Westland: Wapiti
Note: This is a sub-section of Westland Aircraft.
Type
- Military single-engined biplane.
Designer
Manufacturers
Number produced
- 558
Engines
- 1 x Bristol Engine Co: Jupiter VI 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 420 hp (313 kW).
The Westland Wapiti was a British two-seat general purpose military single-engined biplane of the 1920s. It was designed and built by Westland Aircraft Works to replace the Airco DH.9A in Royal Air Force service.
Variants
Wapiti I - Initial production version for the RAF. Wooden structure. Powered by a 420 hp (313 kW) Bristol Jupiter VI radial piston engine. 25 built for RAF.
Wapiti IA - Improved version for the RAAF. Powered by a 480 hp (358 kW) geared Bristol Jupiter VIIIF radial piston engine and divided-axle main undercarriage. 28 built.
Wapiti IB - Similar to the Wapiti IA. Four exported to South Africa. Later re-engined with the 525 hp (392 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Panther. Increased fuel.
Wapiti II - Pre-production version with all-metal rear fuselage and wing structure replacing wooden structures of Wapiti I. Powered by Jupiter VIII engine. 10 built.
Wapiti IIA - Major production version with tropical equipment and partial dual controls, and able to use wheel or float landing gear.[16] Initially powered by Jupiter VIII. 430 built.
Wapiti III - Two-seat general-purpose biplane for the SAAF based on Wapiti IIA. Powered by 480 hp (358 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar VI or 550 hp (410 kW) Panther VI engines. Four built by Westland followed by 27 under licence in SAAF Workshops.
Wapiti IV - Project for Hispano-Suiza 12N powered aircraft with long fuselage for Spain. One long fuselage aircraft designated Wapiti IV may have been delivered to Chinese Warlord Zhang Xueliang in 1931.
Wapiti V - Long-fuselage army co-operation version for RAF, fitted with message pick-up hook, stronger undercarriage and powered by a 600 hp (448 kW) Jupiter VIIIF. 35 built.
Wapiti VI - Unarmed dual control training version for the RAF. 16 built.
Wapiti VII - Converted Wapiti V prototype, original designated the Houston-Wallace P.V.6 before reconversion to Wapiti VII experimental aircraft.
Wapiti VIII - Long fuselage version for Central Chinese government. Powered by a Panther IIA, four built.