Westland Welkin
Westland Welkin | |
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Type: | Torpedo and day bomber |
Design country: | |
Manufacturer: | |
First flight: |
November 1, 1942 |
Number of pieces: |
2 prototypes + 75 production aircraft + 26 cells |
The Westland Welkin was a high altitude fighter in the British Air Force .
history
When high-flying German high-altitude reconnaissance planes of the Junkers Ju 86 P type caused confusion with reconnaissance flights and interference attacks from great heights, the Fighter Command of the Royal Air Force first tried to intercept them with converted Supermarine Spitfire machines . The Air Ministry then issued the specification F.4 / 40 for a single-seat day high-altitude fighter in July 1940 . In addition to Westland Aircraft , Hawker and General Aircraft also participated in the tender, but Westland was awarded the contract for his design in January 1941.
While the drafts were already being worked out, the Air Ministry changed the specification and now also required the use of an Air Interception radar device . According to the new specification F.7 / 41, Vickers-Armstrong now also built its model 432.
The most important component of the new high altitude fighter was the pressure cabin, which was ventilated by a turbo fan on the left engine and had double glazing. The maiden flight of the first Welkin prototype took place on November 1, 1942 under chief test pilot Harald Penrose . The second prototype followed in March 1943.
Serious deficiencies became apparent relatively quickly, and the required services were not met. Comparative dogfights showed that the machine was not agile enough for its intended task. In addition, there was a change in the war situation that no longer meant that German attacks at heights could be expected. Nevertheless, 100 ordered machines were completed. However, these were no longer used, but were mostly scrapped immediately after delivery. Westland itself still used some machines for testing purposes, including tests with liquid oxygen injection and other pressurized cabins.
In 1944 a Welkin F. became the two-seater NF Mk. II night fighter, which had an extended fuselage to accommodate the radar device and an enlarged cockpit for the radar operator. This machine took off on its maiden flight on October 23, 1944, but the tests did not show any improvements compared to the day fighter model, and the required altitude and speed performance could not be achieved. Therefore, series production was rejected in favor of the jet fighters that were now available .
Technical specifications
Parameter | Welkin F. Mk.I |
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crew | 1 |
length | 12.65 m |
span | 21.34 m |
Wing area | 42.73 m² |
Wing extension | 10.7 |
Empty mass | 5431 kg |
Takeoff mass | 8970 kg |
Top speed | 622 km / h at 7925 m altitude |
Service ceiling | 13,410 m |
Range | 2380 km |
Engines | 2 × Rolls-Royce Merlin 72/73, each 1,650 PS (approx. 1,200 kW) |
Armament | four 20 mm cannons under the cockpit |