AW 650 & 660 Argosy @·AIRCRAFTUBE

  • AW-650 Argosy AW-650 Argosy
    AW-650 Argosy
  • AW-650 Argosy AW-650 Argosy
    AW-650 Argosy
  • AW-660 Argosy AW-660 Argosy
    AW-660 Argosy
  • AW-660 Argosy - 1972 AW-660 Argosy - 1972
    AW-660 Argosy - 1972
  • AW-660 Argosy AW-660 Argosy
    AW-660 Argosy
  • AW-660 Argosy AW-660 Argosy
    AW-660 Argosy
  • AW-660 Argosy C Mk.1 AW-660 Argosy C Mk.1
    AW-660 Argosy C Mk.1
  • AW-660 Argosy C Mk.1 AW-660 Argosy C Mk.1
    AW-660 Argosy C Mk.1
  • AW-660 Argosy C Mk.1 AW-660 Argosy C Mk.1
    AW-660 Argosy C Mk.1
  • AW-660 Argosy C Mk.1 AW-660 Argosy C Mk.1
    AW-660 Argosy C Mk.1
  • AW-660 Argosy E Mk.1 AW-660 Argosy E Mk.1
    AW-660 Argosy E Mk.1
  • AW-660 Argosy E Mk.1 AW-660 Argosy E Mk.1
    AW-660 Argosy E Mk.1
  • AW-660 Argosy E Mk.1 AW-660 Argosy E Mk.1
    AW-660 Argosy E Mk.1

Armstrong Whitworth 650 & 660 Argosy

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

The Argosy came from the Air Ministry "Operation Requirement 323" which resulted in a specification issued in 1955 for a medium range freight aircraft capable of lifting 25,000 lb with a range of 2,000 nm and a 10,000 lb payload. This led A.W. to develop a twin engined design for the military, the A.W.66. The potential for civil sales led to a civil design A.W.65. The 1957 Defence White Paper would show the lack of funding available for military work but A.W. had revised the design for the civil market alone as a 4 engined aircraft.

Armstrong Whitworth A.W.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 (or 44,000 kg) and a payload of 28,000 lb (or 12,700 kg). Cruising at 210 knots (or 390 km/h), it had a range of 3,000 nm (or 3,450 statute miles, 5,550 km) 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 A.W.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 A.W.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.I

In 1963, Hawker Siddeley Group dropped the names of its component companies, rebranding its products under the Hawker Siddeley banner. 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.II

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.

Military capabilities

The Argosy was used by the Royal Air Force for its capability to 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.

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This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy of Wikipedia ( authors )

Specifications (Argosy C Mk.I)

  • Crew : Four.
  • Length : 45 ft 3 in (or 27.18 m).
  • Height : 29 ft 3 in (or 8.91 m).
  • Wingspan : 115 ft (or 35 m).
  • Wing area : 1,458 sq ft (or 135.5 sq m).
  • Capacity : up to 69 troops or 28,930 lb (or 13,150 kg) of cargo.
  • Empty weight : 10,200 lb (or 4,630 kg).
  • Max takeoff weight : 103,000 lb (or 46,700 kg).
  • Maximum speed : 234 kt (or 269 mph, 433 km/h).
  • Range : 2,824 nm (or 3,250 mi, 5,230 km).
  • Service ceiling : 18,000 ft (or 5,500 m).
  • Powerplant : Four Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.8 Mk 101 turboprops.
  • Power : 2,440 hp (or 1,820 kW) each.
  • Propellers : 4 blade Rotol.

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This text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License
Source : Article Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy of Wikipedia ( authors )
Armstrong Whitworth 650 & 660 Argosy : Your comments on this subject
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