Westland PV-3
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2015}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = PV-3
|image = WPV3.jpg
|caption = Westland PV-3 at Martlesham in December 1931
|type = Torpedo bomber
|manufacturer = Westland Aircraft
|designer = Arthur Davenport
|first_flight = February 1931
|introduction = 1933
|retired =
|status =
|primary_user = Royal Geographical Society
|more_users = Royal Air Force
|produced =
|number_built = 1
|unit cost =
|variants =
}}
The Westland PV-3 was a British two-seat torpedo bomber of the 1930s built by Westland Aircraft Works. The aircraft was a private venture development and based on the Westland Wapiti. It never entered production. The aircraft is best known as one of the first two to fly over Everest as part of the Houston-Mount Everest Flight Expedition.
History
The PV-3 design was produced in 1930 as a private venture two-seat aircraft that could be used as either a carrier-based torpedo bomber intended to carry a new lightweight torpedo being developed by the Admiralty, or as an army-co-operation aircraft.Mason 1994, p.221. As such, it was a development of the Wapiti, with an all-metal structure and folding two-bay wings. It was powered by a 575 hp (429 kW) Bristol Jupiter XFA radial engine, having a defensive armament of one forward-firing Vickers machine gun and a Lewis gun on a Scarff ring on the observer's cockpit. It could carry either the planned 1,000 lb (455 kg) torpedo under the fuselage or an equivalent weight of bombs under the wings.James 1991, pp.195–197.
It first flew in February 1931, showing good performance (in particular, a high ceiling) and handling when tested by the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Martlesham Heath. Despite this, no orders resulted, and the lightweight torpedo was cancelled.James 1991, p.197.
In November 1932, the PV-3 was chosen, together with the Westland PV-6 (the prototype of the Westland Wallace) for the Houston Mount Everest Flying Expedition to fly over and photograph Mount Everest. The aircraft, now registered G-ACAZ, was remodelled with a rear cabin and a 630 hp Bristol Pegasus engine driving a large diameter propeller.James 1991, p.198. It was test flown from Yeovil in the new configuration, and on 25 January 1933 reached a height of 35,000 ft.James 1991, p.200.
Flown by Lord Clydesdale with Stewart Blacker as observer and photographer,{{citation |magazine=Flight |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1933/1933%20-%201200.html |title=Book Reviews |date=7 December 1933 |page=1248}} it was accompanied by the Wallace as, on 3 April 1933, the two aircraft became the first to fly over Mount Everest, flying over Kangchenjunga on 4 April and making a second flight over Everest (as the initial flight had produced inadequate photographs for map-making) on 19 April 1933.James 2008, pp24-25. The PV-3 was later exhibited at Selfridges department store in London in July 1933. In December 1933 the aircraft, given the military serial K4048, was issued to Bristol Aircraft as an engine testbed.Jackson 1988, p.365. The aircraft is also referred to as the Houston-Westland in honour of Lady Houston who had financed the 1933 expedition.
Operators
Specifications (Houston Westland)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Westland Aircraft since 1915 James 1991, pp.200–201.
|prime units?=imp
|crew=2
|length ft=34
|length in=2
|length note=
|span ft=46
|span in=6
|span note=
|height ft=11
|height in=8
|height note=
|wing area sqft=500
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb=3420
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=5100
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Bristol Pegasus IS3
|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
|eng1 hp=630
|eng1 note=
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=
|max speed mph=163
|max speed note=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|range miles=
|range note=
|combat range miles=
|combat range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling ft=35000
|ceiling note=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude={{cvt|20000|ft|-2}} in 20 minutes
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|more performance=
}}
References
{{reflist}}
- {{cite book |title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985)|publisher= Orbis Publishing}}
- {{cite magazine |last=James |first= Derek|date=April 2008|title=To the Top of the World |magazine= Aeroplane|volume= 36 |issue=4 |pages=20–25|publisher=IPC|location=London|issn= 0143-7240 }}
- {{cite book |title= Westland Aircraft since 1915|last= James|first= Derek N.|year=1991 |publisher= Putnam|location= London|isbn= 0-85177-847-X}}
- {{cite book |last= Jackson|first= A.J.|title= British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 3|year= 1988|publisher= Putnam|location= London|isbn=0-85177-818-6 }}
- {{Cite book |author=Mason, Francis K|title=The British Bomber since 1914 |publisher=Putnam Aeronautical Books|location= London |year=1994 |isbn= 0-85177-861-5}}
External links
{{commons category|Westland PV-3}}
- [http://www.whl.co.uk/history_w_houston.cfm Westland Data Sheet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923213229/http://www.whl.co.uk/history_w_houston.cfm |date=23 September 2006 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181109/http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=586 Westland PV.3] – British Aircraft Directory
{{Westland aircraft}}
Category:1930s British bomber aircraft
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1931