2013, ISBN: 9781230530253

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 35. Chapters: Westland Whirlwind, Westland Welkin, W… Plus…

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Pages: 35. Chapters: Westland Whirlwind, Westland Welkin, Westland Lysander, Bell H-13 Sioux, Westland Wapiti, Westland Wyvern, Westland PV.7, Westland Wessex, Westland 30, Westland Widgeon, Westland Wizard, Westland Westbury, Westland Westminster, Westland N.1B, Westland Weasel, Westland Wagtail, Westland Wallace, Westland F.7/30, Westland PV-3, Westland Limousine, Westland Interceptor, Westland Walrus, Westland Yeovil, Westland Witch, Westland C.O.W. Gun Fighter, Westland IV, Westland-Hill Pterodactyl, Westland Woodpigeon, Westland Dreadnought. Excerpt: The Westland Whirlwind was a British twin-engined heavy fighter developed by Westland Aircraft. It was the Royal Air Force's first single-seat, twin-engined, cannon-armed fighter, and a contemporary of the Supermarine Spitfire and Hawker Hurricane. It was one of the fastest aircraft when it flew in the late 1930s, and was much more heavily armed than any other. However, protracted development problems with its Rolls-Royce Peregrine engines delayed the entire project and only a relatively small number were ever built. During the Second World War only two RAF squadrons were equipped with the Whirlwind, and despite successful use as a fighter-bomber it was withdrawn from service in 1943. The Whirlwind was developed for the RAF in the mid 1930s, following the retirement of biplane fighters. With increased fighter attack speeds creating shorter times for firing on targets, it was decided to improve the amount of armament. Instead of two rifle-caliber machine guns, eight were required. Cannons, such as the 20mm Hispano-Suiza HS.404 which could fire exploding ammunition, offered another type of heavy firepower and requirements were made for aircraft designs which could carry four cannons. A problem for designers in the 1930s was that most agile combat aircraft were generally small. These... Weight:0.18 lbs, University-Press.org, 9/12/2013 0:00:00<