NEW TYPHOON FIGHTER

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 126, 30 April 1941, Page 7

NEW TYPHOON FIGHTER

BRITAIN AGAIN SHOWS WAY. LONDON, April 28. The Bomber Command's increasing day offensives againsL Germany are the sign of a growing bomber stiength which will lead eventually to a 24-hour air offensive, wrecking the German war machine, says the Daily Telegraph’s aeronautical correspondent. More details are now available of Britain’s latest fighter aircraft, the 'lyphoon, which i.s now in lull production and will soon bo used by the Royal Air Force. It lias been designed by Mr Sydney Caiiim, tlie 47-year-old creator of the Hurricane, and is a development of that famous fighter and. its equallyfamous brother-in-arms, the Spitfire. After two years’ work, in which more than 5000 drawings were prepared, the Typhoon has passed from dream to realisation and has fulfilled all that was hoped of it.

11 is powered by the 24-cylindet liquid-cooled Sabre engine, designed by Major Frank Halford. An innovation in this engine is its two crankshafts geared to a central airscrew shaft. This permits the arrangement, of the cylinders in four banks of six each, set close together. It is very compact. and develops more power for occupied space than any other engine yet pro du cod.

The Typhoon is more heavily armed and armoured than any other fighter vet known. It carries machine-guns and cannon, the number of which may not yet lie revca'ed. Germany has been striving to develop fighter aircraft which are armed and equipped to enable meeting the Hurricanes and Spitfires on equal terms. 'Che Typhoon is far ahead of any German old or new design. A test pilot’s comment after a flight was: Vlt stands on its tail and shoots for the moon.”

A Wellington bomber made a forced landing on ihc Island of Forimmloia. in the Balearic group. and caught fire. Five members of the crew were interned.