Armstrong Whitworth Argosy Cargo Aircraft

Did you know the Argosy was to be the last ever aircraft to be designed by aircraft manufacturer Armstrong Whitworth?

I think it’s quite sad that this is their last aircraft, as their Whitley bomber formed the backbone of the Royal Air Force’s bomber fleet at the beginning of the Second World War. Entering service the same year the Berlin Wall went-up in 1961, the Armstrong Whitworth Argosy was a rather large four engine transport aircraft that saw service with the Royal Air Force and British European Airways among other operators.

It was powered by four Rolls Royce Dart turboprop engines and operated as a transport and troop transport aircraft. The Argosy is distinguished by its high twin fuselage and twin vertical stabilisers, held together by a large elevator, similar in design to the P38 Lightning twin engine fighter of World War Two. In its military use, the aircraft was used to gradually replace the then ageing Vickers Valetta and Handley Page Hastings transport aircraft and was also modified to enable the egress of paratroopers. The military version had nearly twice the range of the civilian Series 100. The civilian airliner variant of the type could carry an impressive 80 passengers in relative comfort.

Early-on in the aircraft’s development, to try and save on design costs, the wing of the Argosy was based around that of the Avro Shackleton. The Argosy had a unique flight deck, as it was set above the freight or passenger area, in order to provide for more internal space. Placing the flight deck in this configuration gave the aircraft a cargo space of 3 metres by 14.3 metres. The Argosy had a payload of approximately 12,700 kg, a max take-off weight of 39,000 kg and a range of 1,780 miles.