Westland Wessex

The six-seat Westland IV light transport of 1928 was a braced high-wing monoplane, powered originally by three 95 hp (71 kW) ADC Cirrus Mk III inline engines and accommodating a crew of two in an enclosed flight deck with a separate four passenger cabin. First flown on 22nd February 1929, it was followed by a second aircraft with 105 hp (78 kW) ADC Cirrus Hermes I engines. The construction of two more aircraft had started, but these were completed instead with three 105 hp (78 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major I radial engines and given the name Wessex, the two Westland IVs then being converted to this standard.

Six more examples of the Wessex were built, the last four each having a metal-skinned forward fuselage and more powerful Genet Major IA engines; one of them, for service with Portsmouth, Southsea and Isle of Wight Aviation, had reduced baggage space to allow for the carriage of six passengers. These aircraft proved reliable and most were in service for a number of years; the last two, operated by Air Pilots Training at Hamble, were finally withdrawn from use in 1940. With a wing span of 57 ft 6 in (17.53 m), late versions of the Wessex had a maximum speed of 122 mph (196 km/h).

Power Plant: Three 95 h.p. Aircraft Disposal Company Cirrus III engines
Span: 57 ft 6 in
Length: 38 ft 0 in
Height: 9 ft 6 in
Weight (All-Up): 6,300 lb
Speed: 118 m.p.h.
Crew: 2