wuzak
Captain
If you go to a radial you would need more power to maintain the performance.
A Tiger has substantially more frontal area than the Peregrine.
A Tiger has substantially more frontal area than the Peregrine.
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
OK. We have tried the Merlin, Taurus, Dagger and Tiger. How about the Mercury? Peregrine power on 87 octane, reliable and in production. Wanted for Blenheims but this is becoming less important just as the Peregrine is being shut down. Lighter weight than the Peregrine and quite suitable for tropical service. Maybe the weight saved could go into increased armour for a GA role.
Essentially we are seeking a sound, available production engine in the 850 to 1,100 bhp class. Ideally air cooled to free up inner wing space for fuel.
Peregrine is going out of production.
Merlin is in too high a demand (we now know Petter was able to fit it.)
Taurus is otherwise wanted for Albacores and Beauforts.
Tiger is too unreliable.
Mercury can be available but at the end of it's development.
I have to go with the Dagger. Available, useable and with development potential.......
The essence of Halford's philosophy for the Dagger was that there were better returns from running the engine twice as fast as having it twice as big. He also saw it as a complete unit; a power egg as the Merlin package became called. Development would have followed a different route to conventional types. Yes higher boost but also higher revs. Yes it would need more cooling (That is why the Spitfire MkIX has 2 radiators and MkV 1.) But more air is no heavier even if it incurs more drag. I acknowledge the oil cooling demand would also rise.
However, reigning back the imagination, my point is that it was perfectly possible for the Whirlwind to have remained in production and been worth the resources. If Dagger production was limited then shadow produce Mercury Whirlwinds and Westland produce Dagger Whirlwinds.
Dagger Whirlifighters and Mercury Whirlibombers? Who needs Battles and Spitfires? Ah, 20/20 hindsight vision!
....
Mercury Whirlwinds would be even slower. You want a tank buster with 40mm cannon with Mercury's?
.....