Quote:
Originally Posted by lane
Thanks for the info from Bingham's book. I don't know much about the Whirlwind, so I'm going to see if I can find a used copy. I appreciate the tip. I too figured the photo of the Whirlwind and bowser to be a 137 Squadron Whirlwind; probably taken around September-October of 1942. Don't know where though, maybe Manston? It's pretty clear they were cleared for 100 octane by the time the photo was taken though 
I have Warner's Blenheim book and in reviewing the bit about 100 octane in the outer wing tanks he wrote:
"To take full advantage of 100 octane petrol the supercharger pressure could be increased from the normal 'Plus 5 lb/sq.in. boost' by the operation of an 'Emergency Boost Override' lever on the instrument panel. This overrode the Automatic Boost Control to allow 'Plus 9 lb' pressure, and was used for take-off and in emergencies only, for a maximum of 5 minutes."
Interesting - and not unlike the Hurricane and Spitfire use of the boost cut-out enabling +12 lbs, although rather more complicated in practice apparently. |
http://www.amazon.com/Whirlwind-West.../dp/1853100048 ?
The photo is part of a whole sequence of 137 Sqn photos taken at Manston in 1943; the last Whirlwind ops for 137 occurred on 21 June 1943, when 137 stood down to re-equip with Typhoons.The remaining Whirlwinds were transferred to 263 Sqn which had its last op in December before re-equipping with Typhoons.