Stargazer

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Apparently no-one has yet tackled the subject on this forum, so here is my contribution. After days of research, it seems that there is no chance of ever filling the gaps in this list as even the sources of the time and the resources available do not give the type numbers for many A.W.A. aircraft.

NOTE: All dates are approximate and usually refer to the initial contract or inception of project.


The first period consists of Frederik Koolhoven's designs, which can be recognized by the letters F.K. (he then continued the series when working for B.A.T., starting with the Models F.K.22 and F.K.23).

  • F.K.1 Sissit (1914) - small biplane scout and fighter prototype with 50 hp Gnôme engine (1 built)
  • F.K.2 (1915) - tandem-seat biplane fighter with 70 hp Renault engine (2 built)
  • F.K.3 "Little Ack" (1915) - tandem-seat biplane fighter developed from F.K.2 with 90 hp RAF 1a (343 built)
  • F.K.4 (1915) - gondolas for SS.40-49 airships developed from F.K.3 fuselage, with 100 hp Green (probably 20 built as spares required)
    NOTE: these were preceded by a gondola for SS.27 (also from an F.K.3 fuselage) but with a Renault engine (was it also F.K.4?)
    and even before that a 1914 gondola for non-rigid naval airship HMA No.2 "Willows IV" (although Koolhoven involvement here is unsure)
  • F.K.5 Gunship (1915) - three seat, single-engined escort fighter triplane gunship prototype with 250 hp R-R (Eagle) (1 built)
  • F.K.6 (1916) - multi-seat escort fighter triplane and Zeppelin destroyer prototype with 250 hp R-R (Eagle) (1 built)
  • F.K.7 (1916) - developmental scout airplane with 160 hp Beardmore engine (production transferred to F.K.8) (1 built)
  • F.K.8 "Big Ack" (1917) - scout and bomber biplane to replace the B.E.2c, 160 hp Beardmore engine (1700 built)
  • F.K.9 (1916) - quadruplane fighter prototypes with 110 hp Clerget engine (2 built)
  • F.K.10 (1916) - improved version of F.K.9 with 130 hp Clerget engine (8 built)
  • F.K.11 (1916) - fifteen-wing design, planned engine unknown (not built)
  • F.K.12 (1917) - wrongly allocated to the F.K.6 (because of the 1926 list), this remains a mystery, but given the chronology it could have been allocated to an improved FK.8 with modified cooling system, undercarriage and exhaust manifolds with 160 hp Beardmore engine (1 built)
  • F.K.13 (1917) - known as the Fleet Fighter Reconnaissance Biplane, a version of F.K.8 completed March 1917 but not accepted, with a 200 hp Sunbeam engine (designation confusing because of the mix-up between the two systems — adding to the confusion was the reuse of the N513 serial number from an F.K.10 that was cancelled!)

All of the above were built except for the F.K.11. Then come a series of Koolhoven designs that were never built and pre-date his period at B.A.T., although there is no indication that they were actually done as part of what became Armstrong Whitworth. There is no indication of further numbers in the inhouse A.W. system. However, Koolhoven's retroative 1926 system contains designations of projects done under A.W. which conveniently carry on from there...

  • F.K.14 (nd) - described by Koolhoven as an A.W. fighter design (not built)
  • F.K.15 (nd) - described by Koolhoven as an airship gondola design for the Beta II (strange as this airship was built in 1912)
  • F.K.16 (nd) - described by Koolhoven as an airship gondola design for North Sea airships based on the F.K.3 fuselage
  • F.K.17 (nd) - described by Koolhoven as an airship gondola design for North Sea airships based on the F.K.3 fuselage
  • F.K.18 (nd) - described by Koolhoven as a twin-engined flying boat project and precursor of the F.K.22; described elsewhere as a fighter project
  • F.K.19 (nd) - described as an unbuilt aircraft; also found as a light air-cooled engine (unlikely if designed by Koolhoven)

Between 1915 and 1919, Armstrong Whitworth also build airships:

  • SS.27 submarine scout airship
  • SS.40 to SS.49 submarine scout airships
  • HMA No.25 (later R 25) "23-Class" rigid airship
  • R 29 "23X-Class" rigid airship
  • R 33 and R 34 airships resembling the Zeppelin L33

After Fred Koolhoven's departure, Fred Murphy takes over and his designs carry his own initials as well. However, only one such designation has survived:

  • F.M.4 Armadillo (1917-18) - single-seat biplane fighter prototype with 230 hp Bentley B.R.2 under Air Board Spec. A.2(a)
  • Ara (1918) - single-seat biplane fighter under Spec. RAF 1 with 320 hp A.B.C. Dragonfly radial

The Siddeley Deasy company is not yet a part of Armstrong Whitworth when it develops its first three aircraft types:

  • R.T.1 (1917) - attempt to improve on the R.E.8 with an entirely new wing (three prototypes with 200 hp Hispano-Suiza / 150 hp RAF 4a engines)
  • S.R.2 Siskin (1918) - single-seat fighter with 320 hp A.B.C. Dragonfly; flew in 1919
  • Type 103 Sinaia (1918) - prototype produced as a D.H.8 competitor with two 500 hp Armstrong Siddeley Tiger engines

When Siddeley-Deasy becomes part of the Armstrong Siddeley group, the S.R.2 Siskin aircraft becomes the first major product of the new Armstrong Whitworth company. A new system of designations starts with the initials A.W. Unfortunately, the exact allocation of the first thirteen such designations is not known. Here is a list of the aircraft produced in that period:

  • Tadpole (1920) — two-seat carrier-borne spotter/reconnaissance aircraft adapted from the D.H.9A; led to the Westland Walrus
  • Siskin (1921) — single-seat fighter, modification of the S.R.2 Siskin with the installation of the first Armstrong-Siddeley Jaguar engine
  • Siskin II (1922) — single-seat biplane prototype, development of the S.R.2
  • Siskin III (1923) — all-metal production version
  • Siskin IIIA (1925) — main production variant (Spec. 19/23)
  • Siskin IIIB (nd) — prototype with improved engine
  • Siskin IIIDC (circa 1928) — dual-control version
  • Siskin IV (1925) — civil racing version
  • Siskin V (1925) — civil version for Romania, but used for racing
  • Awana (1923) — troop-transport aircraft prototype (Spec. 5/20) [once found as A.W.1]
  • Wolf (1923) — two-seat reconnaissance aircraft
  • Ape (1926) — biplane experimental aeroplane
  • Argosy I (1926) — three-engined biplane airliner (Spec. 41/22)
  • Argosy II (1926) — three-engined biplane airliner
  • Atlas I (1927) — replacement for the DH.9A and Bristol Fighter (Spec. 20/25) - also found as "Type 137" (perhaps in old Siddeley system?)
  • Atlas Trainer, a.k.a. Atlas DC (after 1928) — dual-control trainer version of Atlas
  • Atlas II (nd) — cleaned up, more powerful version, rejected in favour of Audax
  • Ajax I (1925) — two-seat general purpose biplane, minor differences from Atlas I
  • Ajax II (nd) — minor differences from Ajax I

Then comes the alphanumerical series as we know it, with A.W. followed by a sequential number, more or less in chronological order of design:

  • A.W.XIV Starling I (1927) — single-seat biplane fighter - 28/24, 9/26?
  • A.W.XIV Starling II (1930) — second prototype competing against the Bulldog with one A.Siddeley Jaguar - 9/26
  • A.W.XV Atalanta (1932) — four-engine "A" Class four-engine high-wing airliner (8 built)
  • A.W.XVI* (1930) — single-seat biplane fighter with one 500 hp A.S. Panther - 9/26, 21/26 (2 converted and 19 built) (*also found as A.W.16
  • A.W.17 (1) (1931) — single-seat monoplane fighter project with two Rolls-Royce pusher engines (not built)
  • A.W.17 Aries (2) (1930) — two-seat army co-operation biplane; improved Atlas I with easier access for maintenance,
    increased dimensions, one 460 hp A.S. Panther IV - 20/25 (1 built)
  • A.W.18 ( nd ) — heavy monoplane bomber project with four A.S. Panther engines (not built)
  • A.W.19 (1934) — two-/three-seat general purpose biplane - G.4/31E (OR.2) (also G.9/31?) (1 built)
  • A.W.20 (1931) — monoplane day bomber project with two Rolls-Royce F.XI pusher engines (not built)
  • A.W.21 (1931) — single-seat monoplane day/night fighter project, corrugate wing skin with one A.S. Panther or Hyena - F.7/30 (not built)
  • A.W.22 ( nd ) — fast-climbing monoplane project with one A. Siddeley Tiger engine (not built)
  • A.W.23 (1935) — twin-engine monoplane bomber/transport prototype - C.26/31E (OR.4) (1 built)
  • A.W.24 (1933) — monoplane day bomber project with two A. Siddeley Panther engines - B.9/32 (not built)
  • A.W.25 (1932) — monoplane bomber project based on A.W.XV Atalanta with four A.S. Jaguar engines (not built)
  • A.W.26 (1932) — monoplane bomber project based on A.W.XV Atalanta; similar to A.W.25 but with four A.S. Panther engines (not built)
  • A.W.27 Ensign I (1938) — high-wing "E" Class four-engine airliner for Imperial Airways
  • A.W.27A Ensign II (1941) — same as above but with Wright Cyclone engines with 4 Wright Cyclone engines
  • A.W.28 (1933) — single-seat biplane fighter project based on an enlarged A.W.XVI with one A.S. Hyena engine (not built)
  • A.W.29 (1936) — monoplane long-range day bomber - P.27/32 (OR.7) (one built)
  • A.W.30 (1934) — twin-engined monoplane bomber project based on A.W.23 but with more slender fuselage (not built)
  • A.W.31 ( nd ) — single-seat biplane fighter project similar to A.W.XVI but equal-span wings with one A.S. Tiger engine (not built)
  • A.W.32 (1934) — braced two-seat monoplane project with one A. Siddeley Tiger engine (not built)
  • A.W.33 (1934) — twin-engined two-seat monoplane turret fighter project with two A. S. Double Genet Major engines - F.22/33 (not built)
  • A.W.34 (1934) — twin-engined fighter project; was to be converted in F.9/35 prototype K8624, cancelled - F.5/33 (not built)
  • A.W.35 Scimitar (1934-35) — single-engine biplane fighter developed/modified from A.W.16 - F.7/30E (OR.1) (2 converted and 4 built)
  • A.W.36 (1934) — two-seat Army co-op biplane based on Atlas II, new body fairing, wheel spats, A.S. Tiger or Panther engine (not built)
  • A.W.37 (1934) — two-seat general purpose biplane project with one A.S. Panther or Hyena (not built)
  • A.W.38 Whitley I (1936) — twin-engine, front line medium bomber - B.3/34 (OR.12)
  • A.W.38 Whitley II ( nd ) — version with two-stage A. Siddeley Tiger VIII supercharged engines - B.21/35
  • A.W.38 Whitley III ( nd ) — version with ventral gun turret and power turret - B.20/36
  • A.W.38 Whitley IV (1938) — re-engined with two Rolls Royce Merlin engines
  • A.W.38 Whitley V (1938) — main wartime production version, improved from the Mk IV, modified fins
  • A.W.38 Whitley VI ( nd ) — proposed Pratt & Whitney- or Merlin XX-powered version
  • A.W.38 Whitley VII ( nd ) — version capable of longer-range flights, designed for service with Coastal Command
  • A.W.39 (1935) — heavy bomber Whitley development, 2 Deerbound radial engines buried in wing; one ordered/cancelled - B.1/35 (OR.19) (not built)
  • A.W.40 ( nd ) — monoplane mail carrier project based on A.W.34 with two Serval engines (not built)
  • A.W.41 Albemarle I (1939-40) — twin-engined mid-wing medium bomber made of simple construction/light alloys
    - P.9/38 (proto), 17/38?, B.9/38, became B.18/38 (OR.60)
  • A.W.41 Albemarle II ( nd )
  • A.W.41 Albemarle III ( nd )
  • A.W.41 Albemarle IV ( nd )
  • A.W.41 Albemarle V ( nd )
  • A.W.41 Albemarle VI ( nd )
  • A.W.42 (1936) — four-engined night heavy bomber project derived from A.W.38, competing with Short Stirling; rejected - B.12/36 (OR.40) (not built)
  • A.W.43 ( nd ) — monoplane airliner project with four engines to British Airways specification (not built)
  • A.W.44 (1939) — four-engine bomber project modified from A.W.41 with 4 Bristol Hercules (or Rolls-Royce Merlins?) - B.1/39, B.7/40? (not built)
  • A.W.45 (1939) — monoplane medium bomber (and/or recce?) project with two Rolls-Royce Merlin engines (not built)
  • A.W.46 (1940) — four-engine scaled-up version of AW.45 as heavy bomber; project (not built)
  • A.W.47 (1940) — light reconnaissance bomber project - B.3/40 (OR.80) (not built)
  • A.W.48 (1939) — medium (heavy?) bomber project with four (two?) Rolls-Royce Griffon inline engines- B.1/39, B.7/40? (not built)
  • A.W.49 (1942) — twin-boom, laminar wing bomber (low level attack) project with pusher engine - B.20/40 (not built)
  • A.W.50 (1942) — tailless monoplane project with four Metropolitan-Vickers F.3 turbojets (not built)
  • A.W.51 (1943) — two-seat tailless glider, a scaled-down model of A.W.50; became A.W.52G (also trainer project???) (not built)
  • A.W.52G (1945) — wooden flying-wing glider (begun in 1943) (1 built)
  • A.W.52 (1947) — all-metal turbojet-powered flying-wing aircraft - E.9/44 (2 built)
  • A.W.53 (1943) — twin-engined fast torpedo scout (bomber?) project - S.6/43 (not built)
  • A.W.54 (1943) — naval reconnaissance aircraft? (redesign of A.W.53) - S.11/43 (not built)
  • A.W.54A (1943) — recce bomber with two Metropolitan-Vickers F.3 turbojets (not built)
  • A.W.55 Apollo* (1947-49) — small, medium-range pressurized airliner, 4 A.S. Mamba (* Achilles / Avon considered) - C.16/46, Brabazon II (2 built)
  • A.W.56 (1947) — flying wing medium bomber project - B.35/46 (OR.229) (not built)
  • A.W.57 (1948) — medium-range 4-engine passenger transport, an enlarged development of A.W.55; 4 Bristol Centaurus 57 engines - C.2/47 (not built)
  • A.W.58 (1949) — advanced 59° swept wing Mach 1.2 research aircraft project; two ordered, later cancelled - E.16/49 (OR.282) (not built)
  • A.W.59 (1951) — variable wing-sweep research aircraft proposal - ER.110D (or ER.110T?) (not built)
  • A.W.60 — variant of the Meteor (see further below)
  • A.W.61 — variant of the Meteor (see further below)
  • A.W.62 — variant of the Meteor (see further below)
  • A.W.63 — variant of the Meteor (see further below)
  • A.W.64 — variant of the Meteor (see further below)
  • A.W.65 Freightliner (1955-56) — multi-purpose medium sized transport with bi-tail; civilian variant, resulted in Argosy - OR.323 (not built)
  • A.W.66 (1955-56) — multi-purpose medium sized transport with bi-tail; military variant - OR.323 (not built)

A few unbuilt projects didn't get an A.W. designation for unknown reasons:

  • (1930) — single-engine fleet fighter specification - 21/26?, F.20/27
  • ( nd ) — four-engined high wing monoplane project, a scaled down A.W.XV with four A. Siddeley Genet Major engines*
  • (1933) — three-seat development of Atlas, project only
  • (1935) — twin-engined fighter project developed from A.W.34 with two 450 hp A.S. Terrier engines - F.9/35 (1 ordered, later cancelled)
  • (1937) — twin-engined pusher monoplane Turret Fighter project competing with the Bristol Beaufighter - F.11/37 (OR.50)
  • (1940) — light four-seat high-speed day bomber project - B.7/40 (OR.84)
  • (1941) — four-engined long range bomber derivative of A.W.38
  • ( nd ) — high speed, high altitude unarmed bomber project - B.11/41 (OR.110)
  • ( nd ) — four-engined tailless long range civil transport - C.5/44
  • ( nd ) — six-engined tailless (flying wing) long range civil transport design (seen in advertisements, maybe just notional)
  • ( nd ) — short range civil transport (Brabazon Type VA) - 18/44
  • ( nd ) — long range civil transport (Brabazon Type IIIA) - 6/45

Armstrong Whitworth becomes part of the Hawker Siddeley group. For some reason, projects from that point onwards take on an extra figure and become three-digit:

  • A.W.165 (1952) — all-weather interceptor project powered by two Sapphire Sa.7 engines
  • A.W.166 (1953) — high-speed research aircraft project with two jets in wing-mounted pods; also two-seater fighter derivative project - ER.134T
  • A.W.167 (1953) — five engined airliner and transport aircraft project with 5 Bristol Sapphire engines
  • A.W.168 (1953) — twin-jet project in competition with the Buccaneer - M.148T (NA.39)
  • A.W.169 (1955) — twin-jet supersonic all-weather interceptor project - F.155T (OR.329)
  • A.W.170 (1955) — preliminary layout for a transport aircraft
  • A.W.171 (1956) — single-seat supersonic VTOL flying wing project with two main engines and 10 smaller ones for lift - ER.161T ( A )
  • A.W.172 (1956) — single-seat narrow-delta type “B” research aircraft project with Gyron Junior engine - ER.161T ( B )
  • A.W.173 ( nd ) — target aircraft project
  • A.W.174 (1956) — low-wing transatlantic and Commonwealth swept-wing airliner project
  • A.W.175 (1957) — four-engine short/medium jet airliner project to BEA short-/medium-range requirements with 4 Bristol Siddeley BE47C engines
  • A.W.176 (1958) — medium-range VTOL airliner project for BEA

Finally comes the last episode in Armstrong Whitworth's history, the 600-series, consisting mostly of the Argosy transport (initially to be called "Freightliner"). Each new type gets a block of 10 numbers:

  • A.W.650 Argosy (1959) — high-wing four-engined general-purpose transport aircraft (17 built)
  • A.W.651 Argosy (1959) — freighter variant with two Rolls-Royce Tyne propeller-turbines (not built)
  • A.W.660 Argosy C.1 (1959-61) — military transport/cargo aircraft - C.195 (OR.344, originally OR.323?)
  • A.W.660 Argosy E.1 (1971) — some remaining C.1 aircraft modified as flight inspection aircraft - C.195 (OR.344)
  • A.W.660 Argosy T.2 (1959-61) — several aircraft produced as navigation trainers
  • A.W.670 Argosy (1959-61) — car-ferry version; offered but never built
  • A.W.671 (1959) — short-haul freighter aircraft, an Argosy redesigned to carry 126 passenger (not built)
  • A.W.680 (1963) — STOL military transport project with propeller-turbines - OR.351 (not built)
  • A.W.681 (1963-65) — long-range STOL project with 4 Rolls-Royce RB.142 Medway engines — C.225 (ASR.351)
    also known as the "Whitworth Gloster 681" or the H.S.681, was to be called the Aldershot if produced (not built)
  • A.W.682 (1963) — civil freighter aircraft project, an enlarged derivative of the A.W.681 (not built)
  • A.W.690 (1964) — VTOL development conversion of Nord Noratlas transport by the addition of lift engines (not built)

Other aircraft are associated with Armstrong Whitworth are the ones the company sub-contracted for Gloster and Hawker.


AVRO X
---------
Contracted construction of Avro Type 618 to Spec. 2/32 (needs to be confiirmed).

HART
------
Seven successive production orders starting in 1932 for the Hawker Hart in day bomber, communications and trainer variants for a total of 456 aircraft.

LANCASTER
-------------
contracted production of the Lancaster B.I, B.1B(FE), B.II and B.III variants for a total of 1238 aircraft.

LINCOLN
----------
contracted production amounting to 281 aircraft.

METEOR

-----------
sub-contracted production from Gloster of the Meteor F.4 and contracted production of the Meteor F.8.

Armstrong Whitworth was later contracted to develop a special test version, and then to develop/produce all night fighter variants of the Meteor; much later they also modified remaining NF.11 airframes to TT.20 (target towing version) standard. The designations A.W.60 to A.W.64 applied to the A.W. Meteors, but in some unknown order:

  • "Prone-Pilot Meteor"
  • Meteor NF.11 — a two-seat twin-engined night/all weather fighter specifically developed by A.W.A. (Spec. F.24/48)
  • Meteor NF.12
  • Meteor NF.13
  • Meteor NF.14
  • Meteor TT.20
SEA HAWK
---------------
Although a Hawker design, Armstrong Whitworth becomes the sole developer/producer of most of the aircraft:

  • Sea Hawk Mk.1
  • Sea Hawk Mk.2
  • Sea Hawk Mk.3
  • Sea Hawk Mk.4
  • Sea Hawk FB.5
  • Sea Hawk FGA.6
HUNTER
-----------
For this Hawker design, Armstrong Whitworth does only contracted production and no specific developments:
  • Hunter F.2
  • Hunter F.5
  • Hunter F.6 / F.6A
JAVELIN
----------
For this Gloster design, Armstrong Whitworth does only contracted production and no specific developments:
  • Javelin F(AW).4
  • Javelin F(AW).5
  • Javelin F(AW).7
 
The Ara was built in 1918 and was designed by Fred Murphy, it was another victim of the A.B.C. Dragonfly radial.
Two airframes were completed of the three ordered. The Ara was the last A-W aircraft built at Gosforth.

I note that you don't include the other A-W airships in your type list.
 
A.W.16 --> A.W.XVI
A.W.17 Single-seat fighter monoplane with two RR pusher engine. Type number subsequently re-allocated to Aries biplane
A.W.18 Heavy bomber monoplane with four AS Panther engines. Project only
A.W.20 Day bomber monoplane with two RR F.XI pusher engines. Project only
A.W.21 Single-seat day and night fighter monoplane with corrugate wing skin and one AS Panther or Hyena engine. Project only
A.W.22 Fast-climbing monoplane with AS Tiger engine. Project only
A.W.24 Day bomber monoplane with two AS Panther engines. Project only
A.W.25 Bomber monoplane based on A.W.XV Atalanta with four AS Jaguar engines. Project only
A.W.26 Bomber similar to A.W.25 but with AS Panther engines. Project only
A.W.28 Single-seat fighter biplane with AS Hyena engine. Based on an enlarged A.W.XVI. Project only
A.W.30 Twin-engined bomber monoplane based on A.W.23 Bomber Transport but with more slender fuselage. Project only
A.W.31 Single-seat fighter biplane with AS Tiger engine. Similar to A.W.XVI but with equal-span wings. Project only
A.W.32 Braced monoplane two-seater with AS Tiger engine. Project only
A.W.33 Two-seat fighter monoplane with two AS Double Genet Major engines. Designed for a twin-engined turret fighter. Project
only

A
 
A.W.36 Army co-operation biplane with AS Tiger or Panther engine. Based on Atlas Mk.II with new body fairing and wheel spats. Project only
A.W.37 Two-seat general-purpose biplane with AS Panther or Hyena engine. Project only
A.W.40 Monoplane mail carrier with two AS Serval engines. Based on A.W.34. Project only
A.W.42 Four-engined night heavy bomber. Project only
A.W.43 Monoplane airliner with four engines to British Airways specification. Project only
A.W.44 Bomber; modification of A.W.41 with four Bristol Hercules engines. Project only
A.W.45 Medium bomber monoplane with two RR Merlin engines. Project only
A.W.50 Tailless monoplane with four Metropolitan-Vickers F.3 turbojets. Project only
A.W.51 Tailless glider; scaled-down model of A.W.50. Project only
 
A.W.166 High-speed research aircraft to Specification ER.134T. Project only
A.W.170 Preliminary layout for a transport aircraft. Project only
A.W.172 Narrow-delta aircraft type “B” to Specification ER.161T. Project only
A.W.173 Target aircraft. Project only
A.W.176 Medium-range VTOL airliner for BEA. Project only

-----

A.W.651 Freighter aircraft; the Argosy with two RR Tyne propeller-turbines. project only
A.W.671 Short-haul freighter aircraft; the Argosy redesigned to carry 126 passenger. Project only
A.W.680 STOL military transport with propeller-turbines. Project only
A.W.682 Civil freighter aircraft. Project only
A.W.690 VTOL development aircraft; conversion of Nord Noratlas transport by the addition of lift engines. Project only


all informations from Putnam
 
Thank you so much AM for filling the gaps! I do not have the Putnam book and I guess this was the best place to go to for that matter... while my list was probably close to the best you can get WITHOUT Putnam!

As for numerals being written in Roman or Arabic characters, it seems like both were variously used at the time for aircraft types, engine types and so forth. Most of the early (read pre-1920) aircraft appear in Roman, but sometimes they don't. Most of the time it varies according to the source. I remember for instance the selfsame 1929 issue of Flight presenting the Avro V and Avro X aircraft in the article, but the Avro 5 and Avro 10 in advertisement form. So even if A.W.XVI has never been found as A.W.16, and you're certainly right in saying so, I wouldn't be too staunch about preserving that writing myself... Because then what do we do with the Starling and Atalanta, for example, which appear variously as A.W.14 and A.W.15 or A.W.XIV and A.W.XV? Engines, however, seem to have kept the Roman numerals for much longer though and the use of these seems much more widespread and systematic.

One thing that I'm careful about, however, is the almost systematic use of the "full stop" sign (Americans say "period") to separate letters from numbers in British and many other European aircraft designations of the time (as opposed to the Northern American practice of the hyphen). "AW-14" and "AW-15" are simply NOT correct in that respect.
 
Hi,

AW.46 was a four-engines scaled-up version of the AW.45 as heavy bomber
AW.47 was a bomber project to Spec. B3/40
AW.175 short/medium jet airliner project,powered by four Bristol Siddeley
BE47C engines
And here is some specifications to the aircraft;
AW.21 for F7/30
AW.24 for B9/32
AW.33 for F22/33
AW.42 for B12/36
AW.48 for B1/39
 
Thanks AM and hesham for your contributions.

So now, apart from the mystery of the early F.M. and A.W. designations up to A.W.13, the list is almost complete... Only A.W.57 and A.W.60 to A.W.64 are still missing... Perhaps inhouse designations for Meteors, Hunters or Sea Hawks?
 
hi

A.W.19 = G.4/31
A.W.41 Albemarle = P.9/38 (prototype only) & B.18/38 (serial production)
A.W.44 = B.1/39

from Putnam
 
hi all

AW designations
http://britishaviation-ptp.com/id119.html
 
Hello all,

recently a friend off me found at a Wadden Isle in the Netherlands pieces of different aircraft. Halifax parts were found, but also a piece what looks like a section of an air intake of a jet aircraft. All the parts are marked with a part number and controller stamps. The markings are AW96G and AW89G last one 80% sure.

Can anyone confirm that this must be:
-a piece of an Armstrong Whtiley aircraft
-a licence built one
-a component that AW built for another aircraft factory.

And if someone knows were AW96G belongs to, I would be very pleased to know.

Menno
 
Still at a loss for the A.W. designations between A.W. II and A.W. XIII.

If we consider that "XIII" could have been skipped (as was common practice with other manufacturers) then Armstrong-Whitworth did exactly 12 types before the A.W. XIV Starling:

1. Awana
2. Wolf
3. Siskin III
4. Siskin IV
5. Siskin V
6. Ape
7. Atlas I
8. Atlas II
9. Argosy I
10. Argosy II
11. Ajax I
12. Ajax II

Order is approximate. Only the designation "A.W. I" has been actually quoted for the Awana. For the rest we can only speculate.
 
Hi,


in a French magazine,I found this; AW.12 and AW.13 were a light bombers,
but I don't remember it now or its name.
 
Some additions:

A.W.57 - A four engined passenger transport similar in appearance to the A.W.55 Apollo, but larger. 4 x Bristol Centaurus 57 engines. Length 99 feet (side view drawing in the book as well).

Armstrong-Whitworth Initial Projects

A.W.P2 - VTOL Study
A.W.P8 - VTOL Study from December 1957 for BEA. 52 seat passenger transport powered by 4 x Bristol Orpheus BOr12 engines.
A.W.P13 - M-Wing supersonic transport to carry 100 passengers at Mach 1.2.
A.W.P14 - A supersonic transport with swept back highly tapered wing and a high tailplane.
A.W.P18 - VTOL 40 seat transport with a straight wing.
A.W.P20 - Similar to P18 VTOL airliner but with different wing and 12 RB147 fan lift engines.
A.W.P22 - M-Wing supersonic transport to carry 126 passengers at Mach 1.2.
A.W.P23 - Car ferry design.

Source: Stuck on the Drawing Board (Richard Payne) Tempus, 2006 ISBN 0752431722
 

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Concerning the F.K. designations, I found this great page in Dutch by Herman Dekker. I'm offering a loose translation of it (and hope that lark of other Flemish-speakers will correct any mistake I might have made):

As a designer and builder of aircraft, Frederick Koolhoven has almost always operated in the shadow of Fokker in the Netherlands. The reason for this is not clear. On his designs may have still not located, which were generally not inferior to those of its competitors. Of course sometimes there was a lower quality to his designs, but it also happened with his competitors. Perhaps Fokker had a better understanding of public relations. Or maybe the Netherlands felt more sympathy at that time for the "German" products of Fokker compared to those of the recent English expatriate Koolhoven. Whatever the reason, one fact remains: the most produced airplane ever designed by a Dutchman was Frits Koolhoven's F.K.8!

The following list is compiled on the basis of a relatively large number of sources. As a starting point, I (obviously) took the Koolhoven table from Dirk Top's wonderful book (highly recommended!). Also a comment needs to be made concerning the type references. The F.K.-type designations were assigned only retroactively in 1926, by Koolhoven himself and have proved rather inconsistent from a historical and chronological viewpoint, and I will show it hereafter (again under the authority of Dirk Top — that book is definitely must reading!). For example the case of the F.K.6 remains unsolved. It is extremely unclear why Koolhoven thus designated the Deperdussin Seagull when evidence later showed up for a possible allocation of that number to an Armstrong Whitworth aircraft (later labeled F.K.12 by Koolhoven).
For this reason, the first twenty-one F.K. type designations should be used with caution!

It appears therefore that F.K. designations existed under Armstrong Whitworth to designate Koolhoven's products (just like F.M. designations indicated Fred Murphy designs) but these were not equivalent to those that Frits Koolhoven applied in retrospect to his past designs. The confusion arises from the fact that many authors and researchers get the two mixed up, especially since a handful of designations seem to be the same.

So, bearing in mind Dekker's warning that these designations ought to be "used with caution", I've updated the list of Armstrong Whitworth F.K. types as follows (sub-contracts and special test aircraft are not detailed here):
  • F.K.1 Sissit (1914) - small biplane scout and fighter prototype with 50 hp Gnôme engine (1 built)
  • F.K.2 (1915) - tandem-seat biplane fighter with 70 hp Renault engine (2 built)
  • F.K.3 "Little Ack" (1915) - tandem-seat biplane fighter developed from F.K.2 with 90 hp RAF 1a (343 built)
  • F.K.4 (1915) - gondolas for SS.40-49 airships developed from F.K.3 fuselage, with 100 hp Green (probably 20 built as spares required)
    NOTE: these were preceded by a gondola for SS.27 (also from an F.K.3 fuselage) but with a Renault engine (was it also F.K.4?)
    and even before that a 1914 gondola for non-rigid naval airship HMA No.2 "Willows IV" (although Koolhoven involvement here is unsure)
  • F.K.5 Gunship (1915) - three seat, single-engined escort fighter triplane gunship prototype with 250 hp R-R (Eagle) (1 built)
  • F.K.6 (1916) - multi-seat escort fighter triplane and Zeppelin destroyer prototype with 250 hp R-R (Eagle) (1 built)
  • F.K.7 (1916) - developmental scout airplane with 160 hp Beardmore engine (production transferred to F.K.8) (1 built)
  • F.K.8 "Big Ack" (1917) - scout and bomber biplane to replace the B.E.2c, 160 hp Beardmore engine (1700 built)
  • F.K.9 (1916) - quadruplane fighter prototypes with 110 hp Clerget engine (2 built)
  • F.K.10 (1916) - improved version of F.K.9 with 130 hp Clerget engine (8 built)
  • F.K.11 (1916) - fifteen-wing design, planned engine unknown (not built)
  • F.K.12 (1917) - wrongly allocated to the F.K.6 (because of the 1926 list), this remains a mystery, but given the chronology it could have been allocated to an improved FK.8 with modified cooling system, undercarriage and exhaust manifolds with 160 hp Beardmore engine (1 built)
  • F.K.13 (1917) - known as the Fleet Fighter Reconnaissance Biplane, a version of F.K.8 completed March 1917 but not accepted, with a 200 hp Sunbeam engine (designation confusing because of the mix-up between the two systems — adding to the confusion was the reuse of the N513 serial number from an F.K.10 that was cancelled!)
There is no indication of further numbers in the inhouse A.W. system. However, the 1926 system contains designations of Koolhoven projects done under A.W. which conveniently carry on from there...
  • F.K.14 (nd) - described by Koolhoven as an A.W. fighter design (not built)
  • F.K.15 (nd) - described by Koolhoven as an airship gondola design for the Beta II (strange as this airship was built in 1912)
  • F.K.16 (nd) - described by Koolhoven as an airship gondola design for North Sea airships based on the F.K.3 fuselage
  • F.K.17 (nd) - described by Koolhoven as an airship gondola design for North Sea airships based on the F.K.3 fuselage
  • F.K.18 (nd) - described by Koolhoven as a twin-engined flying boat project and precursor of the F.K.22; described elsewhere as a fighter project
  • F.K.19 (nd) - described as an unbuilt aircraft; also found as a light air-cooled engine (unlikely if designed by Koolhoven)
 

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Hi all !!!

A.W.27 = Ensign Mk.I & Mk.II
A.W.27A = Rail Launch Scheme

Regards
 
AM said:
A.W.27 = Ensign Mk.I & Mk.II
A.W.27A = Rail Launch Scheme

This was posted here before already, AM.
I discarded this one long ago as pertaining to a completely different system.

1°) Why have a system in a list normally entirely devoted to aircraft designs? Wouldn't make sense, especially when some real aircraft designs that didn't proceed did not even receive a number.
2°) Why reuse the "27" slot of the Ensign? And even duplicate the "27A" off the "Ensign II"? The list shows that Arsmtrong Whitworth usually kept a certain number for a certain type and most of its variants. Why change this in only this case? Doesn't make sense.
3°) AW X, AW 12 and AW 13 have been found as an axial-flow engine and two turret for the Whitley, respectively; I'm willing to believe that these did not fit in the regular list and duplicate existing numbers but were part of a separate numbering system used for various systems.
 
Re: Frederick Koolhoven Designs:

WWI Aero magazine No.123 (Feb 1989) has an illustrated chronological list of A.W. Koolhoven designs which starts at the Armstrong-Whitworth F.K.1 design and ends with the F.K.28 (B.A.T. design).

Some earlier British Deperdussin Syndicate FK designations are also covered in the 6 page item. The Deperdussin designations first used F.K.1 to F.K.7 before being the designations were reused in A.W. designs.
 
Cy-27 said:
WWI Aero magazine No.123 (Feb 1989) has an illustrated chronological list of A.W. Koolhoven designs which starts at the Armstrong-Whitworth F.K.1 design and ends with the F.K.28 (B.A.T. design).
Some earlier British Deperdussin Syndicate FK designations are also covered in the 6 page item. The Deperdussin designations first used F.K.1 to F.K.7 before being the designations were reused in A.W. designs.

I would be curious to see this article. I didn't quote here the pre-Armstrong Whitworth F.K." designations assigned to Deperdussin types because this was kind of off-topic here.
 
Stargazer2006 said:
Thanks AM and hesham for your contributions.

So now, apart from the mystery of the early F.M. and A.W. designations up to A.W.13, the list is almost complete... Only A.W.57 and A.W.60 to A.W.64 are still missing... Perhaps inhouse designations for Meteors, Hunters or Sea Hawks?

AW.57 was a 4 engined 32 passenger airliner to meet Specification C.2/47, per Air Enthusiast Quarterly 43 article by Ray Williams. From the same source, AW.60 through 64 were unbuilt Meteor projects, not the original Gloster designs as built by AW.
 
Stargazer2006 said:
AM said:
A.W.27 = Ensign Mk.I & Mk.II
A.W.27A = Rail Launch Scheme

This was posted here before already, AM.
I discarded this one long ago as pertaining to a completely different system.

1°) Why have a system in a list normally entirely devoted to aircraft designs? Wouldn't make sense, especially when some real aircraft designs that didn't proceed did not even receive a number.
2°) Why reuse the "27" slot of the Ensign? And even duplicate the "27A" off the "Ensign II"? The list shows that Arsmtrong Whitworth usually kept a certain number for a certain type and most of its variants. Why change this in only this case? Doesn't make sense.
3°) AW X, AW 12 and AW 13 have been found as an axial-flow engine and two turret for the Whitley, respectively; I'm willing to believe that these did not fit in the regular list and duplicate existing numbers but were part of a separate numbering system used for various systems.

The A.W.27A designation comes from British Aircraft Specifications File, K.J. Meekcoms and E.B. Morgan (Air-Britain Publications, 1994). One may speculate that it was a launch system study to enable the Ensign to take off at above MTOW. I have never seen evidence to link the A.W.27A designation to the Ensign II.

With regard to the AW X designation, are you possibly mixing this up with the Armstrong Siddeley ASX axial-flow turbojet?

I have never seen designations for Armstrong Whitworth designed turrets, but they most certainly must have had some form of numbering. What is your source for the AW12 and AW13 turret designations?

On the subject of AW numbering systems, however, they did seem to have a completely different Type Number series running parallel to the AW series. In his article on the Whitley in Aeroplane Monthly May 1912, Martyn Chorlton gives the following:
Type 188 - Whitley Prototypes (& Mk.I?)
Type 197 - Whitley Mk.II
Type 201 - one-off higher AUW Whitley Mk.I
Type 205 - Whitley Mk.III
Type 206 - Whitley MkIV
Type 210 - Whitley Mk.IVA
Type 207 - Whitley Mk.V
Type 217 - Whitley Mk.VII


In the short lived 21st Profile No.1 magazine, an article on the Albemarle gives the following:
Type 208 - Albemarle 1st prototype
Type 211 - Albemarle 2nd prototype
Type 212 - Albemarle Mk.I Srs.1
Type 213 - Albemarle - experimental machine with two Wright Cyclones
Type 217 - Albemarle Mk.I Srs.1
Type 218 - Albemarle Mk.I Srs.3, experimental long travel undercarriage.
Type 219 - Albemarle Mk.I Srs.1 converted to glider tug; also aircraft supplied to Russia
Type 221 - Albemarle ST.II
Type 222 - Albemarle Mk.IV
Type 223 - Albemarle ST.V
Type 225 - Albemarle ST.IV Srs.1
Type 226 - Albemarle ST.IV Srs.2

(Note the duplication of Type 217)

Where does this system come from? It would be really good to find more of this.
 
Yes Ursrius,


and I have some of old type numbers,allocated to early AW designs.
 
Hesham, please post what you may have (preferably quoting a source reference)

BTW, the date for the article in Aeroplane Monthly I gave should obviously have been May 2012!
 
Hi Ursrius,


I have some of them not all,and they are in a seperated magazines,it'll take some time
to collect them.
 
I found the attached picture in J.F. Coplin's VTOL Aircraft, a 1967 publication.
It s stated on page 21/22 that: 'One of the first jet lift VTOL transport aircraft that could easily have been built was the Hawker Siddeley VTOL conversion. It was suggested that the four Rolls Royce Dart engines could be replaced by two Rolls Royce Tyne engines of twice the power. This would have left room on the wings for two pods of lift jets or lift fans. One version had 40 lift jets and another version had 22 lift fans."

My question: was this a real project and, if so, what was the AW number. Or was it just some fantasising by the author or somebody else.
 

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Looks like a Avro 764, a VTOL version of the AW.650. The maritime version of the AW.650 is examined in Nimrod's Genesis.

Chris
 
I've found an interesting list of names proposed for the AW.660 Argosy in a document written by DCAS in May 1960.
The policy was to name transports for a city or town in the Commonwealth and that it should be alliterative with the manufacturer's name.

The suggestions were; Abingdon, Achates, Achilles, Aeolus, Aldershot, Andover, Apollo, Arethusa, Argo, Arnhem, Arundel, Atlanta, Atlas, Automedon, Aylesbury, Ayrshire, Coventrian and Coventry.

Many of these obviously had previous AW connections but the majority were classical in origin.
DCAS felt the best choices were Abingdon (an RAF Transport Command airfield), Aldershot (a garrison town), Arnhem (outside the Commonwealth but commemorating the battle and the role airborne transport played) and Coventry (city with close connections with AW).
Coventry was Armstrong Whitworth's favoured name and the MoA were willing to accept it, therefore DCAS backed the suggestion. Evidently someone must have insisted on an alliterative name even though the town/city convention was abandoned!
 
Thanks for the info.

"Aldershot" was the (apparently) unofficial name of the AW.681 (later Hawker Siddeley's Whitworth Gloster 681 / HS. 681).
 
ursrius said:
On the subject of AW numbering systems, however, they did seem to have a completely different Type Number series running parallel to the AW series. In his article on the Whitley in Aeroplane Monthly May 1912, Martyn Chorlton gives the following:
Type 188 - Whitley Prototypes (& Mk.I?)
Type 197 - Whitley Mk.II
Type 201 - one-off higher AUW Whitley Mk.I
Type 205 - Whitley Mk.III
Type 206 - Whitley MkIV
Type 210 - Whitley Mk.IVA
Type 207 - Whitley Mk.V
Type 217 - Whitley Mk.VII

Hi all

from Profile No.139

Type 188 - Whitley prototype to B.3/34 (K4586)
Type 193 - Whitley Mk.I
Type 194 - Whitley prototype to 21/35 (K4587)
Type 209 - Whitley Mk.III (K9016)
 
Its a small point but the date of the change from the 'named' projects to the A.W. series coincides with major changes at corporate level; the purchase of the parent Armstrong-Whitworth company to Vickers and the reorganisation of the aircraft and engine divisions, which were not included as part of this deal, by John Siddeley.
 
Concerning the aircooled engine (F.K.19??), this was build.
Dont forget Mr. Koolhoven came from the car world.
Before he became interrested in aviation her worked for the Minerva factory in Antwerp, for which he was also, what is called now, factory driver. He was number 3 in Coupe d'Ardens.
When I have to believe the small drawing published during his Dutch period, it was a V-8 aircooled engine, just like RAF engines, but with more HP.
Mr. Jaap Tuyt, who worked with Koolhoven until May 1940, told that the engine made at least one run.
Its possible that it was not prommissing or that they stopped because at that time the first ABC Wasp showed very good results.
 
From the same source;

the Armstrong Whitworth AW P series.
 

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Hesham, the guy who owns that website is a member here and has posted on this thread. Better if he posts the information
 
Schneiderman, Thanks. I have no problem with Hesham having posted a screenshot here, but of course (blatant plug!) best going to the source, http://www.britishaviation-ptp.com/, especially as this is totally open to all to view. The hope is to eventually create a full database of all this designation and production data, but it's going to a long haul. Besides, it's summer and I'm enjoying that too!
 
Schneiderman said:
Hesham, the guy who owns that website is a member here and has posted on this thread. Better if he posts the information

OK Schneiderman,I just want the members know this series,I will mention the
source.

http://www.britishaviation-ptp.com/aw.html
 
A.W.17 (1) (1931) — single-seat monoplane fighter project with two Rolls-Royce pusher engines (not built)
A.W.17 Aries (2) (1930) — two-seat army co-operation biplane; improved Atlas I with easier access for maintenance,
increased dimensions, one 460 hp A.S. Panther IV - 20/25 (1 built)

Am I the only one to spot the apparnt contradiction in the above entries. the designation AW.17's second use is the year before the first.
 
No you're not the only one.
AW seem to have set out to rationalise their numbering system sometime around 1930. Not only do the AW numbers appear to start with 14 but their drawings initially use a mix of Roman and normal numerals. For example the Atalanta drawings are mainly titled XV but some documents say 15. I have not seen the drawing of the Aries (flown May 1930) but apparently this says 17 while the twin engine monoplane fighter project (dated Aug 1931) is definitely XVII. So maybe just the result of confusion in the drawing office.
 

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