Westland Wizard
| Westland Wizard | |
|---|---|
| Role | Fighter aircraft |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Westland Aircraft |
| First flight | November 1926 |
| Introduction | 1928 |
| Retired | 1928 |
| Status | Retired |
| Number built | 1 |
The Westland Wizard was Westland Aircraft's first attempt to produce a monoplane fighter. The project was privately funded and the prototype design was done in the spare time of the company's engineers.[1] This all happened during 1926, with high-speed performance as the primary goal.
Design
The parasol monoplane design has not been in service with the Royal Air Force since the days of the First World War, when a number of Morane-Saulnier's were used. Since then the RAF has used single-seater, fighter class biplanes or at most sesquiplanes.[2] Usually the plane's lower wing was significantly smaller than the other wing, either in span, chord, or both. Sometimes the wing was only large enough to support the bracing struts for the upper wing. The Westland Widgeon, also a monoplane, had influenced the designers in their choice of wing arrangement. There is quite a strong resemblance between the Wizard and the Widgeon. It seems fair that the monoplane wing arrangement got the nod mainly on account of the view, which must be particularly good in the absence of a bottom wing.[citation needed] One should remember that Westland Aircraft had their own wind tunnel. They most likely carried experiments out to determine the effect of the wing arrangement chosen.[2]
The Wizard was an all-metal construction, except the wooden wings. Only the prototype's wing was of wood; metal was used in the succeeding aircraft.[2] The fuselage consisted of metal tubing, especially on the square section, although certain highly stressed members were of steel. Westland primarily used Duralumin, because it is a strong aluminium alloy. The undercarriage was of normal type, with the axle running across it. The same shock absorbing gear was used in the Wizard as well as all the other well-known Westland aeroplanes.[3] It used a medium-pressure vacuum chamber and oil dashpot with a tapering needle valve. An unusual type of a tailplane trimming gear was also fitted.
The monoplane wing had a reasonably thick section, which made it possible to bury the petrol tanks inside them, and the removal of these tanks was very simple. The bolts for the securing clamps were exposed on top and bottom of the wing, so one could remove them easily when necessary. Westland thereby saved fuselage space without adding very much to the wing drag, while cherishing the advantages of gravity fuel feed and the reduction in fire risks.[3]
The cockpit was more or less in line with the trailing edge of the wing. The seat was of such a height that the pilot's eyes were in the neighbourhood of being level with the wing. This enabled him to look either over or under the wing. The height of the seat was pliable on the ground, and the rudder bar could be set up for two positions to suit different pilots.[3] The two Vickers machine guns, one on each side, were placed with their feed and locks inside the cockpit and within easy reach. In the event of jamming or other non-functioning of the guns, the pilot could see and reach the locks and operating mechanism of both guns without difficulty.
The engine mounting was specially designed so that after removing the cowling, the engine could be lifted out without harassing the fuselage structure. The possibility of fitting a supercharged engine was also kept in mind, and the addition of a supercharger to the Rolls-Royce F.XI engine would require no structural alterations. A retractable radiator was used, and it extended throughout the floor of the fuselage just behind the rear undercarriage struts. It had been found that this ability of the radiator had the double advantage of offering a minimum drag and at the same time keeping the pilot's cockpit well heated.
Development
During the prototype stages this unarmed, umbrella-shaped monoplane was known as the Racer. The engineers used mingled construction methods to erect the prototype. The Racer was powered by a 275 HP Rolls-Royce Falcon III, and its test flight took place in November 1926. During 1927 the Racer was forced to do an emergency landing and was badly damaged. The design was modified and the prototype reconstructed, forming the Wizard. In this newly designed form, the aeroplane consisted mainly of a metal structure, to which a 490 HP unsupercharged Rolls-Royce Kestrel water-cooled engine was fitted. The engine was fitted in a more streamlined nose cone, with a retractable radiator in the underside of the fuselage. During late 1927 the Wizard was airborne.
The Wizard used a similar umbrella-shaped wing such as the Racer. This was mounted close to the fuselage on tandem pylons on the fuselage centreline. The armament consisted of two 7.7 mm Vickers machine guns which were mounted semi-externally in the fuselage sides. The Wizard's performance, especially its rate of climb, attracted a fraction of the Air Ministry's concern. Westland got a contract to do flight testing at Martlesham Heath. At Martlesham Heath they lifted some points in which the Wizard should improve. One was the fact that the pilot's forward view was unacceptable. Westland then redesigned and fitted a new wing with a changed platform outboard. The new platform had a thinner centre section and had new inset ailerons. It was also mounted on more conventional cabinet strutting. The engine was also replaced with its superior model, the supercharged 500 HP Kestrel II.
During the summer of 1928, the Wizard made its first public appearance at the Royal Air Force Display at Hendon, among the other new single-seater fighters.[2] The Wizard attracted a great deal of attention, mainly because of its clean lines and generally attractive appearance. The production of a modern service type for the R.A.F. is largely a utilities competition. One should also remember that many a designer has failed to get his machine accepted, not because its performance was inferior to that of other types in the same class, but because one of the utilities was not as good as the corresponding one on another machine.[citation needed]
The Wizard was sometimes known in its final form as the Wizard II. In this new form it featured a decrease in performance, and failed to gain enough of the confidence of the Air Ministry for the Ministry to change its policy towards monoplane fighters. The plane failed to meet the expectations, and only one prototype, with serial number J 9252, was built.[1]
Specifications (Mk.II)
Data from Flight International.[4]
General characteristicsDuration: 30 minutes at ground level, plus 2 hours at 15,000 ft (4570m)
Performance
- Fuel capacity: 68 gallons (310 litres)
- Oil capacity: 5 gallons (22.7 litres)
Armament
- Guns: 2× Vickers machine guns, with Aldis sight.
- Bombs: 4× 20 pound high explosive bombs.
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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