Westland Limousine
The Westland Limousine was a single-engined biplane of the British manufacturer Westland Aircraft from the period after the First World War. The system, designed for three or five passengers aircraft was the first developed by Westland civilian model. With only eight built copies of the hoped-for economic success did not come.
History
After the end of World War II, the aviation industry was expecting a high demand for civilian transport aircraft. Westland then developed a light transport aircraft for a pilot and three passengers. The first flight of the prototype sedan I took place in July 1919. The first series sedan model II was completed in October 1919, which four additional copies followed.
For the 1920 competition ausgelobten from the Air Ministry a larger version with five passenger seats, the sedan III was born. The plane won the first prize. After the construction of a second copy for Instone Air Line production was stopped due to lack of demand.
Construction
The aircraft had a wooden frame. The front half of the fuselage was covered with plywood, the rear part and the wings were covered with fabric.
Was powered by a Rolls -Royce Falcon III engine. A limousine II received a tentative Cosmos Jupiter engine, which was later replaced by a Falcon III. The sedan III received a Napier Lion engine.
The aircraft had a designed for three or five passengers enclosed cab. The pilot was in the back part of the cabin on an elevated place and was able to look beyond the canopy.
Use
The prototype and the first production model was used from September 1920 for two months as a mail plane between Croydon and Le Bourget. Two of the four remaining Limousine II came into possession of the Instone Air Line and plied between London and Paris or Brussels.
The first sedan III came into the possession of the Aerial Survey Company ( Newfoundland ). The occasionally equipped with skids aircraft took individuals for hunting and fishing trips. Two Limousine II also came to Newfoundland and transported mail and passengers to remote parts of the country.