Westland Widgeon (fixed wing)

For the 1950s helicopter , see Westland Widgeon (helicopter), for the 1940s Grumman amphibian, see Grumman G-44 Widgeon
Widgeon
Westland Widgeon III
Role Light Aircraft
National origin United Kingdom
Manufacturer Westland Aircraft
First flight 22 September 1924
Introduction 1927
Number built 26


The Westland Widgeon was a British light aircraft of the 1920s. A single engined parasol monoplane, the Widgeon was built in small numbers before Westland abandoned production in 1929.

Development and design

In 1924, the British Air Ministry, eager to encourage the development of cheap civil aircraft suitable for use by private owners and flying clubs, sponsored a competition for a two seat ultralight aircraft, which had to be powered by an engine of 1100 cc displacement or less and capable of carrying a load of at least 340 lb (155 kg). To meet this requirement, Westland Aircraft produced two designs, the Woodpigeon biplane, and the Widgeon parasol monoplane. Unable to decide which design would be superior, Westland decided to build both types.[1]

The Widgeon first flew at Westland's Yeovil factory on 22 September 1924, eight days after the first of two Woodpigeons.[2] Its fuselage, which was very similar to that of the Woodpigeon, was of mixed steel tube and wooden construction, while the wooden parasol wing, which was tapered in both chord and thickness,[3] folded for easy storage. It was powered by a single 1,090 cc Blackburne Thrush three cylinder radial engine, which produced 35 hp (26 kW).[4]

The Air Ministry Light Aircraft competition began at Lympne Aerodrome, Kent on 27 September. The Widgeon, which due to the use of the Thrush engine was badly underpowered (as was the Woodpigeon), crashed during the first day of trials.[2] Despite this setback, it was clear that the Widgeon had promise and was superior to the Woodpigeon, and the damaged prototype was rebuilt with a more powerful 60 hp (45 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Genet engine as the Widgeon II. Despite its much greater weight, the new engine transformed the Widgeon, the rebuilt aircraft being almost 40 mph (64 km/h) faster.[5]

Based on this experience, Westland decided to enter the Widgeon into production for the private owner. It was therefore redesigned with a simpler, constant chord, wing replacing the tapered wing of the Widgeon I and II to ease production. The resulting Widgeon III could be powered either a radial engine like the Genet or an inline engine such as the Cirrus. The first Widgeon III flew in March 1927, with production starting later that year.[6] The design was further refined with a duralumin tube fuselage and a new undercarriage to produce the Widgeon IIIA.

The Widgeon proved expensive compared to its competitors and a total of only 26 of all types, including the prototype, were built and sold before production was stopped in 1930 in order to allow Westland to concentrate of the Wapiti general purpose military aircraft and the Wessex airliner.[7]

Variants

Widgeon I
Powered by one 35 hp Blackburne Thrush radial engine. One built.
Widgeon II
Rebuild of Widgeon I with 60 hp Armstrong Siddeley Genet radial.
Widgeon III
Redesign for production. Powered by ADC Cirrus II or III inline engine, Genet II radial, ABC Hornet or de Havilland Gipsy.[8] 18 built.[9]
Widgeon IIIA
Variant of Widgeon III with metal fuselage and new undercarriage. Powered by Cirrus or Gipsy engine. Seven built.[9]

Specifications (IIIA)

Data from British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume III [8]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

  1. ↑ James 1991, p.104.
  2. 1 2 James 1991, p.111.
  3. ↑ Flight 25 September 1924, p.624.
  4. ↑ James 1991, p.110.
  5. ↑ James 1991, p.112.
  6. ↑ James 1991, p.114.
  7. ↑ James 1991, p.118.
  8. 1 2 Jackson 1988, p.243.
  9. 1 2 James 1991, p.120.
  10. ↑ Flight 28 July 1928, p.518.
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