The Westland Lysander (nickname the "Lizzie") is a British army co-operation and liaison aircraft produced by Westland Aircraft used immediately before and during the Second World War. After becoming obsolete in the army co-operation role, the aircraft's exceptional short-field performance enabled clandestine missions using small, improvised airstrips behind enemy lines to place or recover agents, particularly in occupied France with the help of the French Resistance. British Army air co-operation aircraft were named after mythical or historical military leaders; in this case the Spartan admiral Lysander was chosen.

In 1934, the Air Ministry issued Specification A.39/34 for an army co-operation aircraft to replace the Hawker Hector. Initially, Hawker Aircraft, Avro and Bristol were invited to submit designs, but after some debate within the ministry, a submission from Westland was invited as well. The Westland design, internally designated P. 8, was the work of Arthur Davenport under the direction of "Teddy" Petter. It was Petter's second aircraft design and he spent considerable time interviewing Royal Air Force pilots to find out what they wanted from such an aircraft. The army wanted a tactical and artillery reconnaissance aircraft to provide photographic reconnaissance and observation of artillery fire in daylight -- up to about 15,000 yards (14 km) behind the enemy front. The result of Petter's pilot enquiries suggested that field of view, low-speed handling characteristics and STOL performance were the important requirements. Westland Lysander Mk.III (SD) in overall black camouflage as used for special night missions into occupied France during World War II.

Davenport and Petter designed an aircraft to incorporate these features. The Lysander was to be powered by a Bristol Mercury air-cooled radial engine and had high wings and a fixed conventional landing gear mounted on an innovative inverted U square-section tube that supported wing struts at the apex, and contained internal springs for the faired wheels. The large streamlined spats also contained a mounting for a Browning machine gun and fittings for removable stub wings that could carry light bombs or supply canisters. The wings had a reverse taper towards the root, which gave the impression of a bent gull wing from some angles, although the spars were straight. It had a girder type construction faired with a light wood stringers to give the aerodynamic shape. The forward fuselage was duralumin tube joined with brackets and plates, and the after part was welded stainless steel tubes. Plates and brackets were cut from channel extrusions rather than being formed from sheet steel. The front spar and lift struts were extrusions. The wing itself was fabric covered and its thickness was greatest at the strut anchorage, similar to that of later marks of the Stinson Reliant high-winged transport monoplane.

This particular 1:72 scale replica of the first Canadian-built Lysander, constructed at the Malton Airport NSC Factory in 1939. Now in stock!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 8-1/4-inches
Length: 5-1/4-inches

Release Date: July 2017

Historical Account: "The Malton Lizzies" - In the mid 1930s, National Steel Car of Canada, a major builder of rolling stock for Canadian railways, based in Hamilton, Ontario decided to venture into the aviation business as well. For their new aircraft division, they kept their iron horse company name but set up new hangars and assembly facilities at Toronto's Malton Airport, about an hour's drive north of Hamilton. Their first contract was to build under license a number of Westland Lysander II aircraft. They began construction of their hangars and factory in 1936 with tooling and production line construction for the Lysander beginning in April of 1938. By the next year the first Canadian-built Lysander took to the skies over Malton and the beginning of a great aircraft industry was underway. Shortly after the war began, NSC started to build the Avro Anson under contract and the facilities grew commensurate with the growth in production. Eventually the NSC factories would be purchased by the federal government and Victory Aircraft was created - becoming the largest aircraft production facility in Canada, producing more than 430 Avro Lancaster bombers and other aircraft for the air forces of the British Commonwealth in Europe. Victory aircraft would in turn mutate into Avro Canada, builders of the magnificent but failed CF-105 Arrow project.

Tucker Harris, National Steel Car's Aircraft Division final assembly chief foreman, began work at Malton in 1939 just as the first Lysanders were being constructed. His collection of photographs provides us with a dramatic view of the first major military aircraft production in Canada in the Second World War. This photographic collection is imbued with the excitement, pride and hands on work of this grand period in Canada's aircraft production industry. As we get set to bring our Lysander up to flying status, we reflect on the first of a line of Lysanders that stretches to our Lizzie.

Harris would stay on with Victory Aircraft until close to the end of the war. Sadly, Tucker Harris was killed just a month after VE day in an airplane crash near Longueil, Quebec. He was at the time employed by a company flying supplies to mining operations in Labrador. The seaplane he was returning aboard struck a tree in dense fog along the St. Lawrence River, killing all five on board. Vintage Wings of Canada gratefully thanks Paul Huether for not only bringing this remarkable collection to our attention, but for caring for these historic photographs and researching Harris' life and the beautiful aircraft and robust industry he helped build. Paul Huether's mother-in-law was Tucker Harris' widow and upon seeing the interest he had in Canadian aviation, she entrusted the safe keeping of these images to him. It was the right move.