Armstrong Whitworth Siskin

infobox Aircraft
name = Siskin
type = Fighter
manufacturer = Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Limited



caption =
designer = F.M. Green
first flight =1919 (Siddeley-Deasy S.R.2 Siskin), 1921
introduced = 1923
retired = 1932
status =
primary user = Royal Air Force
more users = Royal Canadian Air Force
produced =
number built = 272
unit cost =
variants with their own articles = The Armstrong Whitworth Siskin was a British biplane single-seat fighter aircraft of the 1920s produced by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. The Siskin was one of the first RAF fighters designed after the First World War; it was noted for its aerobatic qualities.

Design and development

The design was a development of the Siddeley-Deasy S.R.2 Siskin, which was designed by Major F.M. Green (formerly chief engineer of the Royal Aircraft Factory) of the Siddeley-Deasy Motor Car Company, to meet the requirements of RAF Specification Type 1 for a single-seat fighter powered by the promising ABC Dragonfly radial engine. Mason 1992, p. 148.] Unfortunately, despite the expectations piled on it, the Dragonfly proved to be a disaster, far less powerful than expected and very unreliable, being prone to overheating and vibration. The Siskin first flew in May 1919, Mason 1992, p. 149.] powered by a Dragonfly engine delivering 270 hp, far less than the promised 320 hp. Despite the engine problems, the Siskin displayed good performance and handling, and it was decided to fit an alternative engine. The engine chosen was the Siddeley Jaguar, the Jaguar-powered Siskin first flying on 20 March 1921.

In 1920, Siddeley-Deasy merged with Armstrong Whitworth, with the aviation interests combined as Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft.

As well as re-engining with the Jaguar, Major Green decided to redesign the Siskin with an all steel structure, as the Siskin III. The Siskin III first flew on 7 May 1923,Mason 1992, p. 164.] with first deliveries to the RAF (six for evaluation) taking place in January 1924. The fighter was the first all-metal fighter in the British Royal Air Force.

Following the order from the RAF, Romania ordered 65 aircraft but they were cancelled following a crash on takeoff at Whitley Abbey, Coventry, on 18 February 1925 during acceptance tests; the Romanian pilot being killed.Mason 1992, p. 165.]

The main production version was the Siskin IIIA, which originally was powered with a Jaguar IV engine, but was later re-engined with the supercharged Jaguar IVA engine. While the supercharged engine had little effect on performance below 10,000 ft, it greatly improved speed and climb above that height. Following an evaluation of two Siskin IIIs the Royal Canadian Air Force ordered 12 IIIAs which were delivered between 1926 and 1931.

Operational history

RAF Service

The first Siskin IIIs were delivered to No. 41 Squadron RAF at RAF Northolt in May 1924, quickly followed by No. 111 Squadron RAF. The Siskin III was popular in service, being an excellent aerobatic platform, although slightly underpowered. The improved Siskin IIIA was first delivered to No. 111 Squadron in September 1926.Donald 1997, p. 64.] The Siskin was used by 11 RAF squadrons. The last operational RAF squadron used the Siskin until October 1932 when it was replaced by the Bristol Bulldog.

The Siskin was a superb aerobatic aircraft and presented thrilling exhibitions of flying at every RAF display from 1925 to 1931.

weden

The second Siskin III aircraft was sold to the Royal Swedish Air Force in 1925.

Canada

Canada used the aircraft from 1926 until 1939. In 1926, the British Air Ministry sent two Siskin IIIs to Canada for testing by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) under winter flying conditions. The test pilot was Clennell H. Dickins. The Siskin was considered a modern type when it was introduced into RCAF service, which eventually purchased the Mark IIIA, used to equip the Fighter Flight at Camp Borden and Trenton. In 1937, the Flight became No. I (Fighter) Squadron and was transferred from Trenton to Calgary in August 1938.

Siskin aircraft remained with this unit until the outbreak of the Second World War, eventually to be replaced by Hawker Hurricanes in 1939. The airframes were then turned over to various technical establishments for use as instructional airframes.

Like its RAF counterparts, in 1929, a three-plane Siskin air demonstration team ("The Siskins", Canada's first of its kind) was formed at Camp Borden, Ontario. The aerobatic team put on popular solo and formation displays from coast to coast with one of their most famous manoeuvers involving all three aircraft being tied together by ribbons. At the end of their formation performance, a great show was made that the ribbons remained unbroken.

Air racing

The Siskin was used as a successful racing aircraft, a Siskin V flown by Flight Lieutenant Bernard winning the 1925 Kings Cup Race at a speed of more than 151 mph (243 km/h).Jackson 1972, p. 57.]

Variants

* Siddeley Deasy S.R.2 Siskin - development aircraft (three built)
* Siskin II - civil prototype (one built)
* Siskin III - all-metal production version (64 built for RAF)
* Siskin IIIA - main production variant (Total 348 built, 340 for RAF, eight for RCAF)
* Siskin IIIB - prototype with improved engine (one built)
* Siskin IIIDC - two-seat dual control version (Total 53 built, 47 for RAF, two for RCAF, two for AST, two for Estonia)
* Siskin IV - civil racing version (one built)
* Siskin V - civil version for Romania, but used for racing after order was cancelled (two built)

Military Operators

;flag|Canada|1921
*Royal Canadian Air Force
**Fighter Flight
**No. 1 Squadron RCAF;EST;SWE
*Royal Swedish Air Force;UK
*Royal Air Force
**No. 1 Squadron RAF
**No. 17 Squadron RAF
**No. 19 Squadron RAF
**No. 23 Squadron RAF
**No. 24 Squadron RAF
**No. 25 Squadron RAF
**No. 29 Squadron RAF
**No. 32 Squadron RAF
**No. 41 Squadron RAF
**No. 43 Squadron RAF
**No. 54 Squadron RAF
**No. 56 Squadron RAF
**No. 111 Squadron RAF

Civil Operators

;UK
*Air Service Training Limited

pecification (Siskin IIIA)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=The British Fighter since 1912Mason 1992, p. 166.] |
crew=1
capacity=
payload main=
payload alt=
length main= 25 ft 4 in
length alt=7.72 m
span main=33 ft 2 in
span alt=10.11 m
height main=10 ft 2 in
height alt=3.10 m
area main= 293 ft²
area alt= 27.22 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 2,061 lb
empty weight alt= 935 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 3,012 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 1366 kg
more general=
engine (prop)=Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IV
type of prop=radial engine
number of props=1
power main= 450 hp
power alt=336 kW
power original=
max speed main= 136 knots
max speed alt= 156 mph, 251 km/h
max speed more=at sea level
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main= 243 nm Angelucci 1981, p. 118.]
range alt=280 mi, 450 km
ceiling main= 27,000 ft
ceiling alt= 8230 m
climb rate main= 2953 ft per minute
climb rate alt= 900 m per minute
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
* Endurance: 1 hour 12 minutes
*Climb to 10,000 ft: 7 min 5 sec
armament= *Two 0.303 in Vickers machine guns

*Provision for up to four 20lb bombs under wings.
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=*Gloster Grebe

*Hawker Woodcock
*Gloster Gamecock
lists=
*List of aircraft of the RAF
*List of aircraft of the Canadian Air Force
see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Angelucci, Enzo. "World Encyclopedia of Military Aircraft". London: Jane's Publishing, 1981. ISBN 0-7106-0148-4.
* Donald, David (ed.). "The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft". London: Aerospace Publishing, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
* Jackson, A.J. "British Civil Aircraft since 1919, Volume 1". London: Putnam, 2nd Edition,1973. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.
* Mason, Francis K. "The British Fighter Since 1912". Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN 1-55750-082-7
* Milberry, Larry. "Aviation in Canada". Toronto: McGraw-Hill Ryerson Limited, 1979. ISBN 0-07-082778-8.
* Milberry, Larry. "60 Years: The RCAF and CF Air Command 1924 - 1984". Toronto: Canav Books, 1984. ISBN 0-96907-034-9.

External links

* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/equip/historical/siskinlst_e.asp National Defence page on the Siskin]
* [http://www.rcaf.com/aircraft/fighters/siskin/index.php RCAF use: Armstrong Whitworth Siskin]
* [http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=205 Armstrong Whitworth Siskin fighter]