Westland IV

The Westland IV, and its production development the Westland Wessex, were British high wing, three engined light transport aircraft built by Westland Aircraft as a follow on to its single engined Westland Limousine. Work began in 1928 on a small feeder liner for low volume routes, first called the Limousine IV. It was a high winged monoplane of mainly wooden construction, with a square section fuselage built around spruce longerons and ash frames, wooden box spar wings braced to the fuselage by streamlined struts, and a fixed tailwheel undercarriage. The prototype G-EBXK first flew on 21 February 1929 with a 95 hp Cirrus engine, certified for a crew of two and four passengers. The two Westland IVs were later converted to Wessexes, giving ten aircraft in total, and the type served airlines including Imperial Airways, Sabena and Cobham Air Routes.