Is There An Armstrong Whitworth Archive??

Recent publication

Haven’t got this myself, but could be of interest is this title:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Brabazon-Committee-Airliners-1945-1960/dp/0752443747

Looks like it may offer some insights.

Regards

Pagen 01, Have spent a long time looking through the Flight Archive and have found some excellent articles on the Apollo. However, they all seem to cover the period 1948-1950 and seem very positive about this aircraft. Have not found much comparing it to the competition or anthing that gives a clear indication of it’s cancellation. Will keep looking though!!

Both the Apollo and the Viscount were designed initially to seat around 30 and have similar dimensions and weights. For some reason the Viscount was stretched and re-engined with the DART (over the Mamba) where the Apollo was not. This took place in discussion with the MOS in 1948, yet the Apollo was still recieving Favourable reports in the press some 2 years later. The use of the Dart on the Viscount 630 seems to have been key to its growth and survival, would be interesting to see if the Dart was considered for the Apollo at any point as nothing seems to have been mentioned in the press??

Will try to visit the Midland Air Museum over the next few weeks to see if they can help.

The majority of the very early A-W records were lost during the Coventry blitz which is why its hard to get any firm confirmation of the F.K. allocations built at Dukes Moor, Gosforth & Town Moor, Newcastle. As others have said, the MAM is probably a good staring point for more recent types. I assume you’ve got the Putnam “bible” Armstrong-Whitworth Aircraft since 1913 by Oliver Tapper.

Interested in any data on the Apollo and how it compared, on paper at least, to the Viscount prototype?

Have you thoroughly trawelled the Flight archive (Flightglobal)? I seem to remember seeing lots of info there including comparison with early Viscount.
Lovely looking aircraft IMO.

Why not give the Midland Air Museum a call (phone number on their website)?

I can’t honestly answer your query, as I have no idea of the extent of the AWA documentation held there, but the many artefacts on display including the aforementioned models are a treasure trove alone! 😉

In 1996 I went through a lot of the AW681 archive in connection with a piece of work on FLA (now A400M);- Military unique stuff e.g. Tail door operating/pressurisation systems, kneeling systems/soft soil etc. Most material was located at BAe Farnborough. From memory there was quite a bit available, with the most interesting and informative section being the chief engineers, A Troughton, project files (30+ file binders). I remember even finding photos of the first finished machined components, wing stringers. Also it was very interesting reading, in particularly the change of tone in the memo’s towards the end of the project.

I hope this information is still there.

From memory we also located AW681 material in the Midlands Air Museum, Coventry library and Hendon. Further material was rumoured to be at BAe Chadderton, but we never found that;- Chadderton was a black hole for much interesting/valuable historical material.

Hi Barnstormer, I believe the props were De Havilland (Flight International 15th Sep 1949). Have Pm’d you!

For some reason, the Curtiss Wright Corporation kept a file on the Armstrong Whitworth 55 Apollo with four Mamba engines. Possibly, they may have been using Curtiss electric props. I cannot remember the connection, but they usally kept files on any aircraft using Curtiss Wright engines or propellers or major components. I have five Original 8 x 10 photos from 1949 and one Original large 8 x 10 black & white negative. There are closeups of the engines, props, nacelles and a couple of excellent detail shots of the interior. including a great instrument panel photo where you can read every number on every dial. also some shots of the complete aircraft on the ground and in the air. Contact me with your regular email, if interested in the originals or high-res-scans.

Seem to remember that the Midland Air Museum had some great models of aircraft designed for OR351, but it was a long time ago that I visited! Don’t remember if they had anything on the Apollo though??

Interested in any data on the Apollo and how it compared, on paper at least, to the Viscount prototype?

I don’t believe there is a single repository for AWA :(. Some went to Woodford on closure, mainly that relating to the Argosy I understand. Some was skipped and retreived into private hands 😮
I know the Midland Air Museum has some material, but as to what I’m none too sure.
Sadly the saving of historic material was not uppermost in peoples minds back in 1965, and even today it can be hit and miss !