Whirlwind P7110 in flight, 1941
Westland Whirlwind Specifications:
Wings:
The aircraft features a low-wing cantilever monoplane design, constructed entirely from metal, with a stressed-skin made of lightweight alloy. The ailerons have a metal frame but are covered with fabric. Fowler-type trailing-edge flaps are situated between the ailerons and fuselage. The rear section of the engine nacelles is designed to move in conjunction with the flaps. The outer wing panels are equipped with Handley Page anti-stall slats on the leading edges.
Fuselage:
The fuselage has an oval-shaped metal monocoque structure, also featuring stressed-skin covering for added strength.
Tail Assembly:
All components of the tail are made of metal, with stressed-skin covering for the fixed surfaces, and fabric covering for the movable ones. The cantilever tailplane is mounted high on the fin, with an acorn-type fairing where the two surfaces meet. It includes split rudder and elevators.
Landing Gear:
The main landing gear retracts backward, and the wheels are fully enclosed within the engine nacelles by hinged doors once retracted. The tailwheel is fully retractable as well.
Engines:
Powered by two Rolls-Royce Peregrine I engines, these 12-cylinder, liquid-cooled V engines are both geared and supercharged. They produce 885 horsepower (hp) at 3,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) at an altitude of 16,250 feet (4,950 m), 860 hp at 2,850 rpm at 13,500 feet (4,115 m), and 765 hp at 3,000 rpm at sea level. Each engine drives a 10-foot (3.05 meters) diameter de Havilland D.H.4/4 three-blade variable-pitch, constant-speed propeller.
Armament:
The aircraft is equipped with four fixed 20 mm Hispano Mk. I cannons (based on Oerlikon design and produced under Hispano license) mounted in the nose, each supplied with a 60-round magazine, allowing a combined firing rate of 600 lbs of ammunition per minute. The aircraft is also designed to accommodate two Mk. III Universal bomb carriers, one under each wing, capable of carrying two 250-lb (113-kg) or two 500-lb (227-kg) bombs.
Dimensions:
- Wingspan: 45 feet (13.72 m)
- Length: Overall: 32 feet 3 inches (9.83 m); tail down: 32 feet 9 inches (9.98 m)
- Height: Tail down: 10 feet 6 inches (3.2 m)
- Wheel track: 12 feet 9 inches (3.89 m)
- Wing area: 250 square feet (23.23 m²)
Weight:
- Empty: 8,310 pounds (3,770 kg)
- Loaded (as fighter): 10,356 pounds (4,698 kg)
- Loaded (as bomber):
- With two 250-lb (113-kg) bombs: 10,888 pounds (4,938 kg)
- With two 500-lb (227-kg) bombs: 11,388 pounds (5,165 kg)
Performance:
- Maximum speed (light configuration):
- 315 mph (507 km/h) at 5,000 feet (1,524 m)
- 335 mph (539 km/h) at 10,000 feet (3,048 m)
- 360 mph (579 km/h) at 15,000 feet (4,572 m)
- 350 mph (563 km/h) at 20,000 feet (6,096 m)
- Maximum speed (fully loaded):
- 304 mph (489 km/h) at 15,000 feet (4,572 m) with a full war load and racks
- 278 mph (447 km/h) at 15,000 feet (4,572 m) with full war load and two 250-lb bombs
- 270 mph (434 km/h) at 15,000 feet (4,572 m) with full war load and two 500-lb bombs
- Other performance metrics:
- Top speed: 355 mph (571 km/h) at 15,800 feet (4,815 m)
- Landing speed: 110 mph (177 km/h)
- Time to climb to 30,000 feet (9,144 m): 24.6 minutes
- Service ceiling: 30,300 feet (9,235 m)
- Range: 800 miles (1,287 km)