Westland Aircraft Books - History, Types and Construction

75 Years of Westland Aviation Advertisements 1915-1990

This compilation of British aviation industry advertisements comprises the listings for Westland Aircraft from 1915 to 1990. It is one of a series of compilations providing a unique source of reference for researchers, enthusiasts and anyone interested in the timelines of British aviation industry companies.
The advertisement images are reproduced at one per page and without any accompanying narrative. Each item includes the source, title and original date of publication.

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From Lysander to Lightning - Teddy Petter, Aircraft Designer

The Lysander, Canberra, Lightning and Folland Gnat are massive names in the world of aviation. Only three aspects bound together these top-class aircraft: they were each radical in design, they were all successful in Britain and overseas, and they were all born of the genius of Teddy Petter.

This book tells the story of Petter's life and family, with his ability to inspire the loyalty of his teams, as well as his tendencies and his eccentricities, right down to his retirement to a religious commune in France. Here Glyn Davies not only explores Petter's life, but also expands on the nature of his remarkable aircraft and why they are so legendary.

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Westland Whirlwind Mk. I

The Westland Whirlwind belongs to that category of aircraft which entered production but failed to live up to their designers' expectations. Its unreliable engines can be seen as a major reason for this but it only serves to hide other serious problems.
Indeed, even with better engines the results would probably have been the same, as the concept of a twin-engined fighter aircraft capable of meeting single-engined fighters escorting bombers formations on an equal footing was fallacious, as combat in WW2 was soon to prove.

The true story of the Whirwind and the pilots who flew it is here told in 52 pages with almost 50 photographs, many being published for the first time.

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Lysander - L'avion qui venait de Londres

During the Second World War, one of the most surprising aircraft of the RAF was undoubtedly the "Lysander".
The Lysander was used and became famous for the clandestine transport of special agents between France and England. But who remembers its use as a reconnaissance aircraft, or even tactical support in Europe and Asia?

The "Lysander", the first known product of the "Westland" firm. Men, women and children of the United Kingdom at war were soon to be astonished by its characteristic shapes. Even today, the least informed amateur is able, by pointing at it, to recognize a Lysander and identify a "Lyzzie" (a name given with affection by those who had flown it and learned to respect it as much as to love it)

The result of a concept that was already outdated at the time of its development, it completely failed in the role for which it had initially been designed. Thus, once the fighting had begun on European territory, it would pay a heavy price in operations.
That being said, it was finally used for other tasks where, moreover, it excelled. It soon became very popular in occupied France, under the name of "'Plane that comes from London". As such, the Lysander found, in the hands of men of courage and audacity, its true place within the R.A.F.

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