Re: Westland Whirlwind

par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:16

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par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:16

In the ground-attack role the Whirlwind excelled, proving to be both an excellent bombing platform, and highly durable.

The presence of a second engine meant that many seriously damaged aircraft were able to return from dangerous bombing missions over occupied France and Belgium with one engine knocked out, something that the Whirlwind's successor, the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], could not do.

par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:17

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par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:18

The Whirlwind's four 20mm cannon were to prove extremely effective.

From 1941 until 1943 the aircraft would become a frequent unwelcome sight over German airfields, marshalling yards, and locomotives.

The Whirlwind was used to particularly good effect as a gun platform for destroying German supply trains.

Pilots were often credited with several trains damaged or destroyed in a single mission.

The aircraft was also very successful in hunting and destroying German [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] which operated in the Channel.

par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:23

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par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:23

The Whirlwind became distinguished for its survivability during crash landings and ground accidents.

The placement of the wings and engines ahead of the cockpit allowed the aircraft to absorb a great deal of damage while the cockpit area remained largely intact.

As a result, many pilots were able to walk away unhurt from aircraft that were totally written off, a rare occurrence in 1930s era aircraft.

par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:24

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par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:26

All pilots who flew this aircraft enthused about it in the air.

If the Whirlwind had a fault, it was its high approach and landing speed.

Because of the low production level, based on the number of Peregrines available, no redesign of the wing was contemplated, although Westland did test the effectiveness of leading-edge slats to reduce speeds.

When the slats were activated with such force that they were ripped off the wings, the slats were wired shut.

par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:27

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par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:33

Philip J.R. Moyes notes in Aircraft in Profile 191: The Westland Whirlwind:

The basic feature of the Whirlwind was its concentration of firepower: its four closely-grouped heavy cannon in the nose had a rate of fire of 600 lb./minute – which, until the introduction of the Beaufighter, placed it ahead of any fighter in the world.

Hand in hand with this dense firepower went a first-rate speed and climb performance, excellent manoeuvrability and a fighting view hitherto unsurpassed.

The Whirlwind was, in its day, faster than the Spitfire down low and, with lighter lateral control, was considered to be one of the nicest "twins" ever built… From the flying viewpoint, the Whirlwind was considered magnificent.

Bruce Robertson, in The Westland Whirlwind Described quotes a 263 Squadron pilot as saying,

"It was regarded with absolute confidence and affection.”

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par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:34

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par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:34

The aircraft is well summed up by Francis K. Mason’s comments in Royal Air Force Fighters of World War Two, Vol. One:

Bearing in mind the relatively small number of Whirlwinds that reached the RAF, the type remained in combat service, virtually unmodified, for a remarkably long time…

The Whirlwind, once mastered, certainly shouldered extensive responsibilities and the two squadrons were called upon to attack enemy targets from one end of the Channel to the other, by day and night, moving from airfield to airfield within
southern England.

par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:35

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par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:36

The last words on the subject were perhaps best stated by Dr. G. Buckwell who, as a young Sergeant Pilot with 263 Squadron, was shot down in a Whirlwind over [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].

"The Whirlwind was great to fly - we were a privileged few":

In retrospect the lesson of the Whirlwind is clear…

A radical aircraft requires either prolonged development or widespread service to exploit its concept and eliminate its
weaknesses, Too often in World War II such aircraft suffered accelerated development or limited service, with the result that teething difficulties came to be regarded as permanent limitations.

par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:36

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par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:37

Variants

P.9 prototype

Single-seat twin-engine fighter aircraft prototype. Two built (L6844 and L6845), can be distinguished from later
production samples by the mudguards above the wheels (Though the first production sample (P6966) had them as well), the exhaust system and the so-called 'acorn' on the joint between fin and rudder .

Whirlwind I

Single-seat twin-engine fighter aircraft, 400 ordered, 114 built

Whirlwind IA

Single-seat twin-engine fighter-bomber aircraft, fitted with underwing bomb racks.
At least 67 conversions made from the original Mk I fighter.

par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:38

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par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:38

Specifications (Whirlwind)

General characteristics

Crew: One pilot
Length: 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m)
[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]: 45 ft 0 in (13.72 m)
Height: 11 ft 7 in (3.53 m)
Wing area: 250 ft² (23 m²)
Empty weight: 8,310 lb (3,770 kg)
Loaded weight: 10,356 lb (4,697 kg)
[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]: 11,410 lb (5,175 kg)
Powerplant: 2× [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] I Liquid-cooled V-12, 885 hp (660 kW) each

par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:39

Un Rolls Royce Peregrine

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par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:39

Performance

[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]: 360 mph (560 km/h)
[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]: 808 miles (1,300 km)
[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]: 30,315 ft (9,240 m)
[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]: 1.550 ft/min (474 m/min)
[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]: 41 lb/ft² (204 kg/m²)
[Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]: 0.17 hp/lb (0.28 kW/kg)

par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:44

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par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:45

Armament

Guns: 4x [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] with 60 rounds per gun
Bombs: 2x 250 lb (115 kg) or 500 lb (230 kg) bombs

par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:46

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par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:46

Bibliography

Bingham, Victor. Whirlwind, The Westland Whirlwind Fighter. Shrewsbury,
UK: Airlife Publishing Ltd., 1987. [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].
Crawford, Alex and Phil H. Listemann. "Westland Whirlwind Mk.I." (Allied Wings No.4). London: Casemate Pub
& Book Dist Llc, 2008. [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien].
Green, William, ed. "Foremost with Four Cannon." Flying Review International', Volume 19, No. 7,
April 1964.
Green, William. Warplanes of the Second World War, Fighters, Vol. 2. London: Macdonald, 1961.

par LysanD Jeu 18 Mar 2010, 20:47

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