Westland Witch: Difference between revisions
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The '''Westland Witch''' was an unsuccessful British [[bomber]] prototype, first flown in 1928. Only a single aircraft of this type was built. |
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{{Use British English|date=March 2018}} |
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{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin |
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin |
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| name=Westland Witch |
| name=Westland Witch |
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| image= |
| image=WestlandWitch.jpg |
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| caption= |
| caption= |
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}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type |
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type |
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| national origin=[[United Kingdom]] |
| national origin=[[United Kingdom]] |
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| manufacturer=[[Westland Aircraft]] |
| manufacturer=[[Westland Aircraft]] |
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| designer=[[Arthur Davenport (engineer)|Arthur Davenport]] |
| designer=[[Arthur Davenport (aeronautical engineer)|Arthur Davenport]] |
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| first flight=30 January 1928 |
| first flight=30 January 1928 |
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| introduced= |
| introduced= |
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}} |
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The '''Westland Witch''' was an unsuccessful British [[bomber]] prototype, first flown in 1928. Only a single aircraft of this type was built. |
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==Development== |
==Development== |
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The Witch was developed to [[List of Air Ministry specifications|specification]] 23/25 for a single-engined day bomber operating at high altitude.<ref name="meekcoms">K.J. Meekcoms and E.B. Morgan ''The British Aircraft Specifications File'', Air-Britain, UK 1994.</ref> This specification initially requested the use of the Bristol Orion, a turbocharged version of the [[Bristol Jupiter]], but other variants of the Jupiter were substituted after development of the Orion encountered difficulties. All aircraft submitted to 23/25 suffered from engine problems, and none of them |
The Witch was developed to [[List of Air Ministry specifications|specification]] 23/25 for a single-engined day bomber operating at high altitude.<ref name="meekcoms">K.J. Meekcoms and E.B. Morgan ''The British Aircraft Specifications File'', Air-Britain, UK 1994.</ref> This specification initially requested the use of the Bristol Orion, a turbocharged version of the [[Bristol Jupiter]], but other variants of the Jupiter were substituted after development of the Orion encountered difficulties. All aircraft submitted to 23/25 suffered from engine problems, and none of them were put into production. |
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The Witch employed a strut-braced [[parasol wing|parasol monoplane]] configuration. The wing was of wood and steel construction and spanned a generous {{convert|61|ft|m|abbr=on}}. The fuselage was built from duralumin and steel tubes, covered with fabric, |
The Witch employed a strut-braced [[parasol wing|parasol monoplane]] configuration. The wing was of wood and steel construction and spanned a generous {{convert|61|ft|m|abbr=on}}. The fuselage was built from duralumin and steel tubes, covered with fabric, with an uncowled Jupiter engine in the nose. The Witch had a crew of two, pilot and gunner/bombardier. The latter had a cockpit with a [[Lewis gun]] on a [[Scarff ring]] aft of the pilot, but could also employ this for a prone bomb-aiming position. |
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A bomb bay was incorporated in the fuselage in front of the pilot, with four doors which could be opened by the bombardier or would open under the weight of the dropped bombs. As specified in 23/25, a single 520 |
A bomb bay was incorporated in the fuselage in front of the pilot, with four doors which could be opened by the bombardier or would open under the weight of the dropped bombs. As specified in 23/25, a single 520 lb bomb could be carried, or a number of smaller weapons.<ref name="king">H.F. King, ''Armament of British Aircraft 1909-1939'', Military Book Society, UK 1971.</ref> The presence of a bomb bay in the fuselage required a complicated split-axle arrangement for the fixed undercarriage, which was braced to the fuselage and the wing struts. A cross-axle would have been in path of the falling bombs.<ref name = "mason1">F.K. Mason, ''The British Bomber since 1914'', Putnam UK 1994</ref> |
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The prototype of the Witch, serial J8596, was first flown on 30 January 1928 at [[RAF Andover]], with Louis Paget at the controls. The type was praised for its stability as a bombing platform, and its 138 |
The prototype of the Witch, serial J8596, was first flown on 30 January 1928 at [[RAF Andover]], with Louis Paget at the controls. The type was praised for its stability as a bombing platform, and its 138 mph maximum speed was good, although its 62 mph landing speed was felt to be too fast. However, the Witch was judged unsuitable for service due to structural weaknesses, including a number of failures of the landing gear struts and other components.<ref name = "mason2">T. Mason, ''British Flight Testing Martlesham Heath 1920-1939'', Putnam UK 1993</ref> |
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The same aircraft was nevertheless presented again |
The same aircraft was nevertheless presented again the next year in Mk.II form, with a Jupiter VIIIF engine replacing the earlier Jupiter VI, and was used for testing of parachutes until 1931.<ref name="mason1"/> |
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<!-- ==Operational history== --> |
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<!-- ==Variants== --> |
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<!-- ==Units using this aircraft/Operators (choose)== --> |
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==Specifications (Witch Mk.I) == |
==Specifications (Witch Mk.I) == |
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{{Aircraft specs |
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|ref=''F.K. Mason, ''The British Bomber since 1914'', Putnam UK 1994'' |
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{{aircraft specifications |
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|prime units?=imp |
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<!-- |
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|plane or copter?=plane |
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General characteristics |
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|jet or prop?=prop |
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--> |
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|ref=F.K. Mason, ''The British Bomber since 1914'', Putnam UK 1994 |
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|crew=2 |
|crew=2 |
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|length ft=37 |
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|capacity= <!-- the number of passengers carried in the case of a commercial aircraft--> |
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|length in=8 |
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|payload main= |
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|length note= |
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|span ft=61 |
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|payload more= |
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|span in=0 |
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|length main= 37 ft 8 in |
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|span note= |
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|length alt= 11.48 m |
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|height ft=11 |
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|span main= 61 ft 0 in |
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|height in=6 |
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|span alt= 18.59 m |
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|height |
|height note= |
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|wing area sqft=534 |
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|height alt= 3.51 m |
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|area |
|wing area note= |
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|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes --> |
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|area alt= 49.61 sq.m |
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|airfoil= |
|airfoil= |
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|empty weight |
|empty weight lb=3380 |
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|empty weight |
|empty weight note= |
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|gross weight lb=6050 |
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|gross weight note= |
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|max takeoff weight lb= |
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|useful load main= |
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|max takeoff weight note= |
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|useful load alt= |
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|fuel capacity= |
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|max takeoff weight main= |
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|max takeoff weight alt= |
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|max takeoff weight more= |
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|more general= |
|more general= |
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<!-- |
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Powerplant |
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--> |
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|eng1 number=1 |
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|eng1 name=[[Bristol Jupiter VI]] |
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|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine |
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|eng1 hp=420 |
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|eng1 note= |
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|prop blade number=2 |
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|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller |
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|type of prop=Bristol Jupiter VI |
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|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |
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|number of props=1 |
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|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |
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|power main= 420 hp |
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|prop dia note= |
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|power alt= 314 kW |
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<!-- |
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|power original= |
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Performance |
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|power more= |
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--> |
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|max speed mph=138 |
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|propeller or rotor?=<!-- options: propeller/rotor --> |
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|max speed note=at {{cvt|6500|ft}} |
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|propellers= |
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|cruise speed mph= |
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|number of propellers per engine= |
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|cruise speed note= |
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|propeller diameter main= |
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|stall speed mph= |
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|propeller diameter alt= |
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|stall speed note= |
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|never exceed speed mph= |
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|never exceed speed note= |
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|range miles= |
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|max speed more= |
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|range note= |
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|cruise speed main= |
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|combat range miles= |
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|cruise speed alt= |
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|combat range note= |
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|cruise speed more |
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|ferry range miles= |
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|stall speed main= |
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|ferry range note= |
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|endurance=<!-- if range unknown --> |
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|stall speed more= |
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|ceiling ft=19000 |
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|never exceed speed main= |
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|ceiling note= |
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|never exceed speed alt= |
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|climb rate ftmin= |
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|range main= |
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|climb rate note= |
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|range alt= |
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|time to altitude={{cvt|6500|ft}} in 14 minutes 12 seconds |
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|ferry range main= |
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|wing loading lb/sqft= |
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|ferry range alt= |
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|wing loading note= |
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|ferry range more= |
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|fuel consumption lb/mi= |
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|ceiling main= 19000 ft |
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|power/mass= |
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|ceiling alt= 5800 m |
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|climb rate main= 6500 ft in 14 min 12 sec |
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|climb rate alt= 1380 m in 14 min 12 sec |
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|loading main= |
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|loading alt= |
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|thrust/weight= |
|thrust/weight= |
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|power/mass main= |
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|power/mass alt= |
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|more performance= |
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|more performance=<!--</br> |
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|armament=<!-- if you want to use the following specific parameters, do not use this line at all--> |
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*'''Take-off run:''' {{cvt||ft|0}} |
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*'''Take-off distance to {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}} |
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*'''Landing run:''' {{cvt||ft|0}} |
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*'''Landing distance from {{cvt|50|ft|0}}:''' {{cvt||ft|0}}--> |
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<!-- |
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Armament |
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--> |
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|guns= one fixed .303 Vickers operated by the pilot; one .303 Lewis in the rear cockpit |
|guns= one fixed .303 Vickers operated by the pilot; one .303 Lewis in the rear cockpit |
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|bombs= up to 520lb internally |
|bombs= up to 520lb internally |
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|rockets= |
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|missiles= |
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|hardpoints= |
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|hardpoint capacity= |
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|avionics= |
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}} |
}} |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{commons category|Westland Witch}} |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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{{refbegin}} |
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{{refend}} |
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<!-- ==External links== --> |
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{{ |
{{Westland aircraft}} |
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[[Category:British bomber aircraft |
[[Category:1920s British bomber aircraft]] |
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[[Category:Westland aircraft|Witch]] |
[[Category:Westland aircraft|Witch]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Parasol-wing aircraft]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]] |
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Latest revision as of 04:31, 8 November 2024
| Westland Witch | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Bomber |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Westland Aircraft |
| Designer | Arthur Davenport |
| First flight | 30 January 1928 |
| Retired | 1931 |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 1 |
The Westland Witch was an unsuccessful British bomber prototype, first flown in 1928. Only a single aircraft of this type was built.
Development
[edit]The Witch was developed to specification 23/25 for a single-engined day bomber operating at high altitude.[1] This specification initially requested the use of the Bristol Orion, a turbocharged version of the Bristol Jupiter, but other variants of the Jupiter were substituted after development of the Orion encountered difficulties. All aircraft submitted to 23/25 suffered from engine problems, and none of them were put into production.
The Witch employed a strut-braced parasol monoplane configuration. The wing was of wood and steel construction and spanned a generous 61 ft (19 m). The fuselage was built from duralumin and steel tubes, covered with fabric, with an uncowled Jupiter engine in the nose. The Witch had a crew of two, pilot and gunner/bombardier. The latter had a cockpit with a Lewis gun on a Scarff ring aft of the pilot, but could also employ this for a prone bomb-aiming position.
A bomb bay was incorporated in the fuselage in front of the pilot, with four doors which could be opened by the bombardier or would open under the weight of the dropped bombs. As specified in 23/25, a single 520 lb bomb could be carried, or a number of smaller weapons.[2] The presence of a bomb bay in the fuselage required a complicated split-axle arrangement for the fixed undercarriage, which was braced to the fuselage and the wing struts. A cross-axle would have been in path of the falling bombs.[3]
The prototype of the Witch, serial J8596, was first flown on 30 January 1928 at RAF Andover, with Louis Paget at the controls. The type was praised for its stability as a bombing platform, and its 138 mph maximum speed was good, although its 62 mph landing speed was felt to be too fast. However, the Witch was judged unsuitable for service due to structural weaknesses, including a number of failures of the landing gear struts and other components.[4]
The same aircraft was nevertheless presented again the next year in Mk.II form, with a Jupiter VIIIF engine replacing the earlier Jupiter VI, and was used for testing of parachutes until 1931.[3]
Specifications (Witch Mk.I)
[edit]Data from F.K. Mason, The British Bomber since 1914, Putnam UK 1994
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 37 ft 8 in (11.48 m)
- Wingspan: 61 ft 0 in (18.59 m)
- Height: 11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
- Wing area: 534 sq ft (49.6 m2)
- Empty weight: 3,380 lb (1,533 kg)
- Gross weight: 6,050 lb (2,744 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Jupiter VI 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 420 hp (310 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 138 mph (222 km/h, 120 kn) at 6,500 ft (2,000 m)
- Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,800 m)
- Time to altitude: 6,500 ft (2,000 m) in 14 minutes 12 seconds
Armament
- Guns: one fixed .303 Vickers operated by the pilot; one .303 Lewis in the rear cockpit
- Bombs: up to 520lb internally
See also
[edit]Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westland Witch.
- ^ K.J. Meekcoms and E.B. Morgan The British Aircraft Specifications File, Air-Britain, UK 1994.
- ^ H.F. King, Armament of British Aircraft 1909-1939, Military Book Society, UK 1971.
- ^ a b F.K. Mason, The British Bomber since 1914, Putnam UK 1994
- ^ T. Mason, British Flight Testing Martlesham Heath 1920-1939, Putnam UK 1993