Airspeed Oxford: Διαφορά μεταξύ των αναθεωρήσεων
→Variants: tweak |
→Design and development: add a bit of design |
||
| Γραμμή 22: | Γραμμή 22: | ||
==Design and development== |
==Design and development== |
||
The Oxford, built to [[List Of Air Ministry Specifications|Specification T.23/36]], was based on [[Airspeed Ltd|Airspeed's]] commercial 8-seater craft, the [[Airspeed Envoy|Airspeed AS.6 Envoy]]. Seven of these had been modified for the [[South African Air Force]] as the "Convertible Envoy", which could be equipped at short notice with a single machine-gun in a hand-operated [[Armstrong Whitworth]] dorsal turret and bomb racks. |
The Oxford, built to [[List Of Air Ministry Specifications|Specification T.23/36]], was based on [[Airspeed Ltd|Airspeed's]] commercial 8-seater craft, the [[Airspeed Envoy|Airspeed AS.6 Envoy]]. Seven of these had been modified for the [[South African Air Force]] as the "Convertible Envoy", which could be equipped at short notice with a single machine-gun in a hand-operated [[Armstrong Whitworth]] dorsal turret and bomb racks. |
||
The Oxford is low-wing cantilever monoplane with a semi-monocoque constructed fuselage and wooden tail unit. It had landing gear that is retractable into the engine nacelles and a tail-wheel. |
|||
==Operational history== |
==Operational history== |
||
Έκδοση από την 19:23, 18 Νοεμβρίου 2007
Πρότυπο:Infobox Aircraft The Airspeed AS.10 Oxford was a twin-engine aircraft used for training British Commonwealth aircrews in navigation, radio-operating, bombing and gunnery during the Second World War.
Design and development
The Oxford, built to Specification T.23/36, was based on Airspeed's commercial 8-seater craft, the Airspeed AS.6 Envoy. Seven of these had been modified for the South African Air Force as the "Convertible Envoy", which could be equipped at short notice with a single machine-gun in a hand-operated Armstrong Whitworth dorsal turret and bomb racks.
The Oxford is low-wing cantilever monoplane with a semi-monocoque constructed fuselage and wooden tail unit. It had landing gear that is retractable into the engine nacelles and a tail-wheel.
Operational history
The Oxford was used to prepare complete aircrews for RAF's Bomber Command and as such could simultaneously train pilots, navigators, bomb aimers, gunners, or radio operators on the same flight. Demand for the aircraft resulted in 8,751 being built by Airspeed as well as de Havilland, Percival Aircraft Company and Standard Motors. In addition to training duties, Oxfords were used in communications and anti-submarine roles and as ambulances in the Middle East.
The Oxford was the preferred trainer for the Empire Air Training Scheme (EATS) and British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) which sent thousands of potential aircrew to Canada for training. Some Oxfords were used as Light bombers in Iraq.
In 1941, the aviatrix Amy Johnson went missing in an Airspeed Oxford, presumably crashing into the Thames estuary.
After the war, 152 surplus Oxfords were converted to become small 6-seat commercial airliners called the AS.65 Consul. A small number of Oxfords were acquired by the Hellenic Air Force and used during the Greek Civil War by No. 355 Squadron RHAF.
An interesting fact about the Oxford is that, although it was equipped with fixed-pitch Fairey-Reed propellers, the cockpit contained a propeller pitch lever which had to be moved from "Coarse" to "Fine" for landing. This was done to reinforce this important step for training pilots. Curiously for a twin-engine aircraft, the Oxford had a tendency to yaw which was nearly impossible to correct by trimming the aircraft. Landings could be tricky with a tendency to perform a ground loop (Gunston 1995).
Variants
- Oxford I
- To produce the Oxford I for the Royal Air Force, Airspeed increased the wingspan, modified the nose and employed fully-cowled Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX radial engines with 355 hp (265 kW). The first Mark I flew on 19 June, 1937 and entered service with the Central Flying School in November of that year. By the start of the war, about 300 Mk I Oxfords were in service with the RAF, while a number were also being used by the Royal New Zealand Air Force to train pilots for the RAF.
- Oxford II
- The prevalence of powered turrets by the start of the war meant the Oxford's role as a gunnery trainer lapsed. The Oxford II, 70 of which were in service by the start of the war, dispensed with the turret and were used primarily as radio and navigation trainers.
- Oxford III
- Powered by two Cheetah XV engines with 425 hp (315 kW) and Rotol constant-speed propellers, used for navigation and radio training.
- Oxford IV
- Flying test-bed for de Havilland Gipsy Queen IV engines.
- Oxford V
- The final variant, upgraded to Pratt & Whitney R-985 radial engines with 450 hp (335 kW) and Hamilton-Standard variable pitch propellers. Many Mark I and II Oxfords were upgraded to the Mark V standard.
- Oxford T.II
- Only 9 of these were built, 8 of them being conversions of Mk Is.
- AS.41 Oxford
- Used by Miles Aircraft as a Flying test-bed for Alvis Leonides engine, one conversion.
- Consul
- After the end of WWII, 150 aircraft already in production were completed as civilian transports; this type was known as the Airspeed Consul.
Operators
.svg){kind=small}
Specifications (Mk I)
Πρότυπο:Aircraft specifications
References
- Bridgman, Leonard (1998). Jane's fighting aircraft of World War II. New York : Military Press. ISBN 0-517-67964-7.
- Flintham, V. (1990). Air Wars and Aircraft: a detailed record of air combat, 1945 to the present. London : Arms and Armour. ISBN 0-85368-779-X.
- Gunston, B. (1995). Classic World War II Aircraft Cutaways. London : Osprey. ISBN 1-85532-526-8.