Armstrong Whitworth Ensign
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| A.W.27 Ensign | |
|---|---|
 |
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| An Imperial Airways Ensign in flight before the war. | |
| Type | Airliner |
| Manufacturer | Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft |
| Designed by | J Lloyd |
| Maiden flight | 24 January 1938 |
| Introduced | 1938 |
| Retired | 1946 |
| Status | No intact examples |
| Primary users | Imperial Airways BOAC |
| Number built | 14 |
The Armstrong Whitworth Ensign was a four-engined airliner built during the 1930s for Imperial Airways. It could seat forty passengers and was designed for European and Asian routes, connecting Britain with further seaplane flights to Australia and South Africa.
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[edit] Development
Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft started on the A.W.27 Ensign in 1934 after receipt of a specification from Imperial Airways. The first aircraft was ordered in September of that year, with delivery expected in 1936; eleven more were ordered in May 1935.[1] An order for a further two aircraft in 1937 brought the total to 14.
Production of their Whitley heavy bomber for the Royal Air Force was a priority, and work on the Ensign proceeded slowly. Construction took place not at the main Coventry factory, but at the workshops of Air Service Training Ltd in Hamble. Constant changes were requested by Imperial, slowing production further. As a result, the Ensign's maiden flight did not take place until 24 January 1938 [2]. Despite being underpowered, the aircraft was certified, and full airline service began between Croydon and Paris, France in October of that year.
[edit] Service
Three more Ensigns were completed by Christmas, 1938, and were dispatched with the holiday mail to Australia.[1] All three suffered mechanical problems and did not reach their destination[2]; all Ensigns were removed from active airline service and returned to Armstrong for improvements. Reliability was improved, and more powerful Armstrong Siddeley Tiger IXC engines aided performance somewhat.
Eleven aircraft were in service at the outbreak of World War II, with a twelfth following soon after, and all were withdrawn in October, 1939 to be camouflaged before flying a new route from Heston and Le Bourget Airport in Paris. The aircraft remained in service after formation of BOAC that November. Three Ensigns were destroyed or captured due to Enemy action in 1940 , with one ("Ettrick"), which had been abandoned at Le Bourget after being damaged by bombs, eventually being used by the Germans, being re-engined with Daimler-Benz[2] engines.
The final two aircraft that had been ordered by Imperial were equipped with more powerful Wright Cyclone geared radial engines and completed as A.W.27A Ensign Mk. 2s. The new engines significantly improved performance and allowed the Ensign to be used in hot climates and at high altitude. All eight surviving airframes were upgraded with these newer engines in 41-43 and worked for BOAC on Africa to India routes.
Ensigns flew throughout the war. One ("Enterprise") force-landed in West African Vichy territory and served the Vichy forces and Air France, subsequently ending up with the Luftwaffe after being re-engined like "Ettrick"[2]. Several were broken up for spare parts to support the remaining fleet. The final Ensign flight took place in 1946, and the last seven aircraft were scrapped in 1947.
[edit] Variants
- A.W.27 Ensign Mk I : Four-engine medium-range transport aircraft. Powered by four 850-hp (634-kW) Armstrong Siddeley Tiger IXC radial piston engines.
- A.W.27A Ensign Mk II : Four-engine medium-range transport aircraft. Powered by four 950-hp (708-kW) Wright GR-1820-G102A Cyclone radial piston engines.
[edit] Civil Operators
[edit] Military Operators
- Germany
- Vichy France
- Vichy French Air Force
- United Kingdom
[edit] Specifications (A.W.27A)
Data from Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II[3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 5: captain, first officer, radio operator, two cabin stewards
- Capacity:
- European routes: 40 passengers in 4 cabins
- Asian routes: 27 passengers in 3 cabins
- Length: 114 ft 0 in (34.8 m)
- Wingspan: 123 ft 0 in (37.5 m)
- Height: 23 ft 0 in (7.02 m)
- Wing area: 2,450 ft² (227.6 m²)
- Empty weight: 35,075 lb (15,900 kg)
- Loaded weight: 55,500 lb (25,200 kg)
- Useful load: 12,000 lb (5,450 kg)
- Powerplant: 4× Wright GR-1820-G102A geared radial engines, 1,100 hp (820 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 210 mph (180 knots, 330 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 180 mph (160 knots, 290 km/h)
- Range: 1,370 mi (1,190 nm, 2,200 km) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m)
- Service ceiling: 24,000 ft (7,300 m) when fully loaded
- Rate of climb: 900 ft/min (4.57 m/s)
- Wing loading: 22.6 lb/ft² (110 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: .079 hp/lb (130 W/kg)
[edit] References
- ^ a b Armstrong Whitworth A.W.27 Ensign. Imperial Airways. Retrieved on 2006-04-20.
- ^ a b c d Jackson, A.J (1973). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1., 2nd Edition, Putnam & Co. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.
- ^ Jane, Fred T. “The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.27A Ensign.” Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. p. 103-104. ISBN 1 85170 493 0.
[edit] Related content
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
- A.W.27 Ensign - A.W.35 Scimitar - A.W.38 Whitley - A.W.41 Albermarle
Related lists
- List of airliners
- List of civil aircraft of the United Kingdom
Timeline of aviation
Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines
Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft
Notable military accidents and incidents · Notable airline accidents and incidents · Famous aviation-related deaths
Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft
