Aircraft Circulars No. 14: The Armstrong-Whitworth "Argosy"

This technical circular describes the Armstrong-Whitworth "Argosy," a three-engined commercial passenger aircraft. The Argosy accommodates 20 passengers and features three Siddeley Jaguar engines (1200 HP total)—one mounted in the nose and two on the wing nacelles. The biplane design spans 90 feet 7 inches with a rectangular steel-tube fuselage. The spacious passenger cabin, approximately 30 feet long, includes two rows of wicker armchairs, opening windows, electric lighting, and a lavatory. The aircraft weighs nearly 3 tons with 2 tons payload capacity and cruises at 90-95 mph with a 400-mile range. Notable performance includes takeoff after a 350-yard run and 3,000-foot altitude gain in five minutes. The document emphasizes innovative construction features, including welded-free joinery, ball-and-socket joints, cantilever engine mounting, spruce I-section wing spars, and hinged auxiliary fuselage struts. The Argosy was adopted by Imperial Airways and demonstrated excellent handling characteristics on two engines.