https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airspeed_Ambassador
The Airspeed AS.57 Ambassador was a British twin piston-engined airliner that
first flew on 10 July 1947 and served in small numbers through the 1950s and
1960s. The planes are sometimes referred to as "Elizabethans", as they were
originally ordered and popularised by British European Airways as the planes
used for their "Elizabethan Class" passenger service.
The Ambassador had its origin in 1943 as a requirement identified by the
Brabazon Committee for a twin-engined short-to-medium-haul replacement for the
Douglas DC-3. Airspeed Ltd. was asked to prepare an unpressurised design in the
14.5-ton gross weight class, using two Bristol Hercules radial engines. In 1943,
the company duly set up a dispersed design office in Fairmile Manor at Cobham in
Surrey.
By the time the British Ministry of Aircraft Production ordered two prototypes
from Airspeed, immediately after the end of the Second World War, the design had
grown substantially. The Ambassador would be pressurised, have more powerful
Bristol Centaurus radials and have a maximum gross weight of almost 24 tons.
The revised design offered seating for 47 passengers and, having a tricycle
undercarriage, looked more modern than the DC-3s, Curtiss Commandos, Avro
Lancastrians and Vickers Vikings that were common on Europe's shorter airline
routes. With three low tailfins and a long pointed nose, it shared something of
the character of the larger transcontinental Lockheed Constellation.
Role
Airliner
Manufacturer
Airspeed Ltd
First flight
10 July 1947
Introduction
1951
Primary user
British European Airways
Produced
Number built
23
Three prototypes were built, the first registered G-AGUA was first flown by
George B.S. Errington from Christchurch on 10 July 1947. British European
operated them between 1952 and 1958, calling them their "Elizabethan Class" in
honour of the newly crowned Queen. The flagship of the fleet was G-ALZN,
appropriately named "RMA Elizabethan". The first "Elizabethan" scheduled flight
was from Heathrow to Paris Le Bourget on 13 March 1952 and the type later also
served the key UK routes. By December 1955 the "Elizabethan Class" had reached
2,230 flying hours annually, per aircraft, the highest in BEA's fleet. However,
the last Elizabethan scheduled service for BEA was operated in August 1958, and
the type was replaced by the Vickers Viscount.
The popularity of this aircraft, with its pressurised cabin and good
soundproofing, was soon eclipsed by the arrival of turboprop-powered aircraft
such as the Vickers Viscount and, some years later, the Lockheed Electra, which
featured more reliable engines and faster speeds. The coming of turboprops and
the dawning of the jet age caused the Ambassador to fall out of favour, along
with negative publicity arising from two fatal crashes.
Specifications
General characteristics
Crew: three
Capacity: Up to 60 passengers
Length: 82 ft 0 in (24.99 m)
Wingspan: 115 ft 0 in (35.05 m)
Height: 18 ft 10 in (5.74 m)
Empty weight: 35,377 lb (16,047 kg)
Loaded weight: 52,500 lb (23,814 kg)
2,625 hp (1,958 kw) each
Performance
Maximum speed: (75% power, 11,650 (5,284 kg)) 312 mph
Cruise speed: 260 mph (418 km/h)
Range: 550 miles (885km)
Rate of climb: 1,250 ft/min (6.35 m/s)
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