Armstrong Whitworth Awana

Armstrong Whitworth Awana

Company type	Prototype military transport aircraft
Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1923
Headquarters	United Kingdom
Products	Military transport aircraft

Design and development

The Armstrong Whitworth Awana emerged as a response to the Air Ministry Specification 5/20, which called for a twin-engine Troop Carrying Aeroplane capable of transporting 25 fully equipped soldiers over a distance of 400 miles. The aircraft was required to operate from uneven terrain, feature folding wings, and maintain flight on a single engine.

At the time, it ranked among the largest landplanes, presenting as a substantial twin-engine biplane with four bays and staggered wings. Its fuselage had a boxy configuration, complemented by a biplane tail assembly with three rudders. The pilot and navigator occupied open cockpits positioned above the nose, while the troop compartment accommodated 25 personnel seated in two rows of bus-style seats separated by a central aisle, accessed via a hatch in the floor. Constructed using mixed materials, the fuselage consisted of a tubular steel frame, whereas the wings were wooden with robust hinges enabling wing folding for storage purposes. The Napier Lion engines were mounted on tubular steel supports situated between the wings and enclosed within streamlined cowlings equipped with retractable radiators beneath. Fuel was stored in three cylindrical main tanks suspended below the floor inside an aluminium fairing, supplying fuel through wind-driven pumps to header tanks located under the upper wing.

The Air Ministry placed an order for two prototypes on 27 June 1921. The first prototype, bearing serial number J6897, took its maiden flight on 28 June 1923. During evaluation at Martlesham Heath, it was found that landing control was inadequate and the overall structure lacked sufficient rigidity. Although improvements were made in the second prototype to address these issues, ultimately the Vickers Victoria was chosen for production instead.

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