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Subject: Armstrong Whitworth Ensign
Date: 3 Jun 2017 06:57:30 -0700
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armstrong_Whitworth_Ensign
The Armstrong Whitworth Ensign was a British four-engine airliner built during
the 1930s for Imperial Airways. It could seat 40 passengers and was designed for
European and Asian routes, connecting Britain with further seaplane flights to
Australia and South Africa.
In the Second World War, they were used for transport duties to and from the
area of Middle East command. After the war, they were withdrawn from service but
- with no buyers forthcoming - scrapped.
The Ensign was a high-wing cantilever monoplane of light alloy construction and
an oval, semi-monocoque fuselage with a conventional tailplane. The wings aft of
the single box spar were fabric covered as was the tailplane and fin. It had
retractable landing gear and a castoring tail wheel. The main landing gear was
hydraulically operated and retracted into the inner engine nacelles. The cockpit
had side-by-side seating for two pilots with dual controls; there was also
accommodation for a radio operator. The fuselage was divided into separate
cabins, either four cabins with accommodation for 40 passengers or three cabins
with room for 27 by day or 20 at night with sleeping accommodation.
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 production line of Air Service Training Ltd
(another member of the Hawker-Siddeley group) 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. The first flight showed
a problem with applying full rudder that was cured by modifying the servo. On
the second, the undercarriage was retracted for the first time. The prototype
then went on for more exhaustive tests before passing to the A&AEE for Air
Ministry testing. On her fourth flight, the engines cut out due to incorrect
settings of the fuel cocks and it had to be glided down to RAF Bicester where it
made a perfect "dead-stick" landing. Imperial Airways named the prototype
"Ensign" and as such the "Ensign class" was applied to the whole fleet. The
aircraft were fitted out for either Empire routes (eight aircraft) or European
routes (four aircraft). The former carried 27 passengers in three cabins or 20
sleeping; the latter 40 passengers across three cabins and a four-person "coupe"
aft of the third cabin. The only difference in crewing was a "flight clerk"
replacing one of the two stewards on Empire routes.
Despite being underpowered, the aircraft was certified, and full airline service
began between Croydon Airport and Paris, France in October of that year.
Role
Airliner
Manufacturer
Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft
First flight
24 January 1938
Introduction
1938
Retired
1946
Primary users
Imperial Airways
BOAC
Number built
14
Ensigns flew throughout the war. On a ferry flight to west Africa, following
trouble with her engines Enterprise made a force landing in the desert in French
West Africa (at that point under Vichy France control) about 300 miles short of
their destination. Codebooks and other paperwork on board was destroyed except
that required to show the crew were civilian. They were picked up by an RAF
Sunderland flying boat and taken on to Bathurst in Gambia. Enterprise was found
by the French authorities, repaired and used as a hospital plane at Dakar before
being flown to Vichy France. (During her service with the French, Enterprise was
initially registered as F-AFZV, later becoming F-BAHD). After the German
occupation of Vichy France, she was taken by the German Air Ministry and tested
before being used as transport for officers. It was scrapped in Toulouse in
1943. Several were broken up for spare parts to support the remaining fleet.
From 1944 under the end of their service, the Ensigns were used between Cairo
and Calcutta. When taken out of use for their Certificate of Airworthiness
overhauls, the camouflage dope - which in combination with the heat had been
rotting the fabric surfaces - was removed and thereafter the Ensigns were in a
"natural" finish.
After the end of the war, due in part to their performance and the problematic
maintenance of the fabric surfaces, it was decided eventually to remove the
Ensigns from service and to return them to the UK. Euterpe which had been out of
use since February 1945 was sacrificed to make repairs to the others.
Specifications (A.W.27A)
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 (34.8 m)
Wingspan: 123 ft (37.5 m)
Height: 23 ft (7.02 m)
Empty weight: 35,075 lb (15,900 kg)
Useful load: 12,000 lb (5,450 kg)
Loaded weight: 55,500 lb (25,200 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 66,000 lb ()
each
Performance
Maximum speed: 210 mph (180 kn, 330 km/h) at 6,700 ft (2,000 m)
Cruise speed: 180 mph (160 kn, 290 km/h) at 5,000 ft (1,500 m)
Range: 1,370 mi (1,190 nmi, 2,200 km) at 173 mph and 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) at sea level
Power/mass: .079 hp/lb (130 W/kg)
*
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