Westland Interceptor: Difference between revisions
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{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin |
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{{Use British English|date=February 2017}} |
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{|{{Infobox aircraft begin |
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| name= Westland Interceptor |
| name= Westland Interceptor |
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| image= |
| image=Westland Intrceptor.jpg |
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| caption= |
| caption= |
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}}{{Infobox |
}}{{Infobox aircraft type |
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| type= [[Fighter aircraft|Fighter]] |
| type= [[Fighter aircraft|Fighter]] |
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| national origin= [[United Kingdom]] |
| national origin= [[United Kingdom]] |
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==Development== |
==Development== |
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Specification F.20/27 was for a fighter operating in the daylight interception role. The main requirement was that the F.20/27 fighter would be able to overtake, in the shortest possible time, an enemy aircraft passing overhead at 150 |
Specification F.20/27 was for a fighter operating in the daylight interception role. The main requirement was that the F.20/27 fighter would be able to overtake, in the shortest possible time, an enemy aircraft passing overhead at {{convert|150|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} at an altitude of {{convert|20,000|ft|m|abbr=off}}.<ref name="Sinnot">Colin Sinnott, ''The Royal Air Force and Aircraft Design 1923-1939'', Frank Cass publishing, UK 2001.</ref> This put the emphasis on high speed and rate of climb. |
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Design work on the Interceptor started in late 1927, and it made its first flight in early 1929, with |
Design work on the Interceptor started in late 1927, and it made its first flight in early 1929, with Lieutenant L. G. Paget at the controls.<ref name="Goulding">James Goulding, ''Interceptor'', Ian Allan Ltd., UK 1986.</ref> The Interceptor was a low-wing monoplane with an all-metal structure and wire-braced wings, covered mostly in fabric with the exception of the front fuselage. It had a fixed undercarriage. The single [[prototype]] was powered by an uncowled [[Bristol Mercury|Bristol Mercury IIA]], later replaced by a Mercury III. It was armed with two .303-inch (7.7-mm) [[Vickers machine gun|Vickers Mk.II]] machine guns, installed in the sides of the fuselage with the breeches within reach of the pilot. The guns were [[synchronization gear|synchronized]] to fire through the propeller, and heated to improve their operation at high altitude. The RAF had intended to call for four-gun armament in Specification F.20/27, but after an administrative mix-up it was sent out to manufacturers calling for only two guns.<ref name="Sinnot"/> |
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The handling characteristics of the Interceptor have been described as "alarming."<ref name="Mason">Tim Mason, ''British Flight Testing: Martlesham Heath 1920-1939'', Putnam, UK 1993</ref> In steep turns the elevator became ineffective, and the aircraft was prone to enter a spiral dive or a [[ |
The handling characteristics of the Interceptor have been described as "alarming."<ref name="Mason">Tim Mason, ''British Flight Testing: Martlesham Heath 1920-1939'', Putnam, UK 1993</ref> In steep turns the elevator became ineffective, and the aircraft was prone to enter a spiral dive or a [[Spin (flight)|spin]] from such flight attitudes. The Mercury II engine suffered from persistent high oil temperatures. Test pilots gave a negative assessment of the Interceptor, causing it to be withdrawn from the F.20/27 competition. |
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The aircraft continued to fly until 1935, but no orders were placed. Significant aerodynamic modifications were made to improve the handling characteristics, including a considerable increase in the height of the |
The aircraft continued to fly until 1935, but no orders were placed. Significant aerodynamic modifications were made to improve the handling characteristics, including a considerable increase in the height of the fin and rudder, to improve spin recovery.<ref name="Goulding"/> The troublesome Mercury engine was exchanged for a [[Bristol Jupiter|Bristol Jupiter VII]], and later fitted with a [[Townend ring]] to reduce drag. |
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The Interceptor and two of the competing F.20/27 designs, the [[Vickers Jockey]] and [[de Havilland DH.77]], |
The Interceptor and two of the competing F.20/27 designs, the [[Vickers Jockey]] and [[de Havilland DH.77]], were historically important because they were [[monoplane]] [[fighter aircraft|fighter]] prototypes, after a long period during which the standard fighter design was a [[biplane]]. However, all three were found lacking in overall performance and handling during the test flights, showing that the [[Aerospace engineering|aircraft designers]] had failed to reach the project goal.<ref name="Interceptor">{{cite web|url=http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fww1/interceptor.html|title=Interceptor|accessdate=2009-01-16}}</ref> The F.20/27 competition was won by the [[Hawker Fury|Hornet]], which entered service under the name [[Hawker Fury]]. |
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==Specifications== |
==Specifications== |
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{{Aircraft specs |
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{{aircraft specifications |
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|ref=Airwar.<ref name="Interceptor" /> |
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|plane or copter?=plane |
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|prime units?=imp |
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|jet or prop?=prop |
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<!-- |
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|ref=Airwar.<ref name="Interceptor"></ref> |
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General characteristics |
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--> |
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|crew=1 |
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|crew= |
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|capacity= |
|capacity= |
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|length ft=25 |
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|payload main= |
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|length in=4 |
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|length note= |
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|span ft=38 |
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|length main= 7.73 m |
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|span in=0 |
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|length alt=25 ft 4 in |
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|span |
|span note= |
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|height ft=9 |
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|span alt=38 ft |
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|height |
|height in=8 |
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|height |
|height note= |
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|area |
|wing area sqft=214 |
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|area |
|wing area note= |
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|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes --> |
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|airfoil= |
|airfoil= |
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|empty weight |
|empty weight lb=2350 |
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|empty weight |
|empty weight note= |
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|gross weight lb= |
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|gross weight note= |
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|max takeoff weight lb=3325 |
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|useful load main= |
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|max takeoff weight note= |
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|useful load alt= |
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|fuel capacity= |
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|max takeoff weight main= 1508 kg |
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|max takeoff weight alt= 3325 lb |
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|max takeoff weight more= |
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|more general= |
|more general= |
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<!-- |
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Powerplant |
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--> |
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|eng1 number=1 |
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|eng1 name=[[Bristol Mercury IIA]] |
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|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine |
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|eng1 hp=440 |
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|eng1 note= |
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|prop blade number=2 |
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|engine (prop)= [[Bristol Mercury|Bristol Mercury IIA]] |
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|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller |
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|type of prop= [[Radial engine]] |
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|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |
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|number of props= 1 |
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|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft --> |
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|power main= 440 HP |
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|prop dia note= |
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|power alt= 328 kW |
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<!-- |
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|power original= |
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Performance |
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|power more= |
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--> |
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|max speed mph=192 |
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|propeller or rotor?=<!-- options: propeller/rotor --> |
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|max speed note= |
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|propellers= |
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|cruise speed mph=164 |
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|number of propellers per engine= |
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|cruise speed note= |
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|propeller diameter main= |
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|stall speed mph= |
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|propeller diameter alt= |
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|stall speed note= |
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|never exceed speed mph= |
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|never exceed speed note= |
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|range miles=385 |
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|max speed more= |
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|range note= |
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|cruise speed main= 264 km/h |
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|combat range miles= |
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|cruise speed alt= 164 mph |
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|combat range note= |
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|cruise speed more |
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|ferry range miles= |
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|stall speed main= |
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|ferry range note= |
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|endurance=<!-- if range unknown --> |
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|stall speed more= |
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|ceiling ft= |
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|never exceed speed main= |
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|ceiling note= |
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|never exceed speed alt= |
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|climb rate ftmin= |
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|range main= 620 km |
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|climb rate note= |
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|range alt= 385 miles |
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|time to altitude= |
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|ferry range main= |
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|wing loading lb/sqft= |
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|ferry range alt= |
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|wing loading note= |
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|ferry range more= |
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|fuel consumption lb/mi= |
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|ceiling main= |
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|power/mass= |
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|ceiling alt= |
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|climb rate main= |
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|climb rate alt= |
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|loading main= |
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|loading alt= |
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|thrust/weight= |
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|power/mass main= |
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|power/mass alt= |
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|more performance= |
|more performance= |
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<!-- |
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Armament |
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|armament=Two, front fixed, 7.7 mm [[Vickers machine gun]]s. |
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--> |
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|guns= |
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|guns=2x fixed forward firing [[.303 British|.303 in]] (7.7 mm) [[Vickers machine gun]]s |
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|bombs= |
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|rockets= |
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|missiles= |
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|hardpoints= |
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|hardpoint capacity= |
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|avionics= |
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}} |
}} |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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{{aircontent |
{{aircontent |
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|see also= |
|see also= |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{commons category|Westland Interceptor}} |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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{{refbegin}} |
{{refbegin}} |
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Derek N James: "Westland Aircraft Since 1915" |
Derek N James: "Westland Aircraft Since 1915" |
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{{ |
{{Westland aircraft}} |
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{{Template:Westland aircraft}} |
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[[Category:Westland aircraft]] |
[[Category:Westland aircraft|Interceptor]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:1920s British fighter aircraft]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] |
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[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]] |
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[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1929]] |
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[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]] |
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Latest revision as of 04:32, 8 November 2024
| Westland Interceptor | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Fighter |
| National origin | United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | Westland Aircraft |
| Designer | W.E.W. Petter |
| First flight | 1929 |
| Status | Retired |
| Number built | 1 |
The Westland Interceptor was a fighter developed by the British company Westland Aircraft to Air Ministry Specification F.20/27.[1] When tested in 1929 and 1930, it showed unsatisfactory handling characteristics and was rejected by the RAF in favour of the Hawker Fury biplane fighter.
Development
[edit]Specification F.20/27 was for a fighter operating in the daylight interception role. The main requirement was that the F.20/27 fighter would be able to overtake, in the shortest possible time, an enemy aircraft passing overhead at 150 mph (240 km/h) at an altitude of 20,000 feet (6,100 metres).[2] This put the emphasis on high speed and rate of climb.
Design work on the Interceptor started in late 1927, and it made its first flight in early 1929, with Lieutenant L. G. Paget at the controls.[3] The Interceptor was a low-wing monoplane with an all-metal structure and wire-braced wings, covered mostly in fabric with the exception of the front fuselage. It had a fixed undercarriage. The single prototype was powered by an uncowled Bristol Mercury IIA, later replaced by a Mercury III. It was armed with two .303-inch (7.7-mm) Vickers Mk.II machine guns, installed in the sides of the fuselage with the breeches within reach of the pilot. The guns were synchronized to fire through the propeller, and heated to improve their operation at high altitude. The RAF had intended to call for four-gun armament in Specification F.20/27, but after an administrative mix-up it was sent out to manufacturers calling for only two guns.[2]
The handling characteristics of the Interceptor have been described as "alarming."[4] In steep turns the elevator became ineffective, and the aircraft was prone to enter a spiral dive or a spin from such flight attitudes. The Mercury II engine suffered from persistent high oil temperatures. Test pilots gave a negative assessment of the Interceptor, causing it to be withdrawn from the F.20/27 competition.
The aircraft continued to fly until 1935, but no orders were placed. Significant aerodynamic modifications were made to improve the handling characteristics, including a considerable increase in the height of the fin and rudder, to improve spin recovery.[3] The troublesome Mercury engine was exchanged for a Bristol Jupiter VII, and later fitted with a Townend ring to reduce drag.
The Interceptor and two of the competing F.20/27 designs, the Vickers Jockey and de Havilland DH.77, were historically important because they were monoplane fighter prototypes, after a long period during which the standard fighter design was a biplane. However, all three were found lacking in overall performance and handling during the test flights, showing that the aircraft designers had failed to reach the project goal.[5] The F.20/27 competition was won by the Hornet, which entered service under the name Hawker Fury.
Specifications
[edit]Data from Airwar.[5]
General characteristics
- Length: 25 ft 4 in (7.72 m)
- Wingspan: 38 ft 0 in (11.58 m)
- Height: 9 ft 8 in (2.95 m)
- Wing area: 214 sq ft (19.9 m2)
- Empty weight: 2,350 lb (1,066 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,325 lb (1,508 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Mercury IIA 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 440 hp (330 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 192 mph (309 km/h, 167 kn)
- Cruise speed: 164 mph (264 km/h, 143 kn)
- Range: 385 mi (620 km, 335 nmi)
Armament
- Guns: 2x fixed forward firing .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine guns
See also
[edit]Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
- Armstrong Whitworth Starling II
- Bristol Bulldog Mk.II
- de Havilland DH.77
- Fairey Firefly II
- Hawker Fury
- Saunders A.10
- Vickers Jockey
Related lists
References
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Westland Interceptor.
- ^ "AGUSTAWESTLAND - Westland History - F 20/27 Interceptor (1928)". Retrieved 16 January 2009.
- ^ a b Colin Sinnott, The Royal Air Force and Aircraft Design 1923-1939, Frank Cass publishing, UK 2001.
- ^ a b James Goulding, Interceptor, Ian Allan Ltd., UK 1986.
- ^ Tim Mason, British Flight Testing: Martlesham Heath 1920-1939, Putnam, UK 1993
- ^ a b "Interceptor". Retrieved 16 January 2009.
Derek N James: "Westland Aircraft Since 1915"