The WW2 experimental high-altitude fighter: The Vickers Type 432

The Vickers Type 432 was a prototype high altitude fighter interceptor, the RAF’s weapon against German high altitude bombing of Britian that was expected during the Second World War. However, the threat of Germany conducting high altitude bombing never properly materialize, in addition to testing problems meant that Vickers Type 432 program would only produce a single prototype before cancellation.
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[@willatkinson5345]

Look into the Mosquito Mk XIV which was the High Altitude Mk of the DH98. FO David Sparrow was the development pilot for the prototype; loaned from 151 Squadron. In late 1942 & early 1943 he went on to introduce the aircraft to 85 Squadron then commanded by the famous John Cunningham. A flight of four MK XIV was later based with the squadron. In total I believe only five Mk XIV were built. They achieved 43000 feet !

[@willatkinson5345]

oops, sorry meant the Mosquito MK XV !!

[@AntiqueAirshow]

I have briefly read about it, a very interesting development of the mosquito. I read one author who pointed out during development of the Vickers Type 432 and Westland Welkin, the RAF did have available the Mosquito Mk.XV and thus there was no real need to proceed with development of either the Type 432 or Welkin. Still the Welkin got production orders. Interesting

[@randallpinkfloyd7225]

If the Mosquito and Hornet had a cranky old uncle.....

[@AntiqueAirshow]

hahaha yes, I can see that 😂✈️👍

[@michaelnaisbitt7926]

Certain models of the Spitfire were modified for high altitude interception of the Ju 86s they had the rotors of the superchargers pared back plus the wings were reduced in span and nicknamed by pilots as Clipped Clopped and Clapped as engine life was reduced However they were capable of reaching 50,000 ft to intercept raiders

[@howardbull9001]

The Spitfire 'Clippy' had its wings clipped to increase speed and roll rate in the advent of the Fw190's arrival. Increasing the wingspan is what helps for high altitude flight (U2 for example).

[@allangibson8494]

The MkV and MkIX LF Spitfires were optimised for low altitude flights and forget about climbing over 36,000ft (that was where the climb rate hit 100ft/min). The Spitfire F19 was rated for 43,000ft with a Griffin engine but was pushed to 50,000ft in 1952 and hit Mach 0.96 on descent.

[@lancerevell5979]

High altitude Spitfires had longer pointed wingtips.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

The Mk.VI and Mk.VII were developed specifically for high altitude flight. Additionally there was some converted Mk.V and I believe Mk.IX optimised for high altitude work. However they had their wingspan increased to help with high altitude flight. I hopefully will have a video coming soon exploring these models.👍✈️

[@FinsburyPhil]

The term was clipped, cropped and clapped - and it referred to the low altitude version

[@mathewkelly9968]

Never even heard of this aircraft , certainly different

[@AntiqueAirshow]

It would seem this is one of those bizarre one offs.

[@angusclark8330]

I thought I knew my stuff, but this is new to me. Thanks.👍

[@AntiqueAirshow]

I didn't know about it either until I started researching the Westland Welkin for another video about a month ago. Quite an interesting series of aircraft 👍✈️

[@keithtarrier4558]

Good job! Very interesting.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

Thank you 👍✈️

[@jeremyrichards8327]

The clipped wing Spitfires were for low altitude interception not high level as in one of the comments. They had extended wingtips for high altitude work intercepting photo reconnaissance aircraft.

[@joeschenk8400]

Thanks for doing a video on the Type 432 so soon after the Welkin. You have many great photos that I have never seen before. I await your choice for your next video! Thanks for all your work. PS This posted here at 11PM US east coast time.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

No problem, thank you for the idea. I have another video in the works which has stalled a little, so as I knew this wouldn't take me too long thought it would be a good chance to slot it in while I sorted the other video out. Also I thought it makes a lot of sense to release the Welkin and the Vickers back to back. I had to dig deep through the internet as there isn't many photos of the Vickers Type 432, so perhaps that is why. The next video should be something a little different 😀 Ah yes, it was midafternoon here so make sense. A late one but thank you for watching and commenting and the continued support. Appreciate it👍✈️

[@joeschenk8400]

@@AntiqueAirshow I believe I have just one photo of the Type 432 in a William Green book from 1962! While on this theme could I suggest the high altitude Spitfires, MK VI and VII, the other MK V and MK IX conversions and the high altitude Ju 86. I appreciate your work!!!

[@AntiqueAirshow]

@@joeschenk8400 Images sure are a rarity on this aircraft. That is a good idea and would make for some interesting videos. I have one or two videos planned that are on a very different topic, so I think it is best to leave them to the new year and finish the year off on a high 😉. Thanks, aprreciate the support👍✈

[@joeschenk8400]

@@AntiqueAirshow By all means go where your interests lead you...I find your choices interesting. Enjoy your first day of summer....I wish it was starting here!

[@AntiqueAirshow]

@@joeschenk8400 Thanks, I'm very pleased with what I have planned to come. I've also enjoyed working through this series of aircraft. Thanks, our weather down here is finally beginning to pick up. It's been like winter even though where are entering summer. Have a great Christmas and new year👍✈

[@neiloflongbeck5705]

The Vickers Type number would have been issued before design work started not the other way round.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

Ah yep that makes sense. Thanks for the pick up 👍✈️

[@solospirit4212]

These last two have been, as noted, very similar to the Mosquito. But nowhere near the performance. I'm wondering if part of the reason this project got dropped was because the Mosquito could be, and I think was, adapted for high altitude work

[@AntiqueAirshow]

Yes there were some Mosquito developed for high altitude action. Not sure of performance at high altitude though. It seems it didn't effect the development of a fighter such as the Welkin, however once the threat of high altitude bombing passed it would seem it did have some influence. Why continued with development of a fighter when there where types already available (there was also high altitude Spitfires) for a role that was not most likely going to be necessary.

[@solospirit4212]

@@AntiqueAirshow Nod...particularly since all these aircraft seem to be using Merlin variants....and from this vid it was the engine as much as anything holding it back. Also, if I'm remembering right, I think the high altitude Mosquitos were reconnaissance and photo recon flights...and unarmed. Still .an amazing series of very similar aircraft.

[@davidjones332]

@@solospirit4212 According to Jimmy Rawnsley, who was John Cunningham's radar operator, 85 Squadron's high altitude Mosquitos had an armament of just two .303s bolted on under the belly, both to simplify pressurisation and reduce weight. As he put it, they might just be enough to puncture the pressure cabin of a Ju 86P and cause the pilot to turn blue, but it wasn't much of an armament, unlike the Welkin which was designed with 4 x 20mm.

[@solospirit4212]

@@davidjones332 Ah..makes sense..the normal nose mounts would be gard to seal...and the .303s are definitely lighter . Thanks. 👍 Though u suspect...uf the need and opportunity arose, a high altitude Mosquito ( inherently lighter) could have had something a but more potential mounted.

[@nbandpinportugal]

The Westland Welkin looks remarkably similar to the Westland Whirlwind.

[@FinsburyPhil]

The Welkin was originally derived from the Whirlwind

[@AntiqueAirshow]

The Welkin was in many regards an adaptation of the Whirlwind. I've got a video covering the Welkin which can be found here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jne4mKpuZrainrs

[@nbandpinportugal]

@@AntiqueAirshow The Whirlwind had a better name... 😆 Has anyone done a video about the naming of WW2 aircraft ? Britain surely had the best.... Spitfire, Hurricane, Tempest etc., etc....

[@AntiqueAirshow]

@@nbandpinportugal The British sure do have some very interesting names for their aircraft. As far as I know such a video doesn't exist. but it would be very interesting to have a compilation of all the names 👍✈

[@nbandpinportugal]

@@AntiqueAirshow What is your country ? Don't forget the Gloucester Meteor. 🙃

[@rolandveshengho3913]

Volume too low for phone speaker.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

Thank you for the feedback, I'll fix it up in my next video 👍✈️

[@MrDaiseymay]

It sure fooled me, at first glance I thought it WAS a Mossie.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

It has that look to it. However it was of all metal construction. Hence the nickname "Tin mosquito".

[@kevanhubbard9673]

Probably convergent evolution but very similar looking to the Mosquito and Welkin.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

Yeah most likely. Something like the wingspan was big for both the Welkin and the Type 432 due to it helping reach the higher altitudes the aircraft were designed to fly at.

[@DataRew]

Looks like someone copied the Mosquito's homework.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

It does look very similar. In saying that supposedly the wings of the Vickers Type 432 were quite radical and different.

[@DataRew]

@@AntiqueAirshow From the what you say in the video, it certainly seems that way! Is it a case of convergent evolution with the time's technology? It certainly does resemble the Mossie.

[@AntiqueAirshow]

@@DataRew I think it is quite possible that it is a case of convergent evolution with the time's technology. Piston engine fighters by the end of the war had similar things happening. However, I guess no one will ever properly know. I read one story when researching stating it came to be called the "tin mosquito" by observes on the ground during the war. This was due to the booklets on aircraft recognition only giving it a number due to the top secrecy of the project and it looked like the mosquito when flying, so they called it the tin mosquito. However, I only read that in one source, so it is hard to verify.

[@sandybarrie5526]

audio is so silent…

[@AntiqueAirshow]

Thanks for the feedback, I'll make sure to fix the problem for the next video 👍✈️

[@randlerobbertson8792]

A fascinating aeroplane

[@AntiqueAirshow]

indeed it is 👍✈️

[@randlerobbertson8792]

@@AntiqueAirshow I seem to remember it had a 'lobsterclaw' structural design

[@AntiqueAirshow]

@@randlerobbertson8792 I'm not too sure, quite possibly. I know the wings were quite unique

[@pickeljarsforhillary102]

[Insert Mosquito At Home Joke Here]

[@None-zc5vg]

It almost killed a test-pilot when it wouldn't recover from a spin: as with many other WW2 planes, its fin area was inadequate.

[@waynester71]

Never seen or heard of this aircraft.. It certainly looks like a Mosquito ate a Spitfire! 😮

[@AntiqueAirshow]

It most definitely is an odd one

[@marklittle8805]

Geoffrey DeHavilland should have sued...