The Westland Whirlwind
Posted: Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:48 am
We've passed the 200 mark! Only 360 aircraft descriptions to go.
Todays aircraft is the Westland Whirlwind...
"The twin-engined Westland Whirlwind was an excellent aircraft but its short operational range and ongoing problems with the Rolls Royce Peregrine engines limited its usefulness as did its high landing speed of 120 kph which prevented it using the standard grass field of a RAF aerodrome. It proved impractical to fit other engines to the Whirlwind airframe and since the mathematics of engine production dictated that the RAF could throw more aircraft into the Battle of Britain if fighter construction was limited to single engine aircraft, the Whirlwind was terminated after only 177 units were produced. A high altitude version of the Whirlwind named the 'Welkin' was developed, but the Luftwaffe never developed a high altitude bomber and the RAF did not proceed any further with the Whirlwind design."
Todays aircraft is the Westland Whirlwind...
"The twin-engined Westland Whirlwind was an excellent aircraft but its short operational range and ongoing problems with the Rolls Royce Peregrine engines limited its usefulness as did its high landing speed of 120 kph which prevented it using the standard grass field of a RAF aerodrome. It proved impractical to fit other engines to the Whirlwind airframe and since the mathematics of engine production dictated that the RAF could throw more aircraft into the Battle of Britain if fighter construction was limited to single engine aircraft, the Whirlwind was terminated after only 177 units were produced. A high altitude version of the Whirlwind named the 'Welkin' was developed, but the Luftwaffe never developed a high altitude bomber and the RAF did not proceed any further with the Whirlwind design."