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| Argosy (transport aircraft) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Armstrong Whitworth Argosy |
| Caption | Avro 748 derivative Argosy of Royal Air Force at RAF Lyneham |
| Type | Military transport aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Armstrong Whitworth / Hawker Siddeley |
| First flight | 1959 |
| Introduced | 1961 |
| Retired | 1974 (RAF) |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 56 |
Argosy (transport aircraft) was a British four-engined turboprop transport designed and produced by Armstrong Whitworth and later built by Hawker Siddeley. It served with Royal Air Force and several civilian operators during the Cold War, performing tactical airlift, freight, and specialised logistical roles. The Argosy combined rear-loading capability with short-field performance and was contemporaneous with types such as the Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Fairchild C-123 Provider, and Transall C-160.
Development traces to post‑World War II programmes at Avro and Armstrong Whitworth aimed at replacing piston transports like the Douglas C-47 Skytrain and Handley Page Hastings. The design emerged under the Hawker Siddeley group after industrial consolidation that included English Electric and de Havilland, responding to requirements from Royal Air Force and commercial freight markets influenced by the Berlin Airlift legacy. Preliminary work began in the mid‑1950s with the first prototype flying in 1959, entering service in 1961 following flight trials that addressed handling issues noted during evaluations at establishments such as Royal Aircraft Establishment.
The Argosy was a high‑wing, rectangular‑fuselage transport with a rear clamshell and side‑opening doors to expedite loading of pallets, vehicles, and outsized cargo—features paralleling contemporary designs like the Antonov An-12. Powered by four Rolls-Royce Dart turboprops, its structure emphasised low stalling speeds for operations from austere airfields similar to those used by RAF Transport Command and NATO tactical units. The aircraft incorporated tricycle landing gear, a reinforced floor for heavy cargo, and a flight deck layout influenced by British practice of the era, including crew positions familiar to pilots trained on types such as the Avro Shackleton and Handley Page Victor.
The Argosy entered RAF service with squadrons based at stations including RAF Lyneham and RAF Brize Norton, conducting tactical transport, airlift to overseas garrisons, and support for operations linked to crises like the Brunei Revolt and other Cold War commitments. Civilian operators included freight carriers serving routes to hubs such as Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport, and leasing companies that deployed the type across Europe, Africa, and Asia. The type's rear‑loading capability made it valuable in humanitarian relief missions and commercial logistics chains involving palletised freight typical of operators like BI and charter firms engaged with oil industry logistics to locales such as Aberdeen and Basra.
- AW.660: Original military production standard adopted by Royal Air Force with cargo ramp and military avionics; comparable roles to the Douglas C-124 Globemaster II in tactical lift. - AW.660A: Civil cargo variant fitted for civil certification and freighter operations, marketed to freight airlines operating from London Stansted and Manchester Airport. - Civil conversions: Multiple airframes converted for specialised roles including VIP transport and freight combinations used by independent carriers tied to contractors operating for organizations like United Nations missions.
- Royal Air Force — primary military operator with several transport squadrons until retirement in the 1970s. - Civil operators — assorted British and international freight airlines and leasing companies serving European and international routes; notable operators based at hubs such as Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport, and Frankfurt Airport. - Government and charter users — ad hoc employment by ministries and international agencies including deployments supporting operations connected to North Atlantic Treaty Organization logistics.
Throughout its service life the Argosy experienced several accidents typical of tactical transports operating from challenging environments. Incidents involved hard landings, structural damage during heavy loading operations, and occasional hull losses during non-combat missions; inquiries were conducted by authorities such as the Air Accident Investigation Branch and military boards similar to those used by Ministry of Defence aviation units. Causes ranged from pilot error and adverse weather near airfields like RAF Lyneham to maintenance and operational pressures in austere overseas locations.
- Crew: Flight crew plus loadmasters - Capacity: Palletised freight, vehicles, or personnel contingent on configuration similar to contemporary transport standards - Powerplant: 4 × Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines - Role: Tactical and strategic airlift, freight, VIP conversion options - Comparable aircraft: Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Transall C-160, Antonov An-12
Category:1950s British military transport aircraft Category:Four-engined tractor aircraft