Westland Wyvern

The Westland Wyvern was a British carrier‑borne strike aircraft built by Westland Aircraft in the late 1940s and early 1950s. Developed from the earlier Westland Whirlwind, the Wyvern was intended to replace piston‑engine torpedo bombers and to provide a high‑speed, long‑range platform for anti‑ship and ground‑attack missions. Its most distinctive feature was a powerful 2,550 hp Rolls‑Royce Griffon 57/59 radial engine coupled to contra‑rotating propellers, giving the plane exceptional climb performance and a top speed of about 460 mph. The airframe combined a laminar‑flow wing, a sturdy all‑metal fuselage, and a large internal bomb bay that could carry a torpedo, rockets, or up to 2,000 lb of bombs. Flight testing began in 1946, but the program suffered several fatal accidents that delayed entry into service until 1953. The Royal Navy finally operated the Wyvern from the carriers HMS Victorious, HMS Very Large and HMS Eagle, where it performed both strike and reconnaissance roles. Although only 277 were built and the type was quickly superseded by early jet aircraft, the Wyvern demonstrated the final evolution of propeller‑driven carrier strike aircraft and highlighted the transitional period between piston and jet power in naval aviation.

Westland Aircraft

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