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Aviation History
1938
1938 - 1655.PDF
JUNE 9, i938- FLIGHT. 569 A Lysander in pre-camouflage colourings. FOR ARMY CO-OPERATION Full Details of the Westland Lysander Mark I .-Noteworthy Constructional . Features : Remarkable Servicing Facilities BOTH aerodynamically and structurally, the West-land Lysander Army Co-operation monoplane,which it is now permissible to describe in detail,is one of the most interesting machines produced in recent years. For army co-operation work it is essential that both the pilot and the observer should have as good a view as possible in a forward and down- ward direction, and this considera- tion has led to the adoption of the high-wing arrangement. It can also be said that it was this consideration of view which suggested a strut- braced monoplane as distinct from a cantilever one. Obviously it would be very difficult to support a canti- lever wing at the extreme top of the cockpits where the width available is comparatively small. An indirect result of the use of a high-wing position is traceable in several directions of the design. For example, a retractable undercarriage would be almost unthinkable in a wing arrangement of this type, and conse- quently the problem arose how to arrange the undercarriage. The con- ventional type, consisting of a tripod of which two members were attached to the fuselage and the telescopic leg to the wings, would have been some- what cumbersome and also heavy. Ultimately a most unorthodox type of undercarriage was evolved by Mr. W. E. W. Petter, who has been largely responsible for the design of the Lysander. This undercarriage member is shaped like an inverted U, and is in the form of an aluminium alloy extrusion of roughly rectangular section with the corners rounded off. " Flight " photograph.The Lysander does a zoom. In spite of the steep angle the lift slots are butslightly open, and the flaps are only down a few degrees. It is doubtful if this type of wheel support would have been adopted but for the fact that it was decided to place the machine guns in the wheel fairings. Also, if it is desired to carry bombs, the Lysander accommodates them on small stub wings simply bolted to the undercarriage.
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