WESTLAND SURVIVAL RINGS PLUS

The forward fuselage was of metal tube structure with aluminium and fabric covering, while the rear fuselage was of fabric covered wooden construction.

WESTLAND SURVIVAL RINGS PLUS

It had tandem open cockpits and a fixed main undercarriage plus tail-skid. The Wapiti was a conventional single-engined equal span two-bay biplane with slight stagger. Westland had an advantage in that it had carried out the detailed design work for the DH.9A, and was already a major contractor for the DH.9A.

A large number of types were tendered to meet this requirement from most of the major British aircraft manufacturers, including Westland, who submitted the design that later became known as the Wapiti. To save time and money, the specification called for the use of a high proportion of DH.9A components, (as the RAF still held large stores of DH.9A spares), while it encouraged the use of an all-metal structure. In 1927, the British Air Ministry issued Specification 26/27 for a replacement of the elderly Airco DH.9A, designed during the First World War which still equipped the Royal Air Force's General Purpose squadrons. It also formed the basis for the Westland Wallace which partly replaced the Wapiti in RAF use. It equipped twenty squadrons of the RAF, both overseas (particularly in India and Iraq) and at home, remaining in RAF service until 1940, also being used by the Air Forces of Australia, Canada, South Africa and India.

It was designed and built by Westland Aircraft Works to replace the Airco DH.9A in Royal Air Force service.ДЇirst flying in 1927, the Wapiti entered service with the RAF in 1928, and remained in production until 1932, a total of 565 being built. The Westland Wapiti was a British two-seat general purpose military single-engined biplane of the 1920s.

Westland survival rings