Vickers Type 432

Vickers · United Kingdom · first flew 1942 · fighter

The Vickers Type 432 was a British twin-engine pressurised high-altitude fighter prototype ordered to Specification F.7/41, first flown on Christmas Eve 1942 and intended to intercept high-altitude German bombers and reconnaissance aircraft.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	11.96 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Twin Merlin-powered pressurised high-altitude fighter prototype
Mid tapered wing with elliptical tendency; 6-cannon armament
Only one built; lost out to Westland Welkin in 1944

A large twin-engine monoplane with a mid-set tapered wing of generous span, twin Merlin engine nacelles, and a notably deep fuselage for the pressurised cockpit. Distinguished from the Westland Welkin by a more conventional tail and a wider, rounder fuselage section.

Specifications

The Vickers Type 432 has a length of 11.96 m (39 ft).
It has a wingspan of 17.32 m (57 ft).
Its maximum speed is 612 km/h (380 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The single prototype completed 28 flights before being scrapped in late 1944, having been overtaken by the Westland Welkin, which was selected for limited production. The Type 432 was armed with six 20 mm cannon and featured a pressurised cockpit, but its performance at altitude was no better than the Welkin, which had already entered limited production.

Variants

One prototype only; no variants produced.

Where you'll see it

Never entered service; evaluated by A&AEE against the Welkin.

Related aircraft

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