Westland Wyvern
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| Wyvern | |
|---|---|
 Wyvern S Mk.4 |
|
| Type | Carrier-based strike aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Westland Aircraft |
| Designed by | Teddy Petter |
| Maiden flight | 12 December 1946 |
| Introduced | 1953 |
| Retired | 1958 |
| Primary user | Fleet Air Arm |
| Produced | 1946-1956 |
| Number built | 127 |
The Westland Wyvern was a British single-seat carrier-based multi-role strike aircraft built by Westland Aircraft and that served in the 1950s, seeing active service in the 1956 Suez Crisis. Production Wyverns were powered by a turboprop engine driving large and distinctive contra-rotating propellers and was able to carry an aerial torpedo.
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[edit] Design and development
The Wyvern began as a Westland project for a naval strike fighter, with the engine located behind the pilot and driving a propeller in the nose via a long shaft that passed under the cockpit floor[1]. This enabled the pilot to be located in a position that conferred the best possible visibility over the nose for carrier operations[1]. Official interest resulted in Air Ministry Specification N.11/44, for a long range naval fighter using the Rolls-Royce Eagle 24-cylinder H-block piston engine[2], being issued to cover Westland's design[1]. The specification also called for an airframe design that would be able to take a turboprop engine as and when a suitable unit was available. There was a parallel specification for the Royal Air Force, F.13/44, for which Hawker submitted the competing P.1027; a development of the Tempest. The RAF variant was cancelled when in 1945 it was decided that all future fighter aircraft would be jet powered[1].
The original design soon matured into the more conventional Westland W.34, with the 3,500 hp (2,610 kW) Eagle engine in the nose driving large contra-rotating propellers and the pilot sitting high in a humped fuselage to improve visibility. The design was otherwise orthodox, with a low wing, tail-wheel undercarriage and double-folding wings witted with both Youngman flaps on the inner wing section and conventional flaps on the outer section. The W.34 was to be armed with four Hispano 20 mm cannon in the wings and have the ability to carry a torpedo under the fuselage or a selection of bombs and rockets under the wings.
The prototype W.34; the Wyvern TF Mk.1, first flew on December 12, 1946 with Westland's test pilot Harald Penrose at the controls. This aircraft was lost on October 15, 1947 when the propeller bearings failed in flight, Westland's assistant test pilot Sqn. Ldr. Peter Garner being killed attempting to make an emergency landing. From prototype number 3 onwards, the aircraft were navalised and carried their intended armament.
At around this time, the Eagle engine was cancelled[1]
[edit] Operational history
Carrier trials began on 21 June 1950 with the type entering service in May 1953. The Wyvern was in service with the Fleet Air Arm from 1954 to 1958. Wyverns equipped 813 Naval Air Squadron, 827 Sqn., 830 Sqn., and 831 Sqn. of the Fleet Air Arm.
In September 1954, 813 embarked with their Wyverns on HMS Albion for carrier-based service in the Mediterranean. The Wyvern soon showed a worrying habit for flameout on catapult launch; the high G forces resulting in fuel starvation[1]. A number of aircraft were lost off Albions bows and Lt. B. D. Macfarlane made history when he successfully ejected from under water after his aircraft had ditched on launch and been cut in two by the carrier[1]. 813 did not return to Albion until the problems had been resolved; in March 1955.
830 Sqn. took the Wyvern into combat from HMS Eagle during Operation Musketeer; the armed response to the Suez Crisis. Two Wyverns were lost from the 82[1] sorties flown. Both pilots of the downed aircraft were picked up by Eagle's search and rescue helicopter. The squadron returned to the UK on Eagle after this conflict and disbanded in January 1957. 813 was the last Wyvern squadron, disbanding on April 22, 1958.
All Wyverns were withdrawn from service by 1958: while in service and testing there were 68 accidents, 39 were lost and there were 13 fatalities; including two RAF pilots and one USN pilot.
[edit] Variants
- W.34 Wyvern TF Mk.1 - Prototypes, six built and pre-production aircraft, seven built of ten contracted.
- W.35 Wyvern TF Mk.2 - The original production version, three prototypes and nine production aircraft built, further eleven were completed as S4s.
- W.38 Wyvern T Mk.3 - Two-seat conversion trainer. One prototype only. VZ739
- W.35 Wyvern TF Mk.4 - The definitive version, 98 built (including eleven started as TF.2s). Re-designated S Mk.4
[edit] Survivors
An unflown pre-production aircraft, fitted with the original Eagle piston engine, (serial number VR137) is on display at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in Yeovilton, England.
[edit] Operators
- Fleet Air Arm
- 700 Naval Air Squadron
- 703 Naval Air Squadron
- 764 naval Air Squadron
- 787 Naval Air Squadron
- 813 Naval Air Squadron
- 827 Naval Air Squadron
- 830 Naval Air Squadron
- 831 Naval Air Squadron
[edit] Specifications (Wyvern S.Mk 4)
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 42 ft 3 in (12.88 m)
- Wingspan: 44 ft 0 in (13.42 m)
- Height: 15 ft 0 in (4.57 m)
- Wing area: 355 ft² (33 m²)
- Empty weight: 15,608 lb (7,095 kg)
- Loaded weight: 21,200 lb (9,636 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 24,450 lb (11,113 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Armstrong Siddeley Python 3 turboprop, 3,667 hp (2,736 kW)
- Propellers: Two four-bladed contra-rotating propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 383 mph (613 km/h)
- Range: 904 miles (1,446 km)
- Service ceiling 28,000 ft (8,537 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,350 ft/min (11.9 m/s)
- Wing loading: 60 lb/ft² (292 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.17 hp/lb (0.28 kW/kg)
Armament
- 4x 20 mm Hispano Mk. V cannons in the wings
- 1× 1,850 lb (840 kg) torpedo (designed for)
- 16x underwing rockets or
- Up to 3,000 lb (1,364 kg) of bombs or
- 1x Mk-15/17 torpedo or sea mine
[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ Unrelated to the First World War-era engine of the same name.
[edit] Bibliography
- James, Derek N. Westland: A History. Gloucestershire, UK: Tempus Publishing Ltd, 2002. ISBN 0-7524-2772-5.
- Mondey, David. Westland (Planemakers 2). London: Jane's Publishing Company, 1982. ISBN 0-7106-0134-4.
- Ovčáčík, Michal and Susa, Karel. Westland Wyvern TF Mks.1,2, T Mk.3, S Mk.4 (in English). Prague, Czechia: Mark 1 Ltd., 2003. ISBN 80-902559-9-X.
- Sturivant, Ray, Burrow, Mick and Howard, Lee. Fleet Air Arm Fixed-Wing Aircraft Since 1946. Tonbridge, Kent: UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd., 2004. ISBN 0-85130-283-1.
- Williams, Ray. Fly Navy: Aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm since 1945. London: Airlife Publishing, 1989, ISBN 1-85310-057-9.
[edit] External links
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