Westland Walrus
Westland Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1921 · fighter
The Westland Walrus was a British two-seat carrier-borne spotter-reconnaissance biplane of the early 1920s. It was designed to replace wartime types aboard Royal Navy vessels.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.07 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-engine two-bay biplane with staggered wings
- 1920s British carrier-capable spotter design
- Open cockpit with distinctive interplane struts
A compact two-bay biplane with equal-span staggered wings, a single radial engine, and conventional fixed undercarriage typical of early 1920s British naval aircraft.
Specifications
- The Westland Walrus has a length of 9.07 m (30 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.07 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 200 km/h (124 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed to Specification 3/21 for a fleet spotter aircraft, the Walrus first flew in 1921 and underwent carrier trials aboard HMS Hermes. Production was limited and the type saw only brief operational use before being superseded. It should not be confused with the later Supermarine Walrus amphibian.
Variants
Only a small number were built as prototypes and evaluation aircraft; no major production variants were developed.
Where you'll see it
Operated by the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm for evaluation and limited fleet spotter duties in the early 1920s, it was quickly replaced by more capable designs.
Related aircraft
- Westland Dreadnought
- Westland Weasel
- Westland Wapiti
- Westland IV
- Avia BH-3
- Fokker D.IX
- Fokker D.X
- Fokker PW-5
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