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| Wyvern | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Wyvern S.Mk.4 | |
| Role | Carrier-based strike aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Westland Aircraft |
| Designer | Teddy Petter |
| First flight | 16 December 1946 |
| Introduction | 1953 |
| Retired | 1958 |
| Primary user | Fleet Air Arm |
| Produced | 1946-1956 |
| Number built | 127 |
Contents
Design and development
.
The prototype W.34; the Wyvern TF Mk 1, first flew at Boscombe Down on 16 December 1946 with Westland's test pilot Harald Penrose at the controls. This aircraft was lost on 15 October 1947 when the propeller bearings failed in flight. Westland's assistant test pilot Sqn. Ldr. Peter Garner was killed attempting to make an emergency landing. From prototype number three onwards, the aircraft were navalised and carried their intended armament.[1]
The first Python-powered TF.2 flew on 22 March 1949 and this aircraft introduced the ejection seat to the Wyvern. Twenty TF.2s were completed to the Python design although after three years of testing what was then a revolutionary aircraft design, a myriad of detailed aerodynamic changes resulted. The Python engine responded poorly to minor throttle adjustments, so control was exercised by running the engine at a constant speed and varying the pitch of the propellers. The aircraft was declared ready for service in 1952,[1] but never reached an operational squadron.[1]
The definitive Wyvern mark was the TF.Mk.4, later S.Mk.4. Initially, 50 Mark 4s were ordered and were joined by the last seven TF.2s, which were altered while still under construction. Mk.4s reached limited shore-based front line service in May 1953 with 813 Naval Air Squadron at RNAS Ford, replacing the somewhat similar (and equally troubled) Blackburn Firebrand. Several second line squadrons also received Wyverns around this time.
Total production was 127 airframes with 124 aircraft completed, as the last three Eagle piston engined airframes, VR138/VR140, were never completed.[3][4]
Operational history
The first carrier trials were carried out by the first pre-production Wyvern TF.2 aboard HMS Illustrious on 21 June 1950.[5] Despite this, when the Wyvern S.4 entered service with 813 Naval Air Squadron in May 1953, it had not obtained clearance for carrier operations, this being obtained only in April 1954.[6] The Wyvern was in service with the Fleet Air Arm from 1954 to 1958. Wyverns equipped 813 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. A number of aircraft were lost off Albion's 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. 813 did not return to Albion until March 1955 when the problems had been resolved.[1]
830 Sqn. took the Wyvern into combat from HMS Eagle, flying 79 sorties[7] during Operation Musketeer; the armed response to the Suez Crisis. Two Wyverns were lost to damage from Egyptian light anti-aircraft fire; both pilots of the aircraft successfully ejected over the sea, and 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. Consequently, 813 was the last Wyvern squadron, disbanding on 22 April 1958.[1]
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 US Navy pilot.
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 11 were completed as S 4s.
- 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 11 started as TF 2s). Re-designated S. Mk. 4
Survivors
Operators
Specifications (Wyvern S Mk 4)
Data from Westland Aircraft since 1915[9]
General characteristics- Crew: 1 (2 in T Mk.3)
- Length: 42 ft 3 in (12.88 m)
- Wingspan: 44 ft 0 in (13.41 m) (folded 20 ft (6 m)
- Height: 15 ft 9 in (4.80 m) (folded 20 ft (6 m)
- Wing area: 355 sq ft (33.0 m2)
- Empty weight: 15,600 lb (7,076 kg)
- Gross weight: 21,200 lb (9,616 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 24,550 lb (11,136 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Eagle 22 H-24 liquid-cooled sleeve-valve piston engine, 2,690 hp (2,010 kW) (TF Mk.1)
- Powerplant: 1 × Rolls-Royce Clyde axial LP, centrifugal HP, 2-spool turboprop, 4,000 hp (3,000 kW) +1,550 lbf (6.895 kN) residual thrust (TF Mk.2)
- Powerplant: 1 × Armstrong Siddeley A.S.P.3 Python reverse flow axial compressor turboprop engine, 3,560 hp (2,650 kW) +1,100 lbf (4.893 kN) residual thrust (T Mk.3, S. Mk.4)
- Propellers: 2x4-bladed ROTOL Airscrews contra-rotating, 13 ft (4.0 m) diameter
- Maximum speed: 383 mph (616 km/h; 333 kn) at sea level, 380 mph (612 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,048 m)
- Range: 910 mi (791 nmi; 1,465 km)
- Service ceiling: 28,000 ft (8,534 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,350 ft/min (11.9 m/s)
- Wing loading: 59.7 lb/sq ft (291 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 0.194 eshp/lb
- Guns: 4 20mm British Hispano Mk.V cannon, 2 in each wing
- Rockets: 16 RP-3 underwing rockets
- Missiles: one Mk.15 or Mk.17 torpedo
- Bombs: Up to 3,000 lb (1,361 kg) of bombs or sea mines
See also
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
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