Just Schmidt
Senior Airman
I always considered it a shame too that this pleasing aircraft was cut short that quickly.
If my memory dosn't fail me, the whirlwind was wery dependant on pneumatics (and teething troubles abounded here)which, like the rest of the design, was tailored wery carefully with the whole of the aircraft, and every change in engine would result in extensive changes all around. As noted the isentive to develope the peregrine further was small compared to fx the Merlin, and the scope for further developement was thereby small.
Actually Westland did instead go ahead with a new merlinpowered design partly inspired by the wirlwind, the Welkin, which was concieved as an high attitude fighter, but though fascinating this aircraft was far from as pleasing in appearance. Nor did it reach actual productionstatus.
If my memory dosn't fail me, the whirlwind was wery dependant on pneumatics (and teething troubles abounded here)which, like the rest of the design, was tailored wery carefully with the whole of the aircraft, and every change in engine would result in extensive changes all around. As noted the isentive to develope the peregrine further was small compared to fx the Merlin, and the scope for further developement was thereby small.
Actually Westland did instead go ahead with a new merlinpowered design partly inspired by the wirlwind, the Welkin, which was concieved as an high attitude fighter, but though fascinating this aircraft was far from as pleasing in appearance. Nor did it reach actual productionstatus.