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The Gloster F.9/37 was just as fast as the Whirlwind.
The Fw 187 V6 (DB-600 powered), He 100 V1, Fw 190 V1, XP-38, and XP-39 all flew in 1939 or earlier and were significantly faster.
Specifications (Whirlwind)
General characteristics
Crew: One pilot
Max takeoff weight: 11,410 lb (5,175 kg)
Performance
Maximum speed: {over} 360 mph (560 km/h)
Specifications (Fw 187 A-0)
General characteristics
Powerplant: 2× Junkers Jumo 210Ga 12-cylinder inline piston, 544 kW (730 hp) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 529 km/h at 4,200 m (329 mph at 13,780 ft)
Specifications (Gloster F-9(Taurus engine))
General characteristics
Powerplant: 2× Bristol Taurus T-S(a) 14 cylinder radial engine, 1,000 hp (746 kW) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 313 knots (360 mph, 580 km/h) at 15,000 ft (4,570 m)
Could have taken a half dozen from the list...
I believe the Whirlwind was actually the fastest fighter {at 360 mph} in the world in 1938-1939, but I could be wrong. a truly innovative fighter nonetheless.
Also took the Firefly, an excellent multi-role aircraft, fighter, recon, bomber DB! Not many aircraft could do this all in the same version. It wasn't a match for the very best Axis fighters obviously, but vs. bombers was more than adequate.
{And my Avatar is a Firefly...}
I suppose I should have said "in general service", not prototypes etc.
When the Whirlwind squadron was active in the fall of 1940 were there any other active squadrons that had 360+ mph fighters?
The FW 190 was only a prototype correct?
The FW 187, only 9 were built and did not go into general service. Was it not slower? Which is why I specified the DB 600 engined V6 prototype
The He 100 also was not in gerneral service AFAIK, nor was the Gloster.
I believe the Whirlwind was actually the fastest fighter {at 360 mph} in the world in 1938-1939, but I could be wrong.
The first production aircraft were delivered to No. 263 Squadron in July 1940, after the decision had been made that No. 263, not No. 25, would be the first RAF Whirlwind squadron. However, from then until October, production of the Peregrine engine was so slow that only 11 Whirlwinds could be delivered to the squadron. Due to slow deliveries and the delays involved in transitioning from Hawker Hurricanes to the new fighter, the squadron did not become operational with Whirlwinds until December 1940, but went on to fly them until December 1943.
My bad, poorly worded.Ok, but what made me think prototypes was your previous statement:
And according to wikipedia the first squadron didn't become operational until December:
I'm not sure if the Bf 109F was operational in late 1940, but I think it was.
I guess "low" is a relative term. I just meant that the Peregrine engines were optimized for low level performance.
Does anyone know what the war record of the Whirl was in 40/41? was it successful against the Me109?
Okay, you did forget one very important WWII British fighter: the Hawker Sea Fury, one of the most beautiful aircraft of all time.
Quick question, anyone know off the top of their head what role the Gladiator played in the BoB? I know it featured heavily in the North Africa campain until the Hurricanes started showing up...