Westland N.1B
Westland Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1917 · fighter
The Westland N.1B was a prototype British single-engined floatplane fighter of the First World War. It was the first aircraft designed by Westland Aircraft.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Deep fuselage and two-bay wings that fold |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-engined tractor biplane of wooden construction on floats
- Deep fuselage and two-bay wings that fold
- Bentley rotary engine with a synchronised Vickers gun on the nose
Armament was a synchronised Vickers gun on the nose and a Lewis gun firing over the upper wing, and the wings had trailing-edge flaps.
Specifications
- The Westland N.1B has a length of 8.07 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.54 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 172 km/h (107 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It answered Admiralty Requirement N.1B of 1916 for a single-seat floatplane or flying boat fighter. The first aircraft was flown by Harry Hawker from Yeovil in August 1917.
Variants
Two were built. The first had Sopwith main floats and a tail float, while the second had longer main floats that removed the need for a tail float.
Where you'll see it
Both were evaluated at Port Victoria in October 1917 and showed good performance and handling, but the programme was cancelled because the RNAS was operating landplanes from ship platforms instead.
Related aircraft
- Westland Wagtail
- Westland Weasel
- Westland Limousine
- Westland Walrus
- AEG D.I
- AEG Dr.I
- Albatros C.XIII
- Albatros D.IX
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