Westland Wagtail

Westland Aircraft

Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1915
Headquarters	Yeovil , United Kingdom

Template:Infobox aircraft

The Westland Wagtail was a British prototype fighter developed during the First World War. It featured a single-engine tractor biplane design but ultimately failed due to the unreliability of its powerplant, with only five units constructed.

Development and design

In 1917, Westland Aircraft of Yeovil initiated the design of the Wagtail to satisfy the Royal Air Force Specification IA, which called for a lightweight fighter surpassing the performance of the Sopwith Camel. The design team, led by Robert Bruce, Westland's manager, alongside Chief Draughtsman Arthur Davenport, developed a compact single-bay biplane. Like its competitors—the BAT Bantam and the Sopwith Snail—it was powered by the 170 hp (127 kW) ABC Wasp radial engine. Constructed using traditional wood and fabric methods, the Wagtail included a large cut-out in the upper wing centre-section to enhance pilot visibility and was armed with two Vickers machine guns mounted above the nose.

An initial contract for six prototypes was awarded in February 1918; however, the final two were subsequently cancelled. The first airframe was allocated for structural testing and never flown. Engine delivery delays postponed flight trials, with the maiden flight occurring in April 1918 on serial number C4291, approximately two months after airframe completion. Flight evaluations confirmed favourable handling characteristics but quickly revealed significant issues with the Wasp engine’s reliability. Despite outperforming the other two Wasp-powered fighters tested, the engine was officially discontinued in October 1918. Combined with the cessation of hostilities on 11 November, this led to the Wagtail not entering operational service.

Nevertheless, in 1920, two additional Wagtails were commissioned as experimental platforms for the new 150 hp (112 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Lynx radial engine. These variants featured shortened noses to accommodate the heavier powerplant and were delivered in 1921, remaining active until August 1922.

References

• Bruce, J.M. British Aeroplanes 1914–18. London: Putnam, 1957.
• Bruce, J.M. War Planes of the First World War: Fighters Volume One. London: Macdonald, 1969. ISBN 0-356-01490-8.
• James, Derek N. Westland Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam, 1991. ISBN 0-85177-847-X.
• Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter since 1912. Annapolis, USA: Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN 1-55750-082-7.

External links

• Local Lights: The Westland Wagtail Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine PFA : The Bristol Strutter.
• Aircraft Data Sheet: Wagtail (1918) AgustaWestland.