Westland Welkin
The Westland Welkin was a British twin-engine heavy fighter from the Westland Aircraft Company, designed to fight at extremely high altitudes, in the stratosphere; the word welkin meaning “the vault of heaven” or the upper atmosphere.[1] First conceived in 1940, the plane was built in response to the arrival of modified Junkers Ju 86P bombers flying reconnaissance missions,[2] which suggested the Luftwaffe might attempt to re-open the bombing of Britain from high altitude. Construction was from 1942 to 1943. The threat never materialized; consequently, Westland produced only a small number of Welkins and few of these flew.
(RAF Photo)
Westland Welkin I (Serial No. DX281) , the 4th production aircraft on a photographic sortie, 1 Jan 1944. The Welkin was designed as a high altitude fighter, but the threat disappeared and variants of existing fighter’s performance matched or bettered it, making it redundant. 2 prototypes and 75 production aircraft were completed, with 26 further airframes not completed.
(RAF Photo)
Welkin Mark I.
(RAF Photo)
Welkin Mark I, DX318, in flight. Two examples of this aircraft served with the Fighter Interception Unit for evaluation.
(RAF Photo)
Welkin Mark I, DX318, in flight.
(RAF Photo)
Westland Welkin F Mk. I.
(RAF Photo)
The high-altitude system of the Westland Welkin fighter maintained a pressure drop in the pressurized cabin of 0.25 kg/cm² which ensured a pressure in the cockpit at an altitude of 13,700 m, equivalent to an altitude of 7300 m. The cockpit was made in the form of a separate section made of bullet-resistant light alloy up to 11 mm thick in places. The rear bulkhead was made of armor steel.
(RAF Photos)
Westland Welkin NF Mk II – a two-seat, radar-equipped (in the large nose) night fighter.
(RAF Photo)
Westland Welkin.