Westland Welkin

The Westland Welkin was a high‑altitude fighter‑interceptor developed by Westland Aircraft in the early 1940s to meet a British Air Ministry specification for a plane capable of operating above 40,000 feet where German bombers were expected to cruise. First flown on 19 February 1942, the prototype incorporated a pressurised cabin, a large wing with a high aspect ratio, and a powerful Rolls‑Royce Merlin 85 engine driving a four‑blade propeller. Its 40‑inch‑diameter propeller and supercharged engine allowed a maximum speed of about 300 mph at 40,000 feet, while the slim fuselage and retractable under‑carriage reduced drag. Only a limited production run of 117 aircraft entered service as the Welkin F.1, primarily with RAF squadrons stationed in Scotland for high‑altitude interception trials. Although the aircraft never saw combat due to the reduced threat of high‑altitude raids, its pressurised cockpit represented an early step toward modern high‑altitude aviation, influencing post‑war designs such as the English Electric Canberra. The Welkin remains a notable example of British engineering ambition during World War II, illustrating the challenges of building effective aircraft for extreme altitudes. Today, the aircraft is celebrated by historians and vintage flyers.

Westland Aircraft

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