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A small, fast twin-engined fighter, one of the first to be armed with four 20mm cannon. The Whirlwind was a fine fighter that could combat single-engined fighters with success. It had the misfortune that the development and production of the R.R. Peregrine engine was halted, and no alternative was available. The Whirlwind was tailored to this engine and the original specification. When the Hurricane and Spitfire proved to be able to carry the 20mm cannon, and the Beaufighter filled in the heavy fighter role, interest in the Whirlwind faded. It served in small numbers as fighter-bomber.
| General characteristics Whirlwind Mk. IA | |||
| Primary function | Fighter | ||
| Power plant | Two Rolls-Royce Peregrine I | ||
| Thrust | 2x 885 HP | 2x 660 kW | |
| Wingspan | 45 ft | 13.72 m | |
| Length | 32.25 ft | 9.83 m | |
| Wingarea | 250 sq ft | 23.22 sq m | |
| Weight | empty | 8,310 lb | 3,768 kg |
| max. | 11,410 lb | 5,175 kg | |
| Speed | 360 mph | 580 km/h | |
| Ceiling | 30,315 ft | 9,240 m | |
| Range max. | 808 mi | 1,300 km | |
| Armament | 4x 20mm cannon; 453 kg bombs | ||
| Crew | One | ||
| Date deployed | 1940 | ||
| Number built | 116 | ||
Jirka Wagner
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