Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy

For the 1920s airliner of the same name, see Armstrong Whitworth Argosy.

The Armstrong Whitworth Argosy was a British post-war military transport/cargo aircraft. Although given different type numbers, the AW.650 civil and AW.660 military models were both called Argosy and for practical purposes are basically the same design.

Armstrong Whitworth AW 650 Argosy (1959)

The Armstrong Whitworth Argosy was a high winged four-engined general purpose transport aircraft supplied to a number of civil operators. First flown on 8 January 1959, a total of 17 were built for civil operators Riddle Airlines (Series 101) and British European Airways (series 102 and 222).

The Argosy was powered by four Rolls Royce Dart 526 turboprop engines driving Rotol four-blade propellers. The tailplane was on twin booms from the inner engine nacelles leaving the cargo doors at the rear of the fuselage clear for straight-in loading. This unusual "pod and boom" structure would earn it the nickname "The Whistling Wheelbarrow".

It had a maximum weight of 97,000 lb (44,000 kg) and a payload of 28,000 lb (12,700 kg or 12.5 long tons). Cruising at 210 knots (390 km/h), it had a range of 3,000 nautical miles (3,450 statute miles or 5550 kilometres) and could seat 65 passengers. Two aircraft operated later by SAFE Air in New Zealand as the main link between the Chatham Islands and the mainland, were fitted with a pressurised "passenger capsule".

Ten Series 101 and 102 aircraft were built. Eight Series 200 aircraft were built, the series 200 had a larger freight hold and enlarged front and rear doors to enable it to carry standard size cargo pallets. The series 200 also had a lighter redesigned wing increasing the maximum range and Rolls Royce Dart 532/1 turboprops.

The last flight by an Argosy was made by one of New Zealand operator SAFE air in 1992, that aircraft now being preserved in Blenheim, New Zealand.

Armstrong Whitworth AW 660 Argosy C Mk 1

The military Argosy C.1 was designed as a replacement for the Vickers Valetta as a medium range transport, paratroop and supply aircraft. The 660 was based upon the AW.650 Argosy civil transport which had flown 27 months previously. The first production military Argosy first flew in March 1961. The military version had the nose door sealed to take a weather radar radome, the rear doors were changed to 'clam shell' style with an integral loading ramp, and two doors were fitted on the starboard side to enable paratroopers to exit. The strong tricycle landing gear of the original design allowed take-off and landing on rough or unprepared airstrips.

The military Argosy had four Rolls Royce Dart 101 turboprops and had twice the range of the civil Series 100.

Production of the Argosy for the RAF totalled 56 aircraft which served in six squadrons; three in the UK and one each in Aden, Cyprus, and the Far East. The Argosy was withdrawn from service in 1975 as an economic measure. Those aircraft not scrapped or retained were sold to commercial operators.

Hawker Siddeley Argosy E Mk 1

To meet a requirement for a RAF flight inspection aircraft nine Argosy C.1s were modified in 1971 as the Argosy E1. These were a regular sight at British airfields operated by 115 Squadron until replaced by the Hawker Siddeley Andover in 1978.

Hawker Siddeley Argosy T Mk 2

After the removal of the Argosy C.1 from the cargo/transport role it was decided to modify a number as Navigation Trainers for RAF Training Command. Two aircraft were modified as the Argosy T2, but they were not successful and the program was abandoned due to defence cuts. XP411 (see below) is was one of these.

Military service

The Argosy could accommodate 69 troops, or 48 stretcher cases or 29,000 lb (13 tonnes) of freight. This meant it could carry military equipment such as the Saracen or Ferret armoured cars , or artillery such as the 105 mm Howitzer or Wombat.

Service units

No. 70 Squadron RAF (based in Cyprus)
No. 105 Squadron RAF (based in Middle East)
No. 114 Squadron RAF (based in United Kingdom)
No. 115 Squadron RAF (based in United Kingdom with the Argosy E1)
No. 215 Squadron RAF (based in Singapore)
No. 267 Squadron RAF (based in United Kingdom)
No. 242 Operational Conversion Unit RAF
No. 6 Flying Training School RAF

Survivors

ZK-SAE "Merchant Enterprise", Woodbourne, Blenheim, New Zealand.
G-APRL Midland Air Museum, U.K. G-BEOZ Aeropark, Nottingham East Midlands Airport.
XP447 is parked at Lancaster Field, California, USA, owned by the Santa Monica Air Museum
XP411 is preserved at the Royal Air Force Museum, Cosford, UK
The cockpit of XN819 is at the Newark Air Museum, Newark, England, UK.
N896U is on display at the Yankee Hill Air Museum, Ypsilanti, Michigan, USA

Specifications (Argosy C Mk.1)

General characteristics

Crew: four
Capacity: up to 69 troops or 28,930 lb (13,150 kg) of cargo
Length: 45 ft 3 in (27.18 m)
Wingspan: 115 ft 0 in (35.05 m)
Height: ft in ( m)
Wing area: 1,458 ft² (135.5 m²)
weight
- Empty: 10,200 lb (4,630 kg)
- Loaded: lb ( kg)
- Maximum takeoff: 103,000 lb (46,700 kg)
Powerplant: 4x Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.8 Mk 101, 2,440 hp (1,820 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 269 mph (433 km/h)
Range: 3,250 mi (5,230 km)
Service ceiling: 18,000 ft (5,500 m)
Rate of climb: ft/min ( m/min)
Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
Power/weight: hp/lb ( kW/kg)

External links

British military transport aircraft 1960-1969 | British cargo aircraft 1950-1959

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