The Armstrong Whitworth Atlas was a British single-engine biplane designed and built by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. It served as an army co-operation aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the 1920s and 1930s. It was the first purpose-designed aircraft of the army co-operation type to serve with the RAF.
The Armstrong Whitworth Atlas was designed by a team led by John Lloyd, chief designer of Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, as a private venture,[1] to replace the DH.9A and Bristol Fighter as an army co-operation aircraft for the RAF,[2] in parallel with a very closely related design, the Armstrong Whitworth Ajax, intended for more general purpose roles.[3] While the two types were private ventures, relevant Air Ministry requirements included Specification 8/24, 30/24 and 20/25.[4]
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.[6] 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 historyedit
Atlas picking up a message
The first batch of 37 aircraft were ordered in 1927, entering service with 13 Squadron RAF and 26 Squadron in that year.[5] Once the initial handling problems had been solved by the fitting of slats, the Atlas proved well suited for army co-operation, in use at home and overseas, with 208 squadron, being the first squadron to operate Atlases outside Britain, replacing Bristol fighters at Heliopolis, Egypt in 1930.[7] Atlases were also used for communications duties[7] and as advanced trainers, with 175 dual-control models built.[8] 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.[8] It was also replaced in the advanced trainer role in 1935 by the Hawker Hart Trainer.[7] Four civil registered Atlas trainers were used by Air Service Training Ltd for advanced and reserve flying training. They were scrapped in 1938.[9]
Variantsedit
Armstrong Whitworth AriesArmstrong Whitworth Atlas II photo from L'Aerophile July 1932
Atlas I Army co-operation aircraft - 271 built for the RAF.
Atlas Trainer Dual-control trainer version of Atlas I - 175 built.
Atlas II Cleaned up, more powerful version, powered by 525 hp (391 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Panther. Rejected in favour of Audax by RAF.[8] 15 built for Kwangsi Air Force, China.[10]
Ajax minor differences from Atlas I - 4 built for RAF.
Aries improved Atlas I with easier access for maintenance and increased dimensions - one built
EAF Atlas Greek lower-cost version (main differences in wing structure, engine and propeller) - 10 built by EAF (KEA) after 1931.[11]
Jackson, A. J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN0-370-10006-9.
Kostenuk, Samuel; Griffin, John (1977). RCAF: Squadron Histories and Aircraft, 1924–1968. Canadian War Museum Historical Publication No. 14. Sarasota/Toronto: Samuel Stevens/Hakkert & Company. ISBN0-88866-577-6.
Mason, Francis K (1994). The British Bomber since 1914. Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN0-85177-861-5.
Tapper, Oliver (1988). Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft since 1913. London: Putnam. ISBN0-85177-826-7.
Thetford, Owen (1957). Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57 (1st ed.). London: Putnam.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
Williams, Ray (September 1989). "Atlas: a supporting role – Part 1". Aeroplane Monthly. Vol. 17, no. 9. pp. 538–542. ISSN 0143-7240.
Williams, Ray (October 1989). "Atlas: a supporting role – Part 2". Aeroplane Monthly. Vol. 17, no. 10. pp. 592–587. ISSN 0143-7240.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Armstrong Whitworth Atlas.
RCAF.com - Canadian Atlases
January 01, 1970
armstrong, whitworth, atlas, british, single, engine, biplane, designed, built, armstrong, whitworth, aircraft, served, army, operation, aircraft, royal, force, 1920s, 1930s, first, purpose, designed, aircraft, army, operation, type, serve, with, atlas, role, . The Armstrong Whitworth Atlas was a British single engine biplane designed and built by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft It served as an army co operation aircraft for the Royal Air Force RAF in the 1920s and 1930s It was the first purpose designed aircraft of the army co operation type to serve with the RAF Atlas Role Army cooperation aircraft Manufacturer Armstrong Whitworth First flight 10 May 1925 Introduction 1927 Retired 1935 RAF 1942 RCAF Primary users Royal Air ForceRoyal Canadian Air Force Produced 1927 1933 Number built 478 Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 4 1 Military 4 2 Civil 5 Specifications Atlas I 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Citations 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksDevelopment editThe Armstrong Whitworth Atlas was designed by a team led by John Lloyd chief designer of Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft as a private venture 1 to replace the DH 9A and Bristol Fighter as an army co operation aircraft for the RAF 2 in parallel with a very closely related design the Armstrong Whitworth Ajax intended for more general purpose roles 3 While the two types were private ventures relevant Air Ministry requirements included Specification 8 24 30 24 and 20 25 4 The prototype Atlas G EBLK was built as a private venture first flying on 10 May 1925 5 It was delivered to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment A amp AEE Martlesham Heath where it was evaluated against the Bristol Boarhound de Havilland Hyena Vickers Vespa and Short 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 6 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 edit nbsp Atlas picking up a message The first batch of 37 aircraft were ordered in 1927 entering service with 13 Squadron RAF and 26 Squadron in that year 5 Once the initial handling problems had been solved by the fitting of slats the Atlas proved well suited for army co operation in use at home and overseas with 208 squadron being the first squadron to operate Atlases outside Britain replacing Bristol fighters at Heliopolis Egypt in 1930 7 Atlases were also used for communications duties 7 and as advanced trainers with 175 dual control models built 8 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 8 It was also replaced in the advanced trainer role in 1935 by the Hawker Hart Trainer 7 Four civil registered Atlas trainers were used by Air Service Training Ltd for advanced and reserve flying training They were scrapped in 1938 9 Variants edit nbsp Armstrong Whitworth Aries nbsp Armstrong Whitworth Atlas II photo from L Aerophile July 1932 Atlas I Army co operation aircraft 271 built for the RAF Atlas Trainer Dual control trainer version of Atlas I 175 built Atlas II Cleaned up more powerful version powered by 525 hp 391 kW Armstrong Siddeley Panther Rejected in favour of Audax by RAF 8 15 built for Kwangsi Air Force China 10 Ajax minor differences from Atlas I 4 built for RAF Aries improved Atlas I with easier access for maintenance and increased dimensions one built EAF Atlas Greek lower cost version main differences in wing structure engine and propeller 10 built by EAF KEA after 1931 11 Operators editMilitary edit nbsp Canada Royal Canadian Air Force No 2 Squadron RCAF 12 No 111 Squadron RCAF 13 No 118 Squadron RCAF 13 nbsp China Kwangsi Air Force nbsp China Chinese Nationalist Air Force nbsp Egypt nbsp Greece Hellenic Air Force Hellenic Navy nbsp Japan nbsp United Kingdom Royal Air Force No 2 Squadron RAF No 4 Squadron RAF No 13 Squadron RAF No 16 Squadron RAF No 26 Squadron RAF No 208 Squadron RAF No 1 Flying Training School RAF No 3 Flying Training School RAF No 4 Flying Training School RAF No 5 Flying Training School RAF RAF College Cranwell Civil edit nbsp United Kingdom Air Service Training Ltd Specifications Atlas I edit nbsp Armstrong Whitworth Atlas II 3 view drawing from L Aerophile July 1932 Data from The British Bomber since 1914 8 General characteristicsCrew 2 Length 28 ft 6 1 2 in 8 700 m Wingspan 39 ft 6 1 2 in 12 052 m Height 10 ft 6 in 3 20 m Wing area 391 sq ft 36 3 m2 Airfoil RAF 28 5 Empty weight 2 550 lb 1 157 kg Max takeoff weight 4 020 lb 1 823 kg Powerplant 1 Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar IVC 14 cylinder two row air cooled radial engine 450 hp 340 kW Performance Maximum speed 142 mph 229 km h 123 kn at sea level 134 mph 216 km h 116 kn at 10 000 ft 3 000 m Range 400 mi 640 km 350 nmi Endurance 3 hr 25 min 14 Service ceiling 16 800 ft 5 100 m Time to altitude 5 min 30 to 5 000 ft 1 500 m Armament Guns 1 forward firing 303 in 7 7 mm Vickers machine gun and 1 303 in 7 7 mm Lewis Gun on Scarff ring in rear cockpit Bombs Up to 4 112 lb 51 kg bombs under wingsSee also editRelated lists List of aircraft of the RAF List of aircraft of the Canadian Air ForceReferences editCitations edit Williams Aeroplane Monthly September 1989 p 538 Mason 1994 pp 169 170 Tapper 1988 p 152 Mason 1994 pp 170 171 203 a b c Mason 1994 p 170 Mason 1994 pp 170 171 a b c Thetford 1957 p 24 a b c d Mason 1994 p 171 Jackson 1974 p 321 Jackson 1974 p 322 Armstrong Whitworth Atlas Hellenic Air Force Retrieved 6 March 2016 Kostenuk amp Griffin 1977 p 23 a b Kostenuk amp Griffin 1977 p 255 Thetford 1957 p 25 Bibliography edit Jackson A J 1974 British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1 London Putnam ISBN 0 370 10006 9 Kostenuk Samuel Griffin John 1977 RCAF Squadron Histories and Aircraft 1924 1968 Canadian War Museum Historical Publication No 14 Sarasota Toronto Samuel Stevens Hakkert amp Company ISBN 0 88866 577 6 Mason Francis K 1994 The British Bomber since 1914 Putnam Aeronautical Books ISBN 0 85177 861 5 Tapper Oliver 1988 Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft since 1913 London Putnam ISBN 0 85177 826 7 Thetford Owen 1957 Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918 57 1st ed London Putnam The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Part Work 1982 1985 Orbis Publishing Williams Ray September 1989 Atlas a supporting role Part 1 Aeroplane Monthly Vol 17 no 9 pp 538 542 ISSN 0143 7240 Williams Ray October 1989 Atlas a supporting role Part 2 Aeroplane Monthly Vol 17 no 10 pp 592 587 ISSN 0143 7240 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Armstrong Whitworth Atlas RCAF com Canadian Atlases Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Armstrong Whitworth Atlas amp oldid 1192709761, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
