The Westland Watusi
Westland Watusi’s mk 1 and 2. The Big W Tour! Captured by official photographer in publicity flight between Woolongong, Woy Woy and Wagga Wagga.
Capitalising upon the dance craze that seized Australia in the mid thirties and profoundly influenced by the Fred Astaire-Ginger Rogers productions of ‘Top Hat, Gay Divorcee and Swing Time’, The Westland Aeronautical company decided to produce a versatile short hop airliner that would revolutionise the industry.
The “Incredible Arthur Askey” preparing for high altitude encounter with “Destiny”, (Savoy Ballroom)
The first Watusi was unveiled at the Empire air show in 1936 as a direct response to the threat posed by competitors in this emerging market. On a specially constructed dais, the band led Vic Sylvester and the incredible Arthur Askey performed a rendition of ‘Fly me down to Rio’. The Watusi emerged on stage in a flurry of pyrotechnics and chorus girls on loan from the Savoy ballroom. The rivals, The Standard Motor Company, Fairey, and Bristol had similar displays but were less popular. Their prototypes, the Fairey Foxtrot, the Triumph Tango and the Supermarine Swing-Time, (the first ever with variable swept wing capability) were the very latest thing in small airliners boasting a small catwalk, mirror ball and cigarette girl in one package. Only the Foxtrot offered a fully integrated Wurlitzer with amplification and stereo cigarette girls trained in the art of exotic dance, Tango and Spanish non-stop dancing.
Dance Master extraordinaire, the incredible Walter Hipgroove. Costume kindly lent on this occasion by the Minister for Science and Innovation the Rt. Hon. Christopher Morris Pyne.M.P. (From his personal collection).
During trials it was revealed the Watusi in spite of appearances lacked performance. Initial tests indicated a failure to reach a satisfactory altitude in cruising. This was attributed to the Twin Gypsy Major Engines lacking sufficient power and demonstrating a tendency to wander when made to work hard. Furthermore, the dance floor of imported teak was considered too heavy for sustained flight. Disappointed with the performance the technical engineer, Walter HipGroove, replaced the timber floor with linoleum and upgraded the engines by installing solex carburetors and augmenting the fuel system with higher octane fuel.
The results were astounding.. The Watusi outperformed its rivals In level flight, could climb both faster and with greater stability, and outclassed them in providing a stable dance floor with the addition of non stick surfaces. Tragically the Foxtrot and Swing time crashed, their engines being out of tune and no capacity for lift when their respective fuselages fractured due to a request during trials for a jitterbug number. Only the Watusi survived. A proven performer in the Latin, waltz, and outstanding success in the improvisation category. As a consequence orders rushed in and the first Watusi’s were delivered to TAA for use on the short hop Melbourne-Geelong route, then favoured by backbench minsters in State and Federal government.
The prospects for the Watusi were exceptional. It carved a niche that had no rivals, and consolidated the all important Canberra route. Then tragically disaster struck.
Without warning Watusi no 45 left Essendon Airport for the Sydney run. Armed with a suitcase of 45’s , mostly waltz and tango numbers it disappeared en route. The next week the same thing occurred to a Watusi bound for Adelaide. There were no survivors. The rest of the fleet were grounded whilst an exhaustive investigation was initiated. No cause could be found. Then, rehearsing a Busby Berkeley number the entire troupe of the Tivoli Showgirls was conscripted to perform a number on air ‘so to speak’ in the upcoming Roy Rene feature ‘Strike me blue’!! Carrying parachutes the chorus girls performed their routine with precision and panache, the Wurlitzer played and the musical number, ‘Excuse me Madame I’m working” reaching its climax when disaster struck!!! The plane exploded.
Former Tivoli Showgirl ” Chrissy Pyno-Colada”, demonstrating popular Busby Berkeley number, ‘ Daddy wouldn’t buy me a bow wow” choreography by Stanley Donen. Photograph taken at subsequent enquiry into Watusi VX 123 Tango Foxtrot Air Disaster.
The subsequent enquiry revealed the cause, ‘Dance Fatigue’.
Sadly the rest of the fleet were withdrawn from service when Boeing cornered the market with the ‘Stratoliner Speak-Easy’. Which combined the performance characteristics of the Watusi with dance fatigue proof strengthening designed to offer protection against high, low, and blue notes.
Westland Watusi Specifications
Crew: 2 (up to 12 passengers)
Range: 1500 miles
Powerplant: 2 x Gypsy Major four cylinder Inline engine
Performance
Maximum speed: 150 mph
Range: 1500 miles
Service ceiling; 14,500 ft
Rate of climb; 5000 ft per minute
Operators Australian National Airways