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Type: Two-Seat army co-operation and multi-role aircraft Origin: Westland Models: Lysander I, II, III and IIIA First Flight: June 15, 1936 Service Delivery: June 1938 Final Delivery: Westland: January 1942 National Steel Car (Canada): Late 1942 Number Produced: 1,425 built by Westland, 325 more were built at Malton, Toronto, by National Steel Car. Engine: Lysander I Model: Bristol Mercury XII Type: 9-Cylinder air cooled radial Number: One Horsepower: 890 hp Lysander II Model: Bristol Perseus XII Type: 9-Cylinder air cooled sleeve valve radial Number: One Horsepower: 905 hp Lysander III Model: Bristol Mercury XX or XXX Type: 9-Cylinder air cooled radial Number: One Horsepower: 870 hp Dimensions: Wing span: 50 ft. (15.24m) Length: 30 ft. 6 in. (9.29m) Height: 11 ft. 6 in. (3.50m) Wing Surface Area: N/A |
Weights: Empty (Typical): 4,044 lb. (1834 kg) Loaded (Typical): 5,833 lb. (2645 kg) Maximum Loaded: Lysander I: 7,500 lb. (3402 kg) Lysander IIISCW: 10,000 lb. (4536 kg) Performance: Maximum Speed: Lysander I, II: 237 mph (381 km/h) Lysander IIISCW: 190 mph (306 km/h) Initial Climb (Mk. I): 1,900 ft/min (580 m/min) Service Ceiling (Mk. I): 26,000 ft. (7925m) Range: Lysander I: 600 miles (966 km) Lysander IIISCW: 1400 miles (2253 km) Armament: When Fitted Lysander I: One .303 in. Browning mounted above each wheel spat (outside of propeller disc). Ammunition: 500 rounds per gun. One .303 in. Lewis or Vickers GO manually aimed from rear cockpit. Lysander IIIA: One .303 in. Browning mounted above each wheel spat (outside of propeller disc. Ammunition: 500 rounds per gun. Two .303 in. Browning manually aimed from rear cockpit. Payload: Up to two 250 lb. (113 kg.) on stub wings or sixteen 20 lb. (9 kg.), four on fuselage carrier. |
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Comments: Originally designed as an army co-operation aircraft, the "Lizzie" came into it's own once war started. The first He 111 to be shot down over BEF territory fell victim to a Lysander's modest armament in Novermber, 1939. The Lysander quickly developed into a capable multi-role aircraft that was soon involved with close-air support, air/sea rescue and precision supply-drops. The Lysander IIISCW was designed with an extra fuel tank and a boarding ladder to give access to the lofty cockpit. This variant was used to deliver and extract agents from behind enemy lines. |
| Sources: Gunston, Bill - The Encyclodepia of the Worlds Combat aircraft, 1976, Chartwell Books, Inc., New York |
