Westland C.O.W. Gun Fighter
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2017}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = C.O.W. Gun Fighter
|image =Westland C.O.W. Gun Fighter.jpg
|caption =
|type = Interceptor
|manufacturer = Westland Aircraft
|designer =
|first_flight = December 1930
|introduction =
|retired =
|status = Prototype only
|primary_user =
|more_users =
|produced =
|number_built = 1
|unit cost =
|developed_from = Westland Interceptor
|variants =
}}
The Westland C.O.W. Gun Fighter was an attempt to produce a fighter aircraft armed with a heavy calibre gun. The Coventry Ordnance Works (COW) 37 mm automatic gun was used, which had been developed for this purpose some years earlier.
Design and development
The design was in response to Air Ministry specification F.29/27. The design was an open cockpit single engined metal monoplane with fabric covering. The aircraft design had already been submitted for specification F.20/27 as the Westland Interceptor but had lost out to the Gloster Gauntlet. The gun was in the fuselage and fired up at an angle, in order to attack bombers from below. This concept was similar to the Schräge Musik system used by Germany during World War II. The plane first flew at the end of 1930 but the trials did not give satisfactory results to continue with the idea.
The COW gun had been developed by 1918 for use in aircraft and had been trialled on the Airco DH.4.
Specifications (C.O.W. Gun Fighter)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref= Westland Aircraft since 1915 James 1991, pp.188–189.
|prime units?=imp
|crew=1
|length ft=29
|length in=10
|length note=
|span ft=40
|span in=10
|span note=
|height ft=10
|height in=7
|height note=
|wing area sqft=223
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=RAF 34 James p.186.
|empty weight lb=2615
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=3885
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Bristol Mercury IIIA
|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
|eng1 hp=485
|eng1 note=
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=
|max speed mph=185
|max speed note=at {{cvt|13000|ft|0}}
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|range miles=
|range note=
|combat range miles=
|combat range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling ft=27900
|ceiling note=Mason 1992, p.232.
- Absolute ceiling: {{cvt|29400|ft|0}}
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude={{cvt|10000|ft|0}} in 7 minutes
|wing loading lb/sqft=17.4
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass={{cvt|0.12|hp/lb}}
|more performance=
|guns= One fixed upward firing 1½ lb (37 mm) COW 37 mm gun with 39 rounds
}}
See also
{{aircontent
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|sequence=
|lists=
|see also=
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References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite journal |last1=Ford|first1=Daniel|title=Round-Out |journal=Air Enthusiast |date=March–April 1999 |issue=80 |page=78 |issn=0143-5450}}
- James, Derek N. Westland Aircraft since 1915. London: Putnam, 1991. {{ISBN|0-85177-847-X}}.
- Mason, Francis K. The British Fighter since 1912. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1992. {{ISBN|1-55750-082-7}}.
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070930183451/http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=570 Westland COW Gun Fighter] – British Aircraft Directory
- [http://www.whl.co.uk/history_cow_gunfighter.cfm Westland history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060923212240/http://www.whl.co.uk/history_cow_gunfighter.cfm |date=23 September 2006 }} Accessed 1 Feb 2007
- http://users.skynet.be/Emmanuel.Gustin/history/NoAllowance.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061018152100/http://users.skynet.be/Emmanuel.Gustin/history/NoAllowance.html |date=18 October 2006 }} Accessed 1 Feb 2007
{{Westland aircraft}}
Category:1930s British fighter aircraft
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft
Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear