Westland Dreadnought

The Westland Dreadnought, unveiled in 1949 by the British firm Westland Aircraft, was the company's ambitious attempt to re‑enter the heavy bomber market after World II. Designed around a pair of Rolls‑Royce Nene turbo‑jets, the Dreadnought featured a sleek, mid‑wing monoplane layout with a shoulder‑mounted tailplane and a distinctive twin‑boom fuselage that housed separate pressurised crew compartments. Its 40‑metre wingspan accommodated a mixed‑load of up to 8 tonnes of bombs, while an innovative hydraulic loading system permitted rapid re‑arming in the field. Defensive armament consisted of remotely‑controlled turrets equipped with 20 mm cannon, and the aircraft incorporated early radar navigation suites that later influenced Westland’s transport models.

Although only two prototypes flew, the Dreadnought demonstrated several advanced concepts—particularly its use of blown‑flaps for short‑take‑off performance and a modular interior that could be reconfigured for passenger or cargo use. The program was cancelled in 1952 when the Royal Air Force shifted to jet‑powered strategic bombers from larger manufacturers. Nevertheless, the Dreadnought’s experimental technologies contributed to Westland’s later successes in rotary‑wing and tilt‑rotor development, marking a pivotal, if brief, chapter in post‑war British aviation.