Westland Walrus

The Westland Walrus was a British amphibious aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft in the late 1920s and early 1930s. Conceived as a naval reconnaissance and fleet spotter, the Walrus combined a single‑engine biplane layout with a hull that allowed it to land on water as well as conventional airfields. The prototype first flew in 1925, and the type entered service with the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm in 1927, where it remained operational until the outbreak of World War II. Powered by a 450‑horsepower Rolls‑Royce Eagle IX engine, the aircraft could reach 115 mph and carry a crew of three – a pilot, an observer and a gunner – together with a modest payload of depth charges or light bombs. Its high‑mounted wings and extensive glassed forward cockpit gave excellent visibility for maritime patrol, while the sturdy, watertight fuselage provided reliable water handling under rough sea conditions. The Walrus proved valuable in anti‑submarine patrols, search‑and‑rescue missions and as a training platform, establishing a design template for later amphibians such as the Supermarine Walrus. Its service demonstrated the practicality of carrier‑borne seaplanes and helped shape British naval aviation doctrine throughout the interwar period.

Westland Aircraft

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