I've read once that the German S-boat crews hated the Whirlwind when it did early morning patrols over the Channel to catch stragglers from the night's activities. Front on it was hard to spot and so fast that by the time you did spot it the air was filled with incoming 20mm shells.
Come on now, I think you're trolling us - is this the same newsletter that recently lambasted (rightly) the Gloster Meteor as a dangerous and technological dead-end that was quickly obsolete and delayed Britain embracing much better designs? Now apparently it was a terrific aircraft inspired by the Whirlwind!
As for the Canberra - was it really inspired by the Whirlwind? I don't think so. Thick mid-wing, conventional tail and no bubble canopy. Great aircraft but really didn't need the Whirlwind for inspiration.
Regarding the Whirlwind itself, you do indeed wonder how it would have been with two Merlins instead of the Peregrine, but what did it really add that other aircraft didn't. Not much cop at altitude, and short-legged which meant it couldn't be an escort fighter. Neither could it carry a big load, as with the Beaufighter, and then the Mosquito.
There is a certain 'might have been' charisma about the Whirlwind, but as best fighter of the war? Not even close.
Not trolling, no. We're running a series of these greatest (Bf 109, Mustang, P-47, and even J-21) and using them to highlight a different aspect of fighter design or application.
Well, Mr Hush, I must first say that I find your hypothesis illuminating, interesting, and entertaining as hell.
So yes, go Whirlwind! (And since I’ve never built one, I know what kit I must purchase next.)
Second, and since you started this, I relinquish any sense of decorum in scrambling to defend the Me-262 as the GOTW.
If the metric of success is determined by future design legacy (rather than number built, kills, variants, speed, pilot safely, etc), then I’d have to retort with the Storm Bird.
Jet engines in wing-mounted pods, swept wings, tricycle gear, elegance of design — the legacy of the 262 was global, immediate, and (if you look at any airliner flying today), eternal.
No P-51 legacy? P-82 (Korea), T-28 (Vietnam, Phillppines, Algeria - used in combat a lot longer than the P-51!), F-86 via the FJ-1 Fury (a jet Mustang). And the T-38/F-5 series, by the same designer...
Pity they didn't figure out the propeller problem in time.
Makes for an interesting comparison with the Grummand XF5F Skyrocket - bolt a couple of the 2-stage, 3 speed R-1830s from the F4F-3/4 on it and it would have been "interesting".
I suppose the answer would have been two Merlins but at the time (1939-41) they were a scarce resource and prioritised for single engined Spitfires and Hurricanes in the air defence role. By the time production of Merlins was no longer the issue, the Mosquito had come along - another heavy hitter that could do everything.
I believe the Meteor was shown to be fully outclassed by swept wing jets by the 50s, suggesting that its influence on the future was pretty limited. I say this while acknowledging the greatness of the Canberra, but I reckon that was a different aircraft in a very different design slot.
I've read once that the German S-boat crews hated the Whirlwind when it did early morning patrols over the Channel to catch stragglers from the night's activities. Front on it was hard to spot and so fast that by the time you did spot it the air was filled with incoming 20mm shells.
Come on now, I think you're trolling us - is this the same newsletter that recently lambasted (rightly) the Gloster Meteor as a dangerous and technological dead-end that was quickly obsolete and delayed Britain embracing much better designs? Now apparently it was a terrific aircraft inspired by the Whirlwind!
As for the Canberra - was it really inspired by the Whirlwind? I don't think so. Thick mid-wing, conventional tail and no bubble canopy. Great aircraft but really didn't need the Whirlwind for inspiration.
Regarding the Whirlwind itself, you do indeed wonder how it would have been with two Merlins instead of the Peregrine, but what did it really add that other aircraft didn't. Not much cop at altitude, and short-legged which meant it couldn't be an escort fighter. Neither could it carry a big load, as with the Beaufighter, and then the Mosquito.
There is a certain 'might have been' charisma about the Whirlwind, but as best fighter of the war? Not even close.
Not trolling, no. We're running a series of these greatest (Bf 109, Mustang, P-47, and even J-21) and using them to highlight a different aspect of fighter design or application.
Well, Mr Hush, I must first say that I find your hypothesis illuminating, interesting, and entertaining as hell.
So yes, go Whirlwind! (And since I’ve never built one, I know what kit I must purchase next.)
Second, and since you started this, I relinquish any sense of decorum in scrambling to defend the Me-262 as the GOTW.
If the metric of success is determined by future design legacy (rather than number built, kills, variants, speed, pilot safely, etc), then I’d have to retort with the Storm Bird.
Jet engines in wing-mounted pods, swept wings, tricycle gear, elegance of design — the legacy of the 262 was global, immediate, and (if you look at any airliner flying today), eternal.
I look forward to your thoughts.
Beautiful aircraft
No P-51 legacy? P-82 (Korea), T-28 (Vietnam, Phillppines, Algeria - used in combat a lot longer than the P-51!), F-86 via the FJ-1 Fury (a jet Mustang). And the T-38/F-5 series, by the same designer...
Pity they didn't figure out the propeller problem in time.
Makes for an interesting comparison with the Grummand XF5F Skyrocket - bolt a couple of the 2-stage, 3 speed R-1830s from the F4F-3/4 on it and it would have been "interesting".
I have always thought that the Whirlwind, if not for the engines, should have been the RAF's P-38 - a heavy hitter that could do everything.
I suppose the answer would have been two Merlins but at the time (1939-41) they were a scarce resource and prioritised for single engined Spitfires and Hurricanes in the air defence role. By the time production of Merlins was no longer the issue, the Mosquito had come along - another heavy hitter that could do everything.
Sorry - that should have read: “the Whirlwinds influence on the future”
I believe the Meteor was shown to be fully outclassed by swept wing jets by the 50s, suggesting that its influence on the future was pretty limited. I say this while acknowledging the greatness of the Canberra, but I reckon that was a different aircraft in a very different design slot.