I take it you mean the fighter, not the helicopter?
It's got short legs for a naval aircraft, and will reduce the number of aircraft able to be carried. It also has poor visibility forward and down leaving the pilot blind on final approach that would make landing on a carrier very difficult, and probably result in an unacceptable number of accidents.
I take it you mean the fighter, not the helicopter?
It's got short legs for a naval aircraft, and will reduce the number of aircraft able to be carried. It also has poor visibility forward and down leaving the pilot blind on final approach that would make landing on a carrier very difficult, and probably result in an unacceptable number of accidents.
F4U Corsair landed 5mph faster, and far worse forward vision
Is there a way for the Westland whirlwind to enter service with the FAA?
The large Fowler flap on the Whirlwind spanned from outboard of the engine nacelles as one piece across the airframe centre line. This IIRC prevented any meaningful load on a center line hard point. For the FAA where Multi role etc is a necessity this might require a redesign/modification.
... Not without a complete overhaul of the design to make it suitable for carrier operations. By that time it's Rolls Royce Peregrine engines will be discontinued, so there will be extra reworking involved in finding a suitable replacement.... Operation readiness not before 1944... Actual full strength action readiness not before May of 1945....Is there a way for the Westland whirlwind to enter service with the FAA?
Swapping the Peregrines for a couple of Mercuries or Perseus would free up the wing roots for extra tankage in lieu of radiators.
n the end, the FAA will end up with the British equivalent of the Grumman F7F tigercat.
wasn't the Tigercat actually the old F5F after changes in technology during its super long development made it a completely different design?Rather than the Whirlwind, have the FAA license the Tigercat's parent: the F5F Skyrocket. That's a plane that should have been produced....
wasn't the Tigercat actually the old F5F after changes in technology during its super long development made it a completely different design?
Swapping the Peregrines for a couple of Mercuries or Perseus would free up the wing roots for extra tankage in lieu of radiators.
Wouldn't that change mess with the carefully considered aerodynamics of the Whirlwind we're familiar with?