>Too many systems problems, the engines didn’t really hack it, it never quite found a role.Moggy
Tend to disagree with you there Moggy, it never made it in it’s intended role but was pretty effective as a fighter/bomber, the role that it adopted from mid 1942 until replace by the Typhoon in late 43.
It was basically doomed from conception, Rolls Royce were at full capacity producing the Merlin and couldn’t release the resources to develop the Peregrine further. Westland also saw fit not to fit any form or transfer system to enable fule to be moved from tank to the other, which severely hampered it’s rang.
I’ve liaised with several Whirlwind pilots over the past few years, and they all had mixed emotions about the aircraft, the majority I must say liked it despite it’s foibles.
Below 15,000 it could out perform many of the single engined fighters of the day in certain areas, it was also know to have mixed it with the FW190 with some success.
One of our local property owners and pub landlord was a mechanic on Whirlwinds, he reckoned that it was no more complicated to work on than the Halifax’s that he transferred to after the Whirlwind was disposed of. It’s also worth noting that on many occasions 263 Sqn were the only Sqn able to put a Sqn up from the south coast when the weather prevented single seat types from flying.
I spoke to Steve V sometime ago and he confirmed that he had the remains of a Whirlwind stashed away, I also know that another well known restoration expert has parts of this airframe as well as parts from an engine. However I’m pretty sure there are no know complete Peregrines in existence.
I thought back in 2002 when this project was announced that it was a long time coming, however I think 3 years may be a bit ambitious.
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