FlightGlobal.com
Home
Premium
Archive
Video
Images
Forum
Atlas
Blogs
Jobs
Shop
RSS
Email Newsletters
You are in:
Home
Aviation History
1947
1947 - 0570.PDF
333 FLIGHT APRIL 17TH, 1947 UNVEILED and Improved Types of British Service Aircraft: Prototypes and Projects in All Classes I T is now possible to mention by name, and in certain;cases to describe and illustrate, some new types andvariants of British military aircraft. Least familiar of these are the Westland Wyvern T.F.i., Avro Shackleton G.R.i and Blackburn S.28/43. New names include Super- marine Attacker (E.10/44), Supermarine Seagull (S.14/44), Avro Atheno T.i. and Boulton Paul Balliol T.I., the last two being turbine-powered trainers. For convenience of reference the various types will be discussed under the names of their manufacturers. AIRSPEED A LTHOUGH it is not likely to be built in quantity for •^* the R.A.F., the Airspeed Ayrshire 1 military transport (two Bristol Centaurus 130 engines) is of definite interest in demonstrating the possibilities of a high-speed military transport developed from a civil passenger carrier—in this case .the Ambassador. Designed to M.A.P. specification C.13/45, and bearing the Airspeed type number AS60, the Ayrshire 1 is a medium-range aircraft using the com- plete wing structure (together with nacelles, power units and undercarriage) of the Ambassador, and with minor alterations, the same tail surfaces. With the exception of the cockpit structure the fuselage, however, has been entirely redesigned, the central portion being square in sec- tion, with slightly rounded sides and corners. A total volume of 2,360 cu It is available for freight stowage, and for loading military equipment two hinged doors, forming part of the fuselage shell, are opened, and the loading ramp, hinged along the floor line, is lowered to the ground. Two separate doors are provided for parachute troop dropping, the high position of the tail surfaces ensuring adequate clearance. Ayrshire data are as follows: span 115ft; length 80.25ft; normal all-up weight 52,5001b; maximum w.m. cruising speed 202 m.p.h at 10,500ft. Although the Ayrshire, as such, is unlikely to materialize it is of interest to learn that a civil freighter version of the Ambassador has been designed. This incorporates many Ayrshire features, including a retractable loading ramp. A'RSPEED AYRSHIRE A large airborne lifeboat stowed snugly in place of the bomb bay of an Avro LancasterASR aircraft, which exists in Mk I and II forms. Conversion was carried out by Cunliffe-Owen. Rapid handling of wheeled and trackedvehicles and of bulky freight loads are catered for in the design of the Air-speed Ayrshire, a proposed military development of the Ambassador. AVRO OHACKLETON G.R.i is the official ^ title of the new long-range Avro , general-reconnaissance aircraft for Coastal Command. Four Rolls-Royce Griffon engines are fitted. It may be expected that the Shackleton will in certain respects resemble the Lincoln bomber, but the ^allocation of a new name probably signifies certain major changes. A second Avro development of im- portance is the Athena T.i (T.7/45) advanced trainer powered by an Arm- strong-Siddeley Mamba or Rolls-Royce Dart airscrew turbine. In its general characteristics the Athena resembles the Boulton Paul Balliol, being a low- wing monoplane with provision for an instructor and pupil side-by-side and a second pupil behind. The cockpit en- closure appears to offer excellent all- round vision for all crew members.
Sign up to
Flight Digital Magazine
Flight Print Magazine
Airline Business Magazine
E-newsletters
RSS
Events
