Was the Westland Whirlwind any good?

The overall performance of the Whirlwind was reasonable, though not quite as good as had been anticipated. Maximum speed was around 360mph, similar to early models of the Spitfire, and the Whirlwind did have a useful operational range of over 800 miles compared to the 400 miles of early Spitfires.

Was the P-38 a good fighter?

Despite its flaws, the P-38 was a rare early example of a successful “heavy” fighter boasting speed, range and firepower—similar to modern multi-role fighters like the F-15 and Su-27.

How fast was the Westland Whirlwind?

360 mph
Westland Whirlwind/Top speed

What was the most heavily armed fighter of ww2?

By the end of the war, the B-25 was the most heavily armed aircraft in the U.S. Army Air Forces’ inventory. A single 12-airplane squadron of B-25s carried more . 50-caliber machine guns than four infantry regiments.

Are there any Westland Whirlwinds still flying?

After retirement in December 1943, all but one of the surviving Whirlwinds were sent to No. 18 Maintenance Unit RAF at Dumfries, Scotland, where they were scrapped. P7048 was retained by Westland and was granted a civil certificate of airworthiness on 10 October 1946, with the registration G-AGOI.

What was the fastest prop plane in WW2?

Originally Answered: What was the fastest propeller airplane of WW2? The German Dornier Do 335 “Pfeil” is the fastest of the war. The fastest propeller driven US aircraft of the war that saw service in combat was the P-47M Thunderbolt.

How much is a P-38 Lightning worth?

But P-38s were also used in weather reconnaissance, or in low-flying missions to photograph enemy targets. Of all the P-38s built, only about two dozen remain, and only about four of those are still flying, said Levine. The planes originally sold for $125,000 but are now worth about $1.5 million.

Was the P-47 a good fighter?

The P-47 proved to be a formidable fighter-bomber due to its good armament, heavy bomb load and ability to survive enemy fire. The P-47’s survivability was due in part to its radial piston engine, which unlike comparable liquid-cooled engines, had a high tolerance for damage.

What WW2 fighter has the most kills?

While serving in Germany’s Luftwaffe in World War II, Erich Hartmann flew more than 1,400 missions in the Messerschmitt Bf 109, enabling him to score an astonishing 352 kills.

What happened to Westland Helicopters?

Westland Helicopters was a British aircraft manufacturer. It was amalgamated with several other British firms in 1960 and 1961. In 2000, it merged with Italian helicopter manufacturer Agusta to form AgustaWestland.

Was the Spitfire the fastest plane in WW2?

Supermarine Spitfire – (606mph) The icon of WW2 and the Battle of Britain. The Supermarine Spitfire was Britain’s sweetheart and a joy to fly. This beauty has a max speed faster than that of today’s commercial jets.

Was the P-38 Lightning a good plane?

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was one of the most important American fighters of the Second World War. Although its operational record was somewhat mixed, in general the P-38 was a fast, powerful and capable aircraft that performed well in a wide range of roles.

Why were P-38s so popular in WW2?

This was all due to the twin-boomed, twin-engine Lockheed P-38 Lightning and the single-engine Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. And in the Pacific Theater, the P-38 was the preferred fighter right up to the end of the war, even above the soon-to-be-famous Mustang.

Was the P-38 Lightning inspired by the Fokker G?

Photo by Evert J. van Koningsveld. Unusual twin-boom WWII fighter probably inspired by the Fokker G.Iaircraft. Most US fighters with the Allison V-1710 engine suffered from bad performance at higher altitudes, but the P-38 Lightning was fitted with turbochargers in the tail booms, behind the engines.

Why didn’t the P-38 fly to England?

Plans were made to deploy several squadrons of P-38s to England, but the logistics of delivery were difficult. The 1st, 14th, and 82nd fighter groups were the first P-38 groups to go overseas, joining the Eighth Air Force in England.