Armstrong Whitworth AW.15 Atalanta 1932

Description

Soon after World War 1, the next few years were to see a remarkable transformation, and one of the first of this new generation of British airliners was the Armstrong Whitworth AW15 Atalanta. Ordered by Imperial Airways for its services in South Africa and between Karachi and Singapore, the AW15 (or AWXV) was developed in response to a requirement calling for the ability to carry a 3000 lb (1361 kg) payload, maintain 9000 ft (2745 m) with one of its four engines stopped, and cruise at 115 mph (185 km/h). An obvious necessity with these routes was an ability to use small airfields at high altitudes in hot countries, and a range of 400-600 miles (644-966 km) was needed. Only nine passengers and a crew of three were stipulated, a considerable amount of payload space being allocated to mail. Later in its career, seating accommodation of the AW15 was raised to 17 passengers. The first Atalanta (G-ABPI) flew on 6th June 1932, and appeared at the first SBAC Display at Hendon on 27th June, going to Martlesham Heath for tests on 11th July and receiving its certificate of airworthiness in August. The remarkable speed with which this was achieved reflects the soundness of the basic design, and all eight Atalantas for Imperial Airways had been certificated by April 1933. The first service was flown from Croydon, to Brussels and Cologne, on 26th September 1932, and other routes followed. G-ABPI was severely damaged in a forced landing at Coventry on 20th October 1932, while in the <b>...</b>

Keywords

Armstrong, Whitworth, AW.15, Atalanta, Imperial, Airways, Croydon, aviation, history, airline

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