Westland Lysander Test-Flight

Every year after the Annual Inspection the pilot takes the aeroplane up and makes sure that it's serviceable. This short video is a series of linked clips, not the full test-sequence, but I hope it conveys the feel of a flight of this kind.
This is the only Westland Lysander, and the only Bristol Mercury engine, flying in North America. It's a IIIA, built in Malton, Ontario in 1942 by National Steel Car, and saw wartime duties with the BCATP.
It's owned by Lysander Historical Aviation (Toronto), and is based in Collingwood, Ontario.
Pilot: Dave Hadfield www.hadfield.ca

[@kbjerke]

How can I give this a million likes? Thanks for the flight, Dave!!! ❤ 👍👍👍👍👍

[@tango6nf477]

One of those aircraft that are little known by many, saved many lives and carried out lots of secret missions in enemy territory. Lovely old bird, a pleasure to see her airworthy, well done Sir.

[@jonr6680]

Oh this headcam pilot video is GOLD! Talk about immersive! THIS IS FLYING ! STOL aircraft are so interesting, look at the leading edge slots.

[@mickboakes7023]

A life saver in its day. Good to see another flying.🇬🇧

[@bonnytrippler2966]

Thank you for posting this Dave - Westlands are still going in Yeovil, Somerset, England mostly making helicopters as part of Leonardo these days. Thanks to everyone keeping the memory of British wartime aviation alive, wherever you may be.

[@timj41]

I had an airfix model of a Lysander when I was a lad, loved that thing

[@aurelius1964]

Me too, my mate Frank sat on it!

[@timj41]

@aurelius1964 bloody Frank!

[@r5u26d3]

Yes How we loved Airfix models and Humbol paint in the 60s

[@drdoolittle5724]

Wow, what a privilege, thank you very much for taking us up! My old friend, who shared a plane with me, was a Hurricane pilot during the Battle of Britain and after, his next tour was using the Lysander to tow Horsa/Waco gliders so pilots could convert to glider pilots at RAF Shobden. He told me a horrible story about towing a small group of politicians fresh from London on just a circuit - unfortunately the glider pilot came in too hard, took out the wheels and damaged its belly. The unfortunate passengers took the brunt on their feet and were whisked off to hospital! Being wartime nothing appeared allegedly in the papers!

[@davehadfield5906]

So many stories... I too shared many an airplane with WW2 vets. When I started training they were much younger than I am now. Just working guys... There was a lot to be learned.

[@alyciamarrison2916]

Was actually interesting to see the pilot exit the aircraft! Its a long way up & wondered how one getswdown from up there. You wouldnt want to slip from the top!! Great to see. Have many memories of my dear Uncle Fred (Nettlingham) working as an engineer on Lysanders, DC3's & many others it was always interesting to hear his experiences both good & horrendous, but his love of the mechanincs was so interesting. Thanks for this great video!

[@davehadfield5906]

Oh yes. One of the challenges of flying a Lysander is not falling off of it -- it's a long way down, and the surfaces are generally smeared with oil. It's like being in the rigging of a sailing ship.

[@citizen9378]

@@davehadfield5906❤

[@jamesmagnum]

I'm grateful for you taking us to another authentic flight with you Dave, hearing and viewing all in POV is an absolute blast. Thanks for sharing, safe landings. Edit: Lysander reminds me of the movie Allied.

[@edyke4962]

I think it's such a cool machine . An unsung hero ,so to speak . Thanks for the trip .

[@jamesstephenpeyton3305]

Nice one Dave. My first instructing stint was in Collingwood in 1970…love the area and the people.

[@dawnsokolik7837]

MJS Cool how the windows close, looks like fun. Flew on b17 Sentimental journey and B25 Maid In The Shade the other day at Great Bend ,KS it was great. Great Flight what a ride. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@paulhiggins6024]

Sweet. Much love from the UK and the home of the Lizzie, Somerset.

[@fredMplanenut]

Excellent to see a Lizzie flying, well done.

[@waynemanning3262]

What a beautiful beast! One of my favorite aircraft of all time!

[@Payne2view]

Always great to see an airworthy Lysander.

[@leosmith848]

Ive seen the Shuttleworth one fly several times. Its great the US has one of these to cherish as well. A strange aircraft, definitely 'what we had available at the time' put together to do an important but unglamorous job. 👍

[@davehadfield5906]

USA? We're in Canada. There are no Lysanders flying in the USA, and no Bristol Mercury engines flying in any airplane there.

[@leosmith848]

@@davehadfield5906 I knew it was too good for the USA!

[@michaelselmes]

Dad was in the RAF as an 'erk' working on the radios of 20 Squadron Lizzies based at Imphal in north east India during WW2. He had great affection for the old girl and would have loved to have seen this.

[@Michael-he7xn]

There’s a Lysander in Collingwood?! Cool! Nice job Dave!** **Lucky fella.

[@dwayneharris3874]

My neighbour was in the RAF during WW2. He told me he was on the ground and saw a BF109 attack a Lysander. The BF109 would get lined up on the Lysander, but at just the right moment, the Lysander would duck away so that 109 would have go around and line up again. After several unsuccessful attempts the 109 flew away.

[@davehadfield5906]

Good story!

[@BBHC2012]

No oil streaks? What the heck? Great news and great test flight! Well done Dave and Adam!

[@davehadfield5906]

Just wait...

[@jwboatdesigns]

The British built some very unusual special purpose aircraft during WW2, the Lysander being one, I love those things, thanks so much for the video.

[@lawrietaber657]

Absolutely love the flight well done nice to see a Lizzy flying again,thanks for sharing .

[@peterrollinsonlorimer]

We are fortunate to have this aircraft in Canada, and in wonderful flying condition. Thanks to Dave and all involved in its upkeep. Pity about the incident with the example at CWHM.

[@Cadcare]

Very cool. I don't know how old you are Dave, but anyone who is older than 60 has probably made the Lysander as a 1:72 scale model as a kid like I did. One of my faves.

[@davehadfield5906]

Yeah, I had one hanging from my bedroom ceiling. Building that was a lot easier than flying it.

[@celtisafricana4984]

Always been one of my all-time favourite planes👍🏻

[@fighterbomberMiG27]

Interesting aircraft. I've never seen before. It looks like very powerful engine here. My sub for great job

[@davehadfield5906]

It's about 850 hp, but of course that depends on how much you push the throttle. The Mercury XX is a geared, supercharged engine. Similar to a Wright 1820, except that the valve heads are exposed and must be manually lubricated every 20 hours or so.

[@well-blazeredman6187]

I'm watching, in chunks, a video about SOE operations in France. The process by which the landing grounds were selected was very thorough.

[@davehadfield5906]

Yes, and No. The practical side was, as you remarked, very well done. But the French Resistance was thoroughly, completely, existentially, utterly, penetrated/compromised by the Germans. After-war documents shattered illusions.

[@jcwoodman5285]

Supurb! That is a very rare ride along!🙂

[@johnprinos]

I’ve always had a crush on the Lysander!

[@biggstavros5876]

Same here, even though I`m a Spitfire fan.

[@johnprinos]

@@biggstavros5876 the cockpit looks fairly similar! Even the spade brake lever

[@biggstavros5876]

@@johnprinos Yes indeed, it does.

[@davehadfield5906]

@@johnprinos It's exactly the same except for the fact that the geometry means it doesn't work nearly as well. If I fly the Lysander half a dozen times, then taxi away in the Spit, it's easy to over-use the brakes and risk putting the thing up on its nose.

[@johndavey72]

As someone mentioned . Difficult to believe these amazing aircraft could sneek silently into ememy territory to drop off and pickup agents 😊 Westland Aircraft were built only an hour up the road from where l live. ❤

[@janicereadymartcher7696]

What a bucket of nails, but it did a good job and is still one of my favourite looking planes. Phil.

[@rnzoli]

Recreational flight: "Let's have fun" Commercial flight: "Let's get to work" Test flight: "What could go wrong?" (in the real sense of the question)

[@RemusKingOfRome]

That will definitely sneak into enemy territory at night, quiet as a mouse. :D

[@Slithey7433]

😅

[@reluctantheist5224]

It's so noisy the enemy puts their hands over their ears... Then it works a treat.

[@Briselance]

It can glide pretty well, for such a plane. Besides, they would put their engine on a slower regime when about to land. Not to mention that these were indeed used for deep insertion/extraction of agents and escaped airmen. So they were indeed for for the job, no matter how noisy they seem and are here.

[@sharg0]

Very cool plane that always is nice to see. And if someone is interested in a deeper insight to the Lysander Dave posted a more thorough video on it a couple of years ago if my memory serves. It includes how the rather unique low speed aero works.

[@chrissimmonds3734]

Magnificent

[@Outofcontrol39]

Looks VERY smart!

[@deethy19]

Love the Lizzy! Looks like the most dangerous part is climbing down from the cockpit!🤔

[@davehadfield5906]

No... but close ;)

[@Explorer1956]

Itis nice to see a lysander flying😊

[@andrewmacdonald4833]

The most amazing aircraft..as soon as I see one, can't help but think of Occupied France and of course the men that flew these in with Agents and supplies...

[@cedhome7945]

Reminds me of the film 'carve her name with pride' and the book of the agent white rabbit.please look these up....

[@steveball2307]

No wonder you were smiling Mr Hadfield!

[@jwsomrvl]

Very cool. Seem to have original intrumentation, including CW bathtub key!

[@artmichel5572]

Oh my..that is pretty!

[@Daniel-deMerrivale]

Just read a book about the Nuremberg trials and apparently Rudolph Hess used to fly a captured Westland Lysander before his Scotland trip and said it was his favourite aircraft. Not sure if that’s factual, but I thought I’d throw it in😊

[@noelhall945]

Worked for Westlands, in Yeovil. Close friend was with Recon Unit in France early in the war. One morning the Germans appeared in another corner of the field where his Lysander was operating. They destroyed it and fled back to the UK.

[@davehadfield5906]

Good story!

[@sloleydave]

You just get allowed to have too much fun Captain! Not jealous…😅

[@Allan_aka_RocKITEman]

Nice!

[@coldlakealta4043]

as a kid I had a shelf full of plastic Lysander models in a variety of colour schemes. configurations and scales. I was heart broken when the Canadian Warplane Heritage's Lysander crashed after so many years of dedicated work. I understand it will be returned to display status, but will never fly again. A great loss.

[@davehadfield5906]

I wouldn't say that. True, every historic aircraft can only fly with the support of a Business-Plan, and no Lysander is going to be paid-for by revenue-flying, but if a motivated donor came along, it could be restored.

[@davidwedlock2622]

First of the STOLs ??

[@MrNeroDiablo]

Thanks for taking us along, I've got a question purely for my own curiosity around the automatic deploying slats/flaps. Is it a gradual process as you slow down or do you hit a magic airspeed/aoa and they full deploy in one hit?

[@davehadfield5906]

Gradual. You never actually feel them move.

[@MrNeroDiablo]

@@davehadfield5906 Thanks I was genuinely wondering if I'd get a reply from a video 3 weeks ago, under 5mins! I guess the aircraft will be parked up soon for winter.

[@rockyraab8290]

Boy, that thing LEAPS off the ground. I noted the artificial horizon was frozen - probably irreplaceable. When you climbed out, the slats retracted. Is there a manual lever for that? As always, all of us former pilots envy you.

[@davehadfield5906]

Thanks!. No, there is no control of any kind over the slats or flaps. Purely activated by angle-of-attack.

[@rockyraab8290]

@@davehadfield5906 Yeah, that's the usual method, but it was odd to see them retract on their own while on the ground.

[@jamesmagnum]

@@rockyraab8290 May there be a lock for them as in some other auto-slat aircraft?

[@dphillips4351]

What an elegant old girl!

[@GazzaBoo]

One of my all time favorite planes. I made many of these as toy kits when I was a kid. This and the Stuka were my two most made models, along with the Tiger and Panther tanks and Morris gun tractor. Everything else was a distant runner up.

[@PhilipSiddall]

Thanks for that, Dave. Is it as tricky on the elevator trim as rumoured if you do a go-round? (Birlinn from WBF)

[@davehadfield5906]

The elevators cannot control the aircraft's pitch at either end of the envelope. The horizontal stabilizer must be positioned via the pitch-wheel to place the elevator in a range where control can be maintained. Or pre-positioned... which takes a bit of thought...

[@briancarno8837]

My late father used to watch these landing in a pitch black field during WW2 near lockerbie in scotland, they were used to drop spies in occupied europe. Imagine the courage needed to do that..?

[@stephensmith4480]

And to think, all those Brave pilots had for protection was a service Revolver. Amazing guts those Men had.

[@dennisryckman5210]

What new camera did you end up getting?

[@davehadfield5906]

Hi Dennis. None, I'm afraid. Haven't replaced the Sony AS50 yet. Seems like an excellent product. GoPros are useless in these small cockpits.

[@starsailor49]

A bit of Double Glazing might help😂

[@MyFabian94]

How does it compare to a Fieseler Storch?

[@davehadfield5906]

The Storch can only fly slow -- it does that really well. The Lysander flies slow and fast, and can carry a large load.

[@Psychedelic_TimeTraveller86]

😍👍🥃

[@lessharratt8719]

A beautiful non event. Just as planned.

[@alphalunamare]

Imagine flying over the English Channel in WW2 dropping Secret Agents into France. OSS. :-)

[@johnandrews3568]

Awesome plane but wow that powerplant doesn't exactly purr (like a Merlin)... more like a large diesel that's ingested a bucket load of bolts.