CWHM's Westland Lysander IIIA

The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum (CWHM) is the owner and operator of this rare Westland Lysander IIIA, which is located at Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and is one of only 2 airworthy Lysanders in the world.

Westland Lysander might not have been a successful combat machine, but it's very distinctive and graceful shape make it both unique and interesting. The Lysander was something of a bridge between old and new, the biplane and monoplane era, the classic and modern way of conducting aerial warfare. And, unsurprisingly, it had to hastily give way to more modern aircraft as soon as these became available.

The Lysander was designed to fulfill a role of army co-operation aircraft, a direct replacement of the ageing Hawker Hector and Audax biplanes. The prototype first flew in 1936, and proved to be of excellent handling qualities. Three main versions of the Lysander were produced in total. The Mk. I and later Mk III where powered with Bristol Mercury engine, whereas Mk II featured a Bristol Perseus, which gave it slightly better performance at altitude.

During the hectic spring of 1940, many Lysander squadrons where sent to fight in Belgium and France. It soon became apparent that the concept of the slow army co-op aircraft was completely outdated and the Lysander squadrons suffered terrible losses. After the Battle of Britain they where gradually equipped with more modern aircraft.

Later on the Lysander found it's true element. With it's excellent short and rough field performance, the type was widely used as special night mission aircraft to ferry agents and supplies to and from the occupied Continent. In this role the aircraft served until the end of hostilities, thus deserving itself a rightful place in aviation history

This aircraft (RCAF NO. 2363) was manufactured in 1942 by National Steel Car Company at Malton (Toronto) under license from Westland Aircraft Corporation, England. World-wide, 1660 models were built, 225 in Canada. The STOL (short take off and landing) design uses an elaborate system of leading-edge Handley Page slats and large flaps enabled the aircraft to use unprepared landing strips in battlefield conditions. Under certain conditions as little as 165 yards was all the take-off distance required.

In Canada, Lysander aircraft were chiefly used for target towing at training schools, limited navigational training, communications duty, search and rescue operations. During WWII it was most noted for its use to transport operatives into occupied Europe, often returning with escapees including Allied aircrew. The "Lizzie" as named by aircrew, also boasted a Browning 0.303 machine gun housed in each wheel spat. Twelve small bombs could also be carried under sub-wings fitted to the wheel spats.

This aircraft was discovered in Western Canada. The restoration project was started by the Friends of CWH in Niagara Falls, NY in 1983. In 1997, the aircraft was returned to CWH where volunteers continue to restore the aircraft to flying condition. The target tug markings are what this aircraft carried when in service with No. 8 Bombing and Gunnery School, Lethbridge, Alberta.

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