Westland PV-3

The Westland PV -3 was built by Westland Aircraft in the 1930s, two-seat British torpedo bomber. It was a private development (PV = Private Venture ) based on the Westland Wapiti and was never produced in series. It was one of the two planes that flew together for the first time Mount Everest.

History

The aim of the development of this aircraft was flown for the first time in 1931 to awaken the British Air Ministry interest for a torpedo bomber version of the Westland Wapiti. After this had failed, upgraded to the one registered as G- ACAZ prototype aircraft. It received an additional rear cabin, and a 391 kW engine of the type Bristol Pegasus in order in 1933 to attempt to fly over Mount Everest. When launched in Yeovil trial flight the aircraft reached on 25 January 1933 amounting to 35,000 feet ( 10,668 meters).

On April 3, 1933, the Westland PV -3, flown by Lord Clydesdale and accompanied by a Westland PV -6, one of the first two planes that flew over Mount Everest. In July of that year it was exhibited in a Selfridges department store in London.

In December 1933, it was handed over to the military ID " K4048 " the Bristol Aircraft Company as a test bed for engines. The aircraft is sometimes referred to in honor of Lady Houston, which had financed the expedition in 1933, also known as " Houston - Westland ".

Specifications

Swell

• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985 ). Orbis Publishing.
• A. J. Jackson: British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3 Putnam, London 1974, ISBN 0 370 10014 X.