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Armstrong Whitworth A.W.27 Ensign

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For a description of the format and data included in Production Tables, see here.

Contents

Type Description
Production Details

Type Description

  • Ensign Mk.I
  • The Ensign was a high-wing cantilever monoplane of light alloy construction and an oval fuselage with a conventional tailplane. The wings featured a single box spar, which was stabilised by internal bracing tubes and attached directly to both the front and rear rib sections. While the forward section of the wing was covered by sheet metal, aft of the box spar, the wing was covered by fabric, as was the tailplane and fin. The fuselage featured semi-monocoque construction, using a combination of stressed skin, transverse frames, and longitudinal stringers. The top of the fuselage was recessed into the wing, while its floor was strengthened by numerous tubular girders.
    A hydraulically operated retractable undercarrage was fitted, which retracted into the nacelles of the inner engines. The wheels on the undercarriage were the largest to have been produced at that time. For the 'Western Type', intended for European routes, the aircraft typically operated by a crew of five: the two pilots, radio operator, steward, and flight clerk. The main cabin area was subdivided into four cabins with accommodation for 40 passengers. For the 'Eastern Type', the flight clerk was replaced by a second steward and the main cabin area was subdivided into three cabins accomodating 27 passengers by day, 20 by night in sleeping berths. The centre section would typically feature a large freight compartment, pantry, lavatory on the starboard side, and a narrow corridor sometimes referred to as a 'promenade' deck between the forward and rear compartments. Four 805 h.p. supercharged Armstrong Siddeley Tiger IXC powerplants.
  • Ensign Mk.II
  • As Mk.I with four 950 h.p. Wright GR-1820-G102A Cyclone powerplants with increased fuel and oil capacities, enabling an increase in range to 1,370 miles. The cockpit instrument panels were rebuilt to enable dual control.
Ensign Mk.I Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Range Service Ceiling
123 ft 111 ft 23 ft 2450 sq ft 32920 lb 48500 lb 170 mph/ 148 kn 200 mph/ 174 kn 860 mi 22000 ft
37.49 m 33.83 m 7.01 m 227.61 m2 14932 kg 21999 kg 274 km/h 322 km/h 1384 km 6706 m

Production Details

C/n Initial
Registration		 Type Notes
 12 aircraft ordered from Armstrong Whitworth and assembled at Air Service Training, Hamble. Delivered between October 1938 and October 1939
 1156  G-ADSR  Mk.I  To Imperial Airways as Ensign. Later converted to Mk.II (see note 1)
 1157  G-ADSS  Mk.I  To Imperial Airways as Egeria. Regd Nov 1937 to Indian Trans-Continental Airways Ltd, Karachi, as VT-AJE and named Ellora, but ntu.
 Later converted to Mk.II (see note 1).
 1158  G-ADST  Mk.I  To Imperial Airways as Elsinore. Later converted to Mk.II (see note 1)
 1159  G-ADSU  Mk.I  To Imperial Airways as Euterpe. Regd Nov 1937 to Indian Trans-Continental Airways Ltd, Karachi, as VT-AJF and named Everest, but ntu.
 Later converted to Mk.II (see note 1).
 1160  G-ADSV  Mk.I  To Imperial Airways as Explorer. Later converted to Mk.II (see note 1)
 1161  G-ADSW  Mk.I  To Imperial Airways as Eddystone. Later converted to Mk.II (see note 1)
 1162  G-ADSX  Mk.I  To Imperial Airways as Ettrick.
 1163  G-ADSY  Mk.I  To Imperial Airways as Empyrean. Later converted to Mk.II (see note 1)
 1164  G-ADSZ  Mk.I  To Imperial Airways as Elysian.
 1165  G-ADTA  Mk.I  To Imperial Airways as Euryalus. Regd Nov 1937 to Indian Trans-Continental Airways Ltd, Karachi, as VT-AJG and named Ernakulam,
 but ntu.
 1166  G-ADTB  Mk.I  To Imperial Airways as Echo. Later converted to Mk.II (see note 1)
 1167  G-ADTC  Mk.I  To Imperial Airways as Endymion. Regd Nov 1937 to Indian Trans-Continental Airways Ltd, Karachi, as VT-AJH and named Etah, but ntu.
 2 aircraft ordered from Armstrong Whitworth, Whitley. Delivered between June and October 1941
 1821  G-AFZU  Mk.II  Originally allocated G-ADTE. To Imperial Airways as Everest.
 1822  G-AFZV  Mk.II  Originally allocated G-ADTD To Imperial Airways as Enterprise. Recovered by French in French West Africa and used as F-BAHD.
Total Production  14

Production Summary

All Aircraft By Type
Type Built New Conv Canc'd Total
 Ensign Mk.I 12 12
 Ensign Mk.II 2 (8) 10
14 (8) 0

Notes

  1. The eight surviving Ensigns were modified to Mk.II standard by BOAC at RAF Bramcote, between October 1940 and early 1943.

Production References

  1. Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft Since 1913, Oliver Tapper (Putnam, 1973)
  2. https://dingeraviation.net//ensign/ensign.html

Page Revision History

Revised at Version 2.0.0
  • Improved Type Description and Added Specification details.
  • Proposed Indian Trans-Continental Airways names added.