History:
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The Wyvern started life with specification N.11/44 which called for a "Multi-Roll" Navy fighter, powered by a Rolls- Royce "Eagle" piston engine, but able to accept a turboprop when a suitable engine became available. Designed by John Digdy, the Wyvern was a large aircraft, manly because of the large engine (24 cylinders) and the intention to fit a turboprop at a later date. The first pistoned engined Wyvern (TS371) took to the air with H.Penrose at the controls on 12/12/46. The aircraft soon began to make itself a bad reputation, due manly to problems with the engine and propeller, (a bad omen for the future) only fifteen "Eagle"engined Wyvern's were made. |
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Meanwhile two turboprop engines became available the Rolls-Royce "Clyde" and the Armstrong Siddeley "Python". The "Clyde" was Westland's engine of preference with an out put of around 4030 hp it was fitted in prototype VP-120 successfully, however Rolls-Royce refused to put the engine into production as they wished to focus on turbojet production. So Westland had to use the "Python" engine of just 3,760 hp, which soon had a reputation of a slow reaction time and unreliability, this problem was never resolved and the aircraft became very unpopular with those who had to fly it, even to to extent of one test pilot considering the Wyvern lethal! Regardless of this carrier trials began on 21/6/50 and the aircraft entered service in May 1953 with 813 Sqn with another three 827, 830 & 831 flying the Wvyern before it was taken out of service in March 1958, all together 127 aircraft were made.
