WESTLAND WHIRLWIND
I - Single-seat
twin-engined fighter to meet OR.31, calling for four 20-mm cannon armament,
and complying with Specification F.37/35. Designed during 1936 under direction
of W E W 'Teddy' Fetter as Westland P.9, and selected for prototyping
by Air Ministry early 1937, with an order for two. Unarmed, the first
of the two prototypes flew on October 11, 1938, and the second in 1939,
each powered by a pair of liquid-cooled 860 hp Rolls-Royce Peregrine I
engines, radiators for which were buried in the inner wing sections. Production
of 200 ordered in January 1939 and first production Westland Whirlwind I flew in
June 1940. Service introduction began in No 263 Sqn in July 1940 and first
'kill' claimed January 12, 1941. Second, only other, squadron, No 137,
operational October 1941 and both squadrons switched to ground-attack
duties, for which Westland Whirlwinds fitted to carry two 250-lb (113.5-kg) or
500-lb (227-kg) bombs underwing. Production limited to 114, all of which
served with one or other of the two squadrons until re-equipment in 1943.
One Westland Whirlwind went to US for evaluation after serving with No 263 Sqn.
Max speed, 360 mph (579 km/h) clean and 270 mph (435 km/h) with bombs,
at 15,000ft (4,575 m). Rate of climb, 1,300 ft/min (6.6 ml sec). Time
to 20,000 ft (6,100 m), 8.6 min. Service ceiling, 30,000ft (9,150 m).
Range, 800 mis (1,287 km). Empty weight, 8,310 Ib (3,770 kg). Max take-off,
with two 500-lb (227-kg) bombs, 11,388 Ib (5,165 kg). Span, 45ftO in (13.70
m). Length, 32 ft 3 in (9.83 m). Wing area, 250 sqft (23.2 m2).
