bilwor wrote:
Are there any Lysanders flying in US or Canada?
bill word
Hi Bill,
Currently no. The nearest is the CWH machine, which has been completed to airworthy condition, and has undertaken engine runs in 2005. As ever, there's still things to do, though so it's yet to fly.
Harry Wherratt's, also in Canada, may have flown, but no one's telling! The example in the Smithsonian, at the new Udvar Hazy centre (probably the example Blurrkup's thinking of) was airworthy when restored by Dwight Brooks and 'Fish' Salmon in the 80s. Likewise, Kermit's example was airworthy in the UK before he bought it. Back further, the Canadian Aviation Museum's example was flown after restoration, but that was in the sixties.
Elsewhere, the Shuttleworth example flew this weekend, and is the only currently airworthy example in the world. The Aircraft Restoration Company have the rebuild of a Westland built example underway to fly at Duxford, but that's a way to go yet. In Belgium, the Sabena Old Timers are repairing their example after a landing accident some years ago.
The problem with Lysanders is twofold. They aren't a complex aircraft, but they are odd, both in construction and aerodynamics and thus flying technique. Being a British '30s design, it's a tube frame with wooden stringers and fabric covering structure, with aditional metal panels - not stressed skin construction, lots of fiddly structure, and the short-landing trim and flap arrangement is unique, and a killer for the unwary, although under wartime conditions, unbeatable.
Most critically, they were engined with the Bristol Mercury and Bristol Perseus, the latter being a sleeve-valve and effectively, in working form, extinct. Until ARC came along and 'tamed' the Mercury with their Blenheim, only Shuttleworth had managed to run one (in their case on a Gladiator) for any length of time. Generally other operators gave up with trying to get the engine to behave. It's not, I'm told impossible, but it's
very different to other (particularly US) radials and requires a different approach - something pre-ARC operators never seem to have got on top of.
P51Mstg wrote:
Kermit has one in Lakeland, non-flying. Until you see one in person, its hard to be impressed with it. Once you see it, wow, cool airplane. Big and strong, lots of power.
Wouldn't argue with that. It's a BIG 'plane. Incidentally, the pilot's position (once you've mountain-climbed into it) has to have one of the best views of the period.
Shay wrote:
Anybody know if any of the remaining Lysanders are displayed with the .303 brownings still mounted in the Wheel fairings and with the Wheel fairing bomb racks?
Beautiful bird.
The CWH example was certainly test-fitted with Brownings - I have photos. Once the access panels are closed, you can't tell, though, and except the Langley machine, as mentioned,I don't know if any of the grounded ones do. I don't think those others under restoration to fly, or Shuttleworth's do. None have the stub wing fitted. The actual rack (which would be hung under the stub wing) was usually just a 'Mk.1 Light Series Carrier', as used across the Commonwealth on many types. There was normally (when fitted) a third under the rear fuselage, as well.
daveymac82c wrote:
It doesn't sound like getting a Lysander flying is a very easy thing to do. My museum (Canadian Museum of flight, Langley BC) has one and just out of curiosity I e-mailed the CWH to ask if they'd suggest getting ours flying. The person that responded said it is a very BIG undertaking, and suggested that we just keep the plane as is, maybe restore it to static, but certainly not to flying status unless we really really want to.
The big cost is the engine. We'd need to get a Mercury from the National Museum in Ottawa for a trade, but I don't know what we'd be willing to give up to get it.
Dave, it would certainly cost a bomb, and the engine cost, although big, would vanish alongside the other costs. If you want to explore it further, drop me a note and I'll put you in touch with the other restorers, and they'll give you some scary data, I'm sure.
Your Lizzie is an excellent 'showpiece' as it is, and IMHO should be kept like that. It was certainly useful for my book!
mustangdriver wrote:
Anyone know a web site to see pics of it?
No. I have some photos, but it's essentially framework and parts. The Lysander is very much a 'Meccano' or 'Erector-set' aircraft with lots of part-swapping going on, with the result that giving a certain ID to survivors is a nightmare.
This is all because I'm author of
'The Westland Lysander', MMP Books.
Cheers!
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