Main Menu
Britain's Westland Lysander observation1,2,3
Nickname: "Lizzie"3
Westland Lysander observation |
Westland Lysander observation |
Westland Lysander observation plane being a target for the Home Guard |
Design
The design of the Westland Lysander first started in 1935.1 It was to replace the Hawker Hector biplane.3
Cockpit
The cockpit had transparent sides that provided the pilot with excellent views.1
Engine
The engine drove a pitch controllable de Havilland propeller that had a medium sized spinner.1 The engine was started by a Rotax electric engine.1
Fuselage
The Lysanders fuselage was made out of allow tubing in the front and welded steel tubing in the rear.1 There was fabric over wooden stringers.1
Undercarriage
The landing gear was fixed and made from machined aluminum alloy that was bent into shape.1
The tail wheel was fixed but could rotate completely.1
Wing
The wing was set high, with leading edge slats.1 There were Handley-Page flaps between the fuselage and elevators.1 The high wing allowed for a short takeoff and landing (STOL).3
Tail
The tail was all metal framing with a fabric cover.1
Armament
The armament was mounted on the wheel spats to be outside the arc of the propellar.3 The spats also could have stub wings that bombs could be attached to.3
Prototype
The Lysander prototype first flew on June 15, 1936.1,2,3
Production
- Prototypes: 23
- Lysander: 2251
- Manufacturer: National Steel Car Corporation in Canada1
- Lysander Mk I: 1693
- Lysander Mk II:
5173
- Manufacturer: Westland in the United Kingdom and National Steel Corporation (753) in Canada.2
- Lysander Mk III: 5173
- Manufacturer: Canada (150)3
- Lysander Mk IIIA: 3473
- Lysander TT.IIIA: 1003
- Total: 1,3682, 1,6521,3
- Production: May 1938 - late 19383
Variants
- Lysander Mk I: Had Bristol Mercury XII radial engine (890 HP).2,3
- Lysander Mk II: Had Bristol Perseus XII radial engine (950 HP).2,3
- Lysander Mk III: Had the Mercury XX or Mercury XXX radial engine (870 HP).2,3
- Lysander Mk IIIA: Air sea rescue.1 Could drop dinghies to men in the water.1
- Lysander Mk III (SCW) / Mk III (SD): Had a large fuel tank added under the fuselage.3
- Lysander TT.IIIA: Target tug.3
Usage
Westland Lysanders were used by Britain, Canada, Egypt, Eire, Finland, France, Portugal, and Turkey.3
Lysanders were used in Burma, Egypt, Europe, Greece, India, and Palestine.1,3
Enters Service
The Lysander entered RAF service in May 1938.1,2 The first was No 16 Squadron based at Old Sarum.2
Eventually there would be 30 squadrons equipped with the Lysander.1,2,3
Spy Plane
Lysanders are probably most well known for their clandestine operations in Europe.1,3 They could land in fields as short as 650' / 200m to deliver (or retrieve) supplies or people.1
Versatile
At times the Lysander was used for ground attack and even as a day and night fighter.3 A Heinkel He 111 was claimed to have been shot down by a Lysander.3
| Westland Lysander3 | Westland Lysander Mk I2 | Westland Lysander Mk II3 | Westland Lysander Mk III1 | Westland Lysander Mk III(SD)3 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Army cooperation3 | Liason2 Reconnaissance2 |
Liason1 Observation1 Air sea rescue1 |
||
| Crew | 23 | 22 | |||
| Engine (Type) | Bristol Mercury XII piston2,3 | Perseus XII3 | Bristol Mercury XX piston1,2,3 | ||
| OR | Bristol Mercury XXX2,3 | ||||
| Cylinders | Radial2, Radial 93 | Radial 93 | Radial1,2 | ||
| Cooling | |||||
| HP | 8902,3 | 9053 | 8701,2,3 | ||
| Propeller blades | 33 | 33 | 31,3 | ||
| Dimensions | |||||
| Span | 50'3 15.24 m3 |
50'2 15.24 m2 |
50'1 15.24 m1 |
||
| Length | 30' 6"3 9.3 m3 |
30' 6"2 9.3 m2 |
30' 6"1 9.3 m1 |
||
| Height | 14' 6"3 4.42 m3 |
11' 6"2 3.51 m2 |
14' 6"1 4.42 m1 |
||
| Wing area | 260 ft2 2 24.15 m2 2 |
260 ft2 1 24.15 m2 1 |
|||
| Weight | |||||
| Empty | 4,065 lb2 1,844 kg2 |
4,356 lb1, 4,365 lb3 1,980 kg1,3 |
|||
| Loaded | 5,920 lb2 2,685 kg2 |
6,305 lb1, 6,318 lb3 2,866 kg1,3 |
10,000 lb3 4,536 kg3 |
||
| Performance | |||||
| Speed @ 5,000' / 1,525 m |
211 mph1, 212 mph3 341 kph1,3 |
||||
| Speed @ 10,000' / 3,050 m |
229 mph2 369 kph2 |
||||
| Climb to 5,000' / 1,525 m3 |
4.1 minutes3 | ||||
| Climb to 10,000' / 3,050 m |
5.5 minutes2 | ||||
| Service ceiling | 26,000'2 7,925 m2 |
21,500'3, 21,800'1 6,553 m3, 6,655 m1 |
|||
| Range | 600 miles2 966 km2 |
600 miles1,3 965 km3, 966 km1 |
1,400 miles3 2,253 km3 |
||
| Armament | |||||
| Wheel spat | 2: 0.303" MG3 | 2: 7.7 mm MG2 | 2: 7.7 mm Browning MG1 | ||
| Rear cockpit | 1 or 2: 0.303" MG3 | 2: 7.7 mm MG2 | 2: 7.7 mm Browning MG1 | ||
| Flares, rockets, bombs | 500 lb3 227 kg3 |
8: 20 lb2 8: 907 kg2 |
500 lb1 227 kg1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
