Apparantly at low altitude yes, there was an article in "Flypast" about it. It was only down low that it was this good, as you went up the spit took over. But what a waste that they never adapted the design for Merlins, as it would have gone well over 400 mph. And would have had the range needed for a good escort fighter.
The whirlwind was faster than the Spifire at low altitude and apparantly more manouverable too. Engines just lacked development and nobody could be bothered to redisign it for Merlins. Would have made a truly great escort fighter.
@Xiolablu3 the Spitfire in all variants was probably one of the best fighters of the war in all accounts except one thing... range... which it really didtnt need anyway because of how close the war was at home and bombing missions primarily being done by the U.S. but my favorite still is the P-51D Mustang with the Spitfire coming into a close by the hair close second
Britain had a twin engined plane called the Whirlwind which was potentially faster than the P-38 but RR couldn't build engines fast enough for it to go into full production & priority was given to a complete heap of turd called the Defiant
Well if that isn't an over-simplification of the situation, I don't know what is.
The RR Peregrine that the Whirlwind used was never given enough development to be perfected and production was slow. Everything else was using the Merlin (including the Defiant) so Merlin work made more sense. By 1940 they were fitting cannon to other fighters so the Whirlwind got put on the back burner. The 100+ Whirlwinds they did build were used into 1943.
Well if that isn't an over-simplification of the situation, I don't know what is.
The RR Peregrine that the Whirlwind used was never given enough development to be perfected and production was slow. Everything else was using the Merlin (including the Defiant) so Merlin work made more sense. By 1940 they were fitting cannon to other fighters so the Whirlwind got put on the back burner. The 100+ Whirlwinds they did build were used into 1943.
Well if that isn't an over-simplification of the situation, I don't know what is.
The RR Peregrine that the Whirlwind used was never given enough development to be perfected and production was slow. Everything else was using the Merlin (including the Defiant) so Merlin work made more sense. By 1940 they were fitting cannon to other fighters so the Whirlwind got put on the back burner. The 100+ Whirlwinds they did build were used into 1943.
Apparantly at low altitude yes, there was an article in "Flypast" about it. It was only down low that it was this good, as you went up the spit took over. But what a waste that they never adapted the design for Merlins, as it would have gone well over 400 mph. And would have had the range needed for a good escort fighter.
SvenTviking 1 year ago
The whirlwind was faster than the Spifire at low altitude and apparantly more manouverable too. Engines just lacked development and nobody could be bothered to redisign it for Merlins. Would have made a truly great escort fighter.
SvenTviking 1 year ago
@SvenTviking Definitely not more manouverable than the Spitfire, mate.
Xiolablu3 1 year ago
@Xiolablu3 the Spitfire in all variants was probably one of the best fighters of the war in all accounts except one thing... range... which it really didtnt need anyway because of how close the war was at home and bombing missions primarily being done by the U.S. but my favorite still is the P-51D Mustang with the Spitfire coming into a close by the hair close second
deadeye512 3 months ago
frenchh gun ?
druisteen1 1 year ago
Britain had a twin engined plane called the Whirlwind which was potentially faster than the P-38 but RR couldn't build engines fast enough for it to go into full production & priority was given to a complete heap of turd called the Defiant
dimgwalltameiben 1 year ago
@dimgwalltameiben
Well if that isn't an over-simplification of the situation, I don't know what is.
The RR Peregrine that the Whirlwind used was never given enough development to be perfected and production was slow. Everything else was using the Merlin (including the Defiant) so Merlin work made more sense. By 1940 they were fitting cannon to other fighters so the Whirlwind got put on the back burner. The 100+ Whirlwinds they did build were used into 1943.
GMDLGTUK 1 year ago
@dimgwalltameiben
Well if that isn't an over-simplification of the situation, I don't know what is.
The RR Peregrine that the Whirlwind used was never given enough development to be perfected and production was slow. Everything else was using the Merlin (including the Defiant) so Merlin work made more sense. By 1940 they were fitting cannon to other fighters so the Whirlwind got put on the back burner. The 100+ Whirlwinds they did build were used into 1943.
GMDLGTUK 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
@dimgwalltameiben
Well if that isn't an over-simplification of the situation, I don't know what is.
The RR Peregrine that the Whirlwind used was never given enough development to be perfected and production was slow. Everything else was using the Merlin (including the Defiant) so Merlin work made more sense. By 1940 they were fitting cannon to other fighters so the Whirlwind got put on the back burner. The 100+ Whirlwinds they did build were used into 1943.
GMDLGTUK 1 year ago
what is it ?
druisteen1 1 year ago
More! p-38 was cool.
grooveclubhouse 2 years ago
First!
Luv the P38!
bulgogi1212 2 years ago