Westland Yeovil

Westland Aircraft

Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1915
Headquarters	Yeovil , United Kingdom

The Westland Yeovil was a British biplane bomber developed and constructed by Westland Aircraft in 1923 in response to an Air Ministry specification calling for a single-engine day bomber.

Development

The Yeovil was created to fulfil the requirements of Air Ministry Specification 26/23, which specified a single-engine day bomber powered by a Rolls-Royce Condor engine as mandated by the Air Ministry. This aircraft featured a two-bay staggered biplane layout, combining wood and metal in its structure. It accommodated a crew of two, with the pilot seated in the forward cockpit and the bomb aimer/gunner positioned behind. Propulsion was provided by a front-mounted tractor 665 hp (496 kW) Rolls-Royce Condor IIIA piston engine, which drove a Leitner-Watts metal propeller.

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The third prototype J7510.

A total of three prototype aircraft were commissioned. The initial prototype, designated J7508, conducted its maiden flight in 1925 at RAF Andover, piloted by Captain Frank Courtney during testing. Following this, the aircraft was transferred to RAF Martlesham Heath for comparative trials alongside other contenders designed to meet the same specification, namely the Hawker Horsley and the Bristol Berkeley. Subsequent to these assessments, neither the Yeovil nor the Berkeley advanced to production status, while the Horsley had already secured a contract under a separate specification. The trio of Yeovil prototypes remained operational for several years thereafter, serving in experimental and developmental roles.