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Armstrong Whitworth Ensign

1936 GOLDEN AGE WORLD WAR 2

History of Armstrong Whitworth Ensign

The impressive Armstrong Whitworth Ensign AW. The Series 27 was originally developed in response to a 1934 British government request for airmail services to facilitate improved methods of communication with all locations in the British Empire. Armstrong Whitworth's design was accepted and development continued, although the pace was interrupted by the changing requirements of Imperial. Combined with early engine reliability issues, the Ensign seemed destined to fail.

Instead, the system is considered a successful design and will be used in commercial and military endeavors for many years to come due to its excellent design.

The design of the Ensign is characterized by its smooth lines and high wing components. The cockpit is straight forward with a good view of the wings, which are located aft of the central cockpit of the fuselage.

Oval windows dot the sides of the fuselage, while the bottom of the fuselage hangs down from the nose to the tip of the tail. The main landing gear was mounted at the root of the wing and consisted of large doughnut wheels, consistent with the design of large aircraft at the time. The four engines are placed in pairs on the leading edge of the wing and form a nice contour with the wing panel. The rear wing has a traditional layout with a rounded rear wing.

The crew is accommodated for five people, including the pilot, co-pilot, radio operator and - if required - a cabin steward for the two passenger flights. The number of passenger seats drops to a total of 27 to 40 people, depending on the desired range.

AW. There are two main variants of the 27, each categorized by engine brand. aw. The 27 Mk I was seen with four Armstrong Siddeley Tiger IXC radial piston engines, while the AW. The 27 Mk II was equipped with four Wright Cyclone GR-1820-G102A radial piston engines.

In addition, the two models are basically similar in design, layout and operation.

AW. The 27 series served in the RAF during World War II and in single captures in Vichy France and later the Luftwaffe. In the RAF, the second lieutenant served with the 24th Squadron.