Armstrong Whitworth AW.23

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The Armstrong Whitworth AW.23 was a prototype bomber/transport aircraft produced to specification C.26/31 for the British Air Ministry by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. While it was not selected to meet this specification, it did form the basis of the Armstrong Whitworth Whitley.

1 Development
2 Specifications (AW.23)
3 References
4 External links
5 Related content

[edit] Development

Specification C.26/31 required a dual purpose bomber/transport aircraft for service with the RAF, with the specification stressing the transport part of its role. The AW.23 was designed by John Lloyd, chief designer of Armstrong Whitworth to meet this specification, competing with the Handley Page HP.51 and the Bristol Bombay. The AW.23 was a low winged twin engine monoplane, powered by two Armstrong Siddely Tiger engines. It had a fabric covered braced steel fuselage accommodating a large cabin to fulfill its primary transport role, but with room for internal bomb racks under the cabin floor. it was the first Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft to be fitted with a retractable undercarriage.

A single prototype, K3585, was built first flying on 4 June 1935.^[1] Owing to its unreliable Tiger engines, its delivery to the RAF for testing was delayed, with the Bristol Bombay being declared the winner of the specification.

It subsequently became used for inflight refuelling development by Flight Refuelling Ltd who used it with the Short Empire flying boat. It was destroyed in a German bombing raid on Ford airfield in June 1940.^[2]

[edit] Specifications (AW.23)

Data from The British Bomber^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: 4
Capacity: 24 troops
Length: 80 ft 9 in (24.62 m)
Wingspan: 88 ft 0 in (26.83 m)
Height: 19 ft 6 in (5.95 m)
Wing area: 1,308 ft² (122 m²)
Empty weight: lb (kg)
Loaded weight: 24,100 lb (11000 kg)
Useful load: lb (kg)
Max takeoff weight: lb (kg)
Powerplant: 2× Armstrong Siddelely Tiger VI 14 cylinder Radial, 810 hp (604 kW) each

Performance

Never exceed speed: knots (mph, km/h)
Maximum speed: 140 knots (162 mph, 261 km/h) (TAS) at 6,500 ft
Cruise speed: knots (mph, km/h)
Stall speed: knots (mph, km/h)
Range: 690 nm (790 mi, 1270 km) (estimated)
Service ceiling: 18,100 ft (5520 m)
Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s)
Wing loading: 18.4 lb/ft² (90.2 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.0672 hp/lb (0.11 W/kg)
Climb to 10,000 ft (3048m): 10 min 50 s

Armament

Provision for single machine guns in nose and tail turrets and for 2000 lb bombs internally.

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b Mason, Francis K (1994). The British Bomber since 1914. Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0 85177 861 5.
^ Jackson, A.J. (1973). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 (Volume 1). Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.