAFVR
- No.6 Coastal Defence Flight, IAFVR
- Royal Air Force
- No. 5 Squadron RAF
- No. 11 Squadron RAF
- No. 20 Squadron RAF
- No. 24 Squadron RAF
- No. 27 Squadron RAF
- No. 28 Squadron RAF
- No. 30 Squadron RAF
- No. 31 Squadron RAF
- No. 39 Squadron RAF
- No. 55 Squadron RAF
- No. 60 Squadron RAF
- No. 84 Squadron RAF
- No. 501 Squadron RAF
- No. 502 Squadron RAF
- No. 600 Squadron RAF
- No. 601 Squadron RAF
- No. 602 Squadron RAF
- No. 603 Squadron RAF
- No. 604 Squadron RAF
- No. 605 Squadron RAF
- No. 607 Squadron RAF
- No. 608 Squadron RAF
[edit] Variants
All built by Westland at Yeovil
- Wapiti I - Initial production version 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, and fitted with Handley Page leading eldge slots.
- Wapiti IB - Similar to the Wapiti IA but introduced divided main landing gear. Four exported to South Africa. RAF aircraft were later re-engined with the 550-hp (410-kW) Armstrong Siddeley Panther.
- Wapiti II - Developed version with an all-metal basic structure.
- Wapiti IIA - Major production version with revised wing construction and able to use wheel or float landing gear.
- Wapiti III - Two-seat general-purpose biplane for the SAAF. 27 were built under licence in South Africa.
- Wapiti V - version developed from the Wapiti IV project with a lengthened fuselage. Powered by a 550-hp (410-kW) Bristol Jupiter VIIIF, 37 built.
- Wapiti VI - Dual control training version for the RAF. 16 built.
- Wapiti VII - Converted Wapiti V, original designated the Houston-Wallace P.V.6 before reconversion to Wapiti VII experimental aircraft.
- Wapiti VIII - Version developed for the Wapiti IV project for Central Chinese government. Powered by a 512-hp (382-kW) Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar VI, four built.
[edit] Specifications (Wapiti IIA)
Data from The British Bomber since 1914[4]
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) [5]
- 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 inch forward firing Vickers gun and one Lewis gun on Scarff ring on rear cockpit,
- up to 580 lb of bombs.
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ a b Aircraft Data Sheet: Wapiti (1927) Wapiti. Westland Helicopters. Retrieved on 2008-02-09.
- ^ The Westland Wapiti II in Indian Air Force Service
- ^ No. 104 (GR) Squadron, Indian Air Force
- ^ 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.
[edit] Bibliography
- Andrews, C.F. The Westland Wapiti. Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1965. No ISBN.
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
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