Westland Walrus

 ( 1920s British Military Reconnaissance Aircraft ) 

The Westland Walrus was a British spotter/reconnaissance aircraft built by Westland Aircraft.

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Design and development In 1919 the Royal Navy had an urgent need for a three-seat spotter/reconnaissance aircraft. To save money, the Airco DH.9A was adapted from part completed airframes, available in large numbers following the end of the First World War and the cancellation of orders.Thetford 1978, p.344. The initial attempt was carried out by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, adding provision for an observer and removing the stagger from the wings to produce the Armstrong Whitworth Tadpole.James 1991, p.94-95.

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 Piston engine replacing the Liberty engine of the DH.9A and Tadpole. Like the DH.9A, the Walrus was a single-engined, two-bay biplane. It was fitted with an extra cockpit for the observer/radio operator behind the gunner's cockpit, while the observer also had a prone position for observing in a ventral pannier. The undercarriage could be jettisoned and the aircraft was fitted with floatation bags and hydrovanes to aid safe ditching, together with arresting gear to aid landing on . The wings were detachable to aid storage.James 1991, p.96. "The Westland Walrus Fleet Spotter" FlIGHT, 10 November 1921, photos showing observers station and flotation bags deployed The prototype first flew in early 1921, proving to have poor flying characteristics, being described by Westland's test pilot Stuart Keep as "a vicious beast" but despite this, a further 35 were ordered.James 1991, p.96-97

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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.James 1991, p.97-98.

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Operators

• Royal Air Force
• No. 3 Squadron RAF (Fleet Air Arm from 1924)

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Specifications

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See also

• Derek N. James (1991). 085177847X, Putnam. 085177847X
• Owen Thetford (1978). 9780370300214, Putnam. ISBN 9780370300214

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