Armstrong Whitworth Argosy

infobox Aircraft
name = Argosy
type = airliner
manufacturer = Armstrong Whitworth



caption = Argosy Mk I of Imperial Airways (1926)
designer =
first flight = March 1926
introduced =
retired =
status =
primary user = Imperial Airways
more users =
produced =
number built = 7
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles = :"For the 1950s transport, see Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy"The Armstrong Whitworth Argosy was a British three-engined biplane airliner built by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft and operated by Imperial Airways from 1926 to 1935. Known popularly as a "flying railroad car", it was one of the earliest forms of passenger air transport.

Development

The Armstrong Whitworth Argosy stemmed from a declaration by Imperial Airways that all its aircraft would be multi-engined designs on the grounds of safety . They were intended to replace the older single-engined de Havilland aircraft that Imperial Airways had inherited from its constituent companies, mainly Daimler Airway. The first example (G-ELBF ) flew in March 1926 Cite book
editor = David Donald | title = The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft | year = 1997 | publisher = Aerospace Publishing | id =ISBN 1-85605-375-X following an initial order for three Argosies from Imperial Airways.

Operational History

The Argosy was initially used on European routes (later operating on services to South Africa), with the fleet named after famous cities. Argosies implemented the world's first "named" air service, the luxury 'Silver Wing' service from London to ParisCite book | editor = M J H Taylor | title = Jane's Encyclopedia of Aircraft | year = 1980 | publisher = Jane's Publishing Company, in Argosy "City of Birmingham" (G-EBLO). Two seats were removed and replaced with a bar and a steward was in attendance.

The longest flight by an Argosy was G-ABTL "Astraea", which Imperial Airways used to survey the Australia route in 1933. It left Croydon on 29th May and after many stops made it to Melbourne on 29th June. A regular Australia - England air mail service commenced on 10th December 1934, with IA Argosy's flying the Croydon - Darwin sector (with other IA aircraft). [John Stroud. Annals of British and Commonwealth Air Transport. Putnam. 1962. p349-352]

Three Argosies were lost during service with Imperial Airways, with one being written off in a forced landing near Aswan and one during a training accident, both in 1931, with no injuries in either accident. In March 1933, however, an Argosy caught fire over Belgium , causing a crash in which all 3 crew and 12 passengers were killed .

Argosies continued in service with Imperial Airways until 1935, with the last example being used for joy-riding by United Airways Ltd of Blackpool airport, which then became British Airways Ltd. It continued in use with British Airways until December 1936.

Variants

* Argosy Mk I : Three engined airliner. Powered by three 385 hp (287 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IIIA radial piston engines. Later fitted with Jaguar IVA engines. Three constructed.
* Argosy Mk II : Three engined airliner. Powered by three 420 hp (313 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IVA radial piston engines. Four constructed.

Operators

;UK
*British Airways Ltd
*Imperial Airways
*United Airways

pecifications (Argosy II)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref={British Civil Aircraft since 1919}Cite book
author=Jackson, A.J
authorlink =
title="British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1.
publisher=Putnam & Co
edition=2nd Edition
year=1973
isbn= 0-370-10006-9
crew= 2
capacity= 20
length main= 64 ft 6 in
length alt= 19.66 m
span main= 90 ft
span alt= 27.44 m
height main= 19 ft
height alt= 5.79 m
area main= 1,890 ft²
area alt= 176 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 12,090 lb
empty weight alt= 5,495 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 19,200 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 8,727 kg
more general=
engine (prop)= Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IVA
type of prop= Radial
number of props= 3
power main= 420 hp
power alt= 313 kW
power original=
max speed main= 96 knots
max speed alt= 110 mph, 177 km/h
cruise speed main= 78 knots
cruise speed alt= 90 mph, 145 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 352 nm
range alt= 405 mi, 652 km
ceiling main=
ceiling alt=
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
avionics=

References

*Cite book
editor = M J H Taylor
title = Jane's Encyclopedia of Aircraft
year = 1980
publisher = Jane's Publishing Company