BILL COFFMAN'S SPITFIRE STUDIO COLLECTION
No. 9494. Westland Lysander Mk.IIIA TT (C-GCWL c/n 1202)
Photographed at Canadian Warplane Heritage, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, June 2009, by Bill Coffman

Westland Lysander Mk.IIIA TT

11/30/2009. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "When in May 1940 France and the Low Countries were overrun the RAF need for more Lysanders dropped, and it was decided that the RCAF would takeover an order for 150 aircraft that had been placed at the National Steel Car Company (Victory Aircraft) in Malton, Ontario, Canada (license from Westland, UK) and complete them as target tugs, designated Lysander Mk.IIIA TT. Powered by an 870 hp Bristol Mercury XX nine-cylinder air-cooled radial, the first aircraft (s/n 2305) was flown mid-December 1941 by E.H.Taylor.

Westland Lysander Mk.IIIA TT

Produced in 1942 the pictured aircraft was delivered to the RCAF on June 5, to be struck off charge four years and 414 flying hours later, October 1, 1946. In 1973 the Canadian Warplane Heritage obtained it as an incomplete aircraft, restoration was started in 1983 by The Friends of the Canadian Warplane Heritage in Niagara Falls, New York, USA. In 1997 the aircraft was transferred to the Canadian Warplane Heritage where the restoration was continued.

On June 8, 2009, 67 years after delivery to the RCAF and a restoration of 27 years, the aircraft made its second maiden flight."


Created November 30, 2009