Boulton-Paul P.88

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In answer to the spec that led to the Westland Whirlwind, there were other aircraft designs evaluated.
According to BSP the Air Ministry wanted to order five prototypes two Westland, two Boulton Paul (the 'A' model powered by a Hercules engine, and the 'B' model by a Vulture).
However, the Treasury would only provide funds for two - so only the Westland aircraft were built.

Anybody got any sources - apart from BSP, on likely performance figures, especially as the early Hercules (on the Beaufighter) wasn't 1500 hp. ??
If it had been built, seems likely to me more time to get the cannon problem sorted out, as compared with those in the Spitfires/Hurricanes.
 
Nearly ten years for an answer but here goes. As you correctly stated Merlin, the Hercules I had a power output of 1,290 hp (960 kW), which was only marginally increased to 1,375 hp (1025 kW) in the Hercules II. Strangely Alec Brew in the Putnam's BP Aircraft since 1915 quoted a power output of 1,500hp for the Hercules I in the P.88 entry. Anyway the performance figures, I would guess, not having BSP myself, will probably correlate with the Putnam's, with a max speed of 337 mph (542 km/h) (A variant) or 358 mph (576 km/h) (B variant), both figures at a height of 15,000 ft (4572m). Max rate of climb, 3,500ft/min (1066.8m/min) for the A variant, but only 3400ft/min (1036 m/min) for the Vuture powered B variant. Also as an aside, BP also submitted their P.89 twin-engined design, which was powered by twin Kestrels when it was realised that the Hercules or the Vulture may not provide enough power for the performance expected. Whether BP ever put any thought to later submitting a Peregrine powered twin is pure supposition.
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VictorXL188 said:
Anyway the performance figures, I would guess, not having BSP myself,
Click to expand...

They pretty much co-relate with what Brew provides in his Putnam BP book, although no max speeds are given, just fuel quantities, rates of climb and service ceiling. There is a line drawing of the P.88A and a photograph of a model of the Vulture engined P.88B looking for all the world like an upgunned Defiant with its armament in the wings, if that's of any help.
 
Hi! I got these pictures by internet, but unfortunately I lost the site. Sorry.

Boulton Paul P.88

The Boulton Paul P.88 was a design for a cannon armed fighter, designed in response to the increased speed of bomber aircraft in the mid 1930s.
www.historyofwar.org
"Two versions were offered. The P.88A, powered by a Hercules HE-ISM radial engine and the P.88B, which used the Rolls Royce Vulture, a new 24 cylinder 'X' shaped engine, using four cylinder blocks from the Rolls Royce Peregrine, a development of the Kestral."
 

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Dat's da fella right there. The very same images that appear in BSP.
 
Hi!
www.alamy.com

Bristol Hercules aircraft engine cutaway drawing, circa 1943 (44266118 Stock Photo - Alamy

Download this stock image: Bristol Hercules aircraft engine cutaway drawing, circa 1943 (44266118) - TXXJBM from Alamy's library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors.
www.alamy.com www.alamy.com

WI The Rolls Royce Vulture is a success

It's suprising a 2 stroke engine didn't enter service. Rolls-Royce did have to 2 stroke sleeve valve crecy in development but this would have been much easier if well understood poppet valves were used instead. With the poppets being intake types there would be no cooling issue. The challenge...
ww2aircraft.net ww2aircraft.net

Wikiwand - Rolls-Royce Vulture

The Rolls-Royce Vulture was a British aero engine developed shortly before World War II that was designed and built by Rolls-Royce Limited. The Vulture used the unusual "X-24" configuration, whereby four cylinder blocks derived from the Rolls-Royce Peregrine were joined by a common crankshaft...
www.wikiwand.com www.wikiwand.com
 

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There are plenty of Hercules' that survive, but alas no Vultures and no aircraft that were fitted with one. Of course, there is only one surviving original Defiant, the RAF Museum's N1671.
 

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Hi
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CJGibson said:
There is an 'extant' Vulture. In the RRHT at Derby. It's tired and shagged out. It is a dead Vulture.
Click to expand...
Oh, that's interesting. Is it complete? Would love to see a photo - it's a fascinating engine. I also vaguely remember the RRHT at Hillington having the remains of a Vulture from a Dumbarton built B.20 flying boat that crashed as well.
 

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