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Armstrong Whitworth Atlas
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The Armstrong Whitworth Atlas was a British single engined biplane designed and built by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. It served as an army cooperation aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the 1920s and 1930s. It was the first purpose-designed aircraft of the type to serve with the RAF.
Development
The was designed by a team led by John Lloyd, chief designer of Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, as a replacement for the DH.9A and Bristol Fighter as an army cooperation aircraft for the RAF, in parallel with the related aircraft, the Armstrong Whitworth Ajax and Armstrong Whitworth Aries.
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Encyclopedia
The Armstrong Whitworth Atlas was a British single engined biplane designed and built by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. It served as an army cooperation aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the 1920s and 1930s. It was the first purpose-designed aircraft of the type to serve with the RAF.
Development
The was designed by a team led by John Lloyd, chief designer of Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, as a replacement for the DH.9A and Bristol Fighter as an army cooperation aircraft for the RAF, in parallel with the related aircraft, the Armstrong Whitworth Ajax and Armstrong Whitworth Aries. The Atlas was intended to meet the requirements of Specification 20/25.
The prototype Atlas (G-EBLK) was built as a private venture, first flying on 10 May 1925.[ ] It was delivered to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A & AEE), Martlesham Heath, where it was evaluated against the Bristol Boarhound, de Havilland Hyena, Vickers Vespa, and Shorts Chamois. It proved superior in performance and handling and was recommended for production.
While the performance was generally good, the prototype could not be sideslipped steeply, and this resulted in a redesign where sweptback metal wings, with differing wing section, were fitted. When tested again, the Atlas was found to have lost its good handling, having dangerous stall characteristics. The Atlas had already been ordered for service, however, and suffered a number of accidents during takeoff and landing in the first few months of operation until modified with automatic slats and increased sweepback. This cured the poor handling.
The production Atlas had a steel tube fuselage with fabric covering with single bay swept metal wings. It could be fitted with a hook under the fuselage to pick up messages and could carry a 460 lb (210 kg) bombload under the wings.
Operational history
The first batch of 37 aircraft were ordered in 1927, entering service with 13 Squadron RAF and 26 Squadron in that year.
Atlases were also used for communications duties and as advanced trainers, with 175 dual-control models built.
The Atlas continued in service in the Army co-operations role until replaced with the Hawker Audax, a variant of the Hawker Hart, with the last operational squadron, 208, re-equipping in 1935
Four civil registered Atlas trainers were used by Air Service Training Ltd for advanced and reserve flying training. They were scrapped in 1938.
Variants
- Atlas I Army cooperation aircraft - 271 built for the RAF.
- Atlas Trainer Daul control trainer version of Atlas I - 175 built.
- Atlas II Cleaned up, more powerful version, powered by Armstrong Siddeley Panther. Rejected in favour of Audax by RAF
- Ajax minor differences from Atlas I - 4 built for RAF.
- Aries improved Atlas I with easier access for maintenance and increased dimensions - one built
Operators
Military
Civil
- Air Service Training Ltd.
Specifications (Atlas I)
See also
External links
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