Westland fixed-wing aircraft-Surviving examples?

It’s surprising how little of an original aircraft you need to make an airworthy one!

In fact you don’t need any of it at all. When it comes to re-using old bits, however, the less original the more likely to be airworthy, and vice versa.

G-AAGH

dbf after colliding with a hanger at Merryfield Aerodrome, Somerset 27-7-48

dh83

Last Widgeon Flight in the UK

Well done on the progress. I wonder when one last flew in the UK?

Tim

G-AAGH around 1948 I think. Not a good day for Harald Penrose. Chocks please……………………oh no………:(

It’s surprising how little of an original aircraft you need to make an airworthy one!

I saw the Wapiti at Palam in 1981. It looked very tatty, and the “engine” seemed to be made of wood. According to Leslie Hunt in “Veteran & Vintage Aircraft” it was ex A Flight, 1 Sqd, and at Kanpur 1 Base Repair Depot for 20 years.

According to the latest aircraft mags, the Indian Air Force Historic Flight’s plans include making a Wapiti airworthy. Surely this can’t be the one in the museum, which only just about looks like a Wapiti with so many ‘bodge jobs’ done to it?

Hello,

First time posting here but I read this forum for months.

Account two Lysander in Belgium.
The Sabena Old Timers are restoring two of them:
– their own aircraft after it made an hard landing after an engine failure.
– One for static display for the “Musée de l’armée” in Brussels.

Regards
Iclo

What is the state of the Whirlwind replica that was being built?

http://whirlwindfighterproject.webs.com/

See above.

I saw the Wapiti at Palam in 1981. It looked very tatty, and the “engine” seemed to be made of wood. According to Leslie Hunt in “Veteran & Vintage Aircraft” it was ex A Flight, 1 Sqd, and at Kanpur 1 Base Repair Depot for 20 years.

If it counts, Spitfire AR213 was also Westland built.

It’s a great rebuild,(lot’s of refurbished original bits) but it’s a Vickers product, not Westland….

Wildebeeste

There is a Wildebeeste being restored just outside Auckland NZ (in a private collection, not at Ardmore but north of the city) – like most restorations it consists of a few original bits and much newly-made material. This is a really rare aircraft. (The same facility also contains several other interesting restorations including no less than 3 Hawker Hart/Hind, one of which is close to completion.)

There is also the MK IIA Wapiti remains here in Australia , once owned by me and passed on to a local restorer.

cheers dave

I’ve seen it recently…:D

I am also lead to believe that Widgeon VH-UHU is now under active rebuild.:)

Update on G-EUKS ( Ex-VH-UKS ) Fuselage rebuilt / recovered and fitted out, tail group O/H, recovered and painted, engine has returned from O/H by Vintech ( What a great Job ) Engine has been installed in to airframe for cowlings to be made and fitted. Now its the wings, all ribs and spars are made. Next….!:)

Well done on the progress. I wonder when one last flew in the UK?

Tim

wapiti

Hi having seen internal pics of the IAF Palam wapiti there is original airframe in there , was a great help in identifying some of the airframe parts i had.

cheers dave

G-EUKS

Update on G-EUKS ( Ex-VH-UKS ) Fuselage rebuilt / recovered and fitted out, tail group O/H, recovered and painted, engine has returned from O/H by Vintech ( What a great Job ) Engine has been installed in to airframe for cowlings to be made and fitted. Now its the wings, all ribs and spars are made. Next….!:)

Wapiti MK IIA

There is also the MK IIA Wapiti remains here in Australia , once owned by me and passed on to a local restorer.

cheers dave

Having seen the “Wapiti” at Palam in person, I’d be hard pressed to say that anything original of significance exists within the “airframe”. Sad to say, it appears to be an extremely crude replica at best. Does anyone know the history behind this restoration/recreation?

Agreed its not a complete airframe (No Engine, Main wheels, tailskid etc) but it had been built up from an original airframe as far as information goes. It was an airframe that may have been built up in the late 50s based on stuff lying around at Kanpur – ex 302 MU I guess. The aircraft including the Hurricane and Spit VIII were present in Kanpur in the 50s – apparently in some temporary museum. Only in 1967 were the ac hauled to New Delhi to establish the IAF Museum.

Ah thanks Judwin, I have some photos of the last Gannets to be overhauled and they are captioned WSM, so that will explain it.

Richard – the Everest project machines fuselage has been on display at Shuttleworth for a number of years -sadly the project stalled as film projects often do a long time ago.

We got G-EUKS Ex- VH-UKS from Oz in feb this year, we had always wanted one. The aircraft is in “GOOD” condition, will need new main spars etc.The cirrus II engine has gone for O/H.

Civil Aircraft.

What EXCELLENT news. I never thought that a fixed wing Widgeon would ever grace UK skies again – wish you all the best with the restoration.

Tim