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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 0485.PDF
15 April 1955 485 F.7/30 (Rolls-Royce Goshawk VIII). Wizard II Whereas the Wizard I had no true centre-section(the mainplane being carried above the fuselage on two struts in tandem), this remodelled version had a centre-section supportedon four splayed-out struts. With the object of improving the pilot's view, a large "bite" was removed from the trailing edge,whereas formerly there was a mere "nick." The wing, as well as the fuselage, was of metal, and the engine was a superchargedRolls-Royce F.XIS. F.20/27 To the F.20/27 intercepter specification Westlands putup a wire-braced, low-wing monoplane, first test-flown early in 1929 by F/L. Paget. The original engine was a Bristol MercuryIIA, but this was later replaced by a Jupiter VII. It was officially reported that the machine "behaved curiously" in tight turns andloops, and at high incidences the tail vibrated and longitudinal control was impaired. Modifications were thereafter made to thewing/fuselage fillets, and in the design of the tail surfaces. A wealth of valuable experience accrued. The twin Vickers gunswere heated by engine exhaust and were wholly submerged in the fuselage, firing out through ports ahead of the cylinders. Acockpit door facilitated entry and exit. The F.20/27 had the additional distinction of being one of the first British fighters to befitted with wheel brakes—of the Bendix Perrot type. Construc- tion was of metal throughout. Span and length were, respec-tively, 38ft and 25ft 4in, and the loaded weight was 3,325 lb. F.29/27 This fighter was first test-flown, by F/L. Paget, in1931. Though superficially resembling the F.20/27, it had a longer fuselage, a slightly back-swept wing of increased span,and—of far greater interest—a 37 mm Coventry Ordnance Works gun, fixed in the port side of the fuselage to fire upwards andforwards. The breech of this gun was in the cockpit and was accessible to the pilot; either semi-automatic or single-shot firewas possible, and it was intended that the gun should fire high- explosive shells against massed heavy bombers, for which purposea special sight was developed. An Air Staff decision led to can- cellation of the project, though as a flying machine the F.29/27was quite successful. Span was 40ft lOin, length 29ft lOin, empty weight 2,615 lb, gross weight 3,885 lb, top speed 184.5 m.p.h. at13,000ft, time of climb to 20,000ft 14.3 minutes, and absolute ceiling 29,200ft. The engine was a Bristol Mercury IIIA. F.7/30 This unorthodox single-seat, four-gun fighter was firstflown, by Harald Penrose, in 1934. The pilot's cockpit was enclosed and, with the object of affording the widest possible Whirlwind I (two Roils koyce Peregrine). range of vision, was placed ahead of the wings. The Rolls-RoyceGoshawk VIII steam-cooled engine was mounted amidships, and drove the airscrew by means of a shaft. The four Vickers gunswere mounted in the sides of the fuselage, ahead of the engine, and being designed to a day-and-night fighter specification, theaircraft carried two-way radio, night-flying gear and oxygen. Construction was all-metal, with fabric covering, and—unusualin a single-seat fighter of the period—Handley Page automatic slots were fitted. The undercarriage was of faired split-axle type,and the steam condenser was mounted ventrally. Span was 38ft 6in, length 29ft 6in, weight empty 3,624 lb, gross weight 5,170 lb,speed 185 m.p.h. at 15,000ft, and the climb to 20,000ft took 17i minutes. Whirlwind I Designed by Mr. W. E. W. Petter to Specifica-tion F.37/35, the Whirlwind twin-engined single-seat fighter was first flown by Mr. Penrose on October 11th, 1938. The twoRolls-Royce Peregrine engines, each delivering 885 h.p. at 15,000ft, gave a maximum speed of 360 m.p.h. at that height,which the Whirlwind could attain in 5.8 minutes. The four 20 mm guns were closely grouped in the nose, giving a very denseconcentration of fire, and the coolant radiators were ducted within the centre-section of the wing. Fowler flaps extended from aileronto aileron, and although Handley Page slots were fitted, these were eventually locked shut, on the discovery that behaviour atthe stall was entirely adequate without their aid. Landing speed rose by a few m.pJi. The Whirlwind had the distinction of beingthe first Westland fighter—and, in fact, the first twin-engined fighter—to be used by the R.A.F. Equipped to carry two 500 lbbombs it was dubbed the Whirlibomber; indeed, the type will be remembered principally for its ground-attack and dive-bombingactivities, though night fighting and bomber escort also fell to its lot. Span was 45ft, length 32ft 9in, weight empty 7,840 lb,gross weight 10,270 lb. Including the two prototypes, 116 Whirl- winds were built. We/kin I A big brother to the Whirlwind, the Welkin 1 was a specialized ultra-high-altitude intercepter fighter, built to Specification F.4/40. It was characterized by a high-aspect wing of inordinately large span (70ft), by twin two-stage-supercharged Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, and a pressure cabin consisting of Welkin I (two Roit^-k^,^^ Merlin 70 series). (Below) Welkin II (Rolls-Royce Merlin 76 and 77).
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