Airspeed Consul
AS.65 Consul | |
---|---|
Airspeed Consul G-AIDX of Esso Petroleum at Manchester in 1954 | |
Role | Utility transport |
Manufacturer | Airspeed Limited
|
First flight | 1946 |
Status | Out of production, out of service |
Primary users | Union of Burma Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force |
Number built | 162[1][2] |
Developed from | Airspeed Oxford |
The Airspeed Consul is a twin-engined light transport aircraft and affordable
Early on in the conflict, Airspeed's management recognised that the vast numbers of Oxfords then in military service would need a new purpose as an inevitable consequence of demobilisation greatly reducing military demand for the type. Upon the war's end, the company acquired numerous Oxfords from the British government and begun converting the type for the needs of civilian customers. The first aircraft, G-AGVY, was certified for operations in March 1946; a further 50 aircraft would be converted over the following months.
The Consul was developed into various models, each being typically suited for a particular role, such as an
Development
Background
During the first half of the 1930s, the British aircraft manufacturer
As early as 1940, Airspeed's management were considering the future
The conversion process commenced immediately upon acquisition, with the first aircraft, G-AGVY, being certified for operations in March 1946 and sold to a private operator shortly thereafter.[5] Due to it being a relatively straightforward conversion of an existing aircraft with only minor modifications being made, securing civil airworthiness certification was both quick and easy. The type was assigned the name Consul.[6] In addition to targeting airlines, Airspeed believed there was a viable market for the type amongst private owner-pilots, as there had been for such aircraft during the interwar period. Furthermore, there was an intention focus on marketing the aircraft towards business purposes, a direction which aviation author H. A. Taylor observed to be a particularly innovative approach for the era.[6]
Launch
From 1946, 162 Oxfords
The Consul was a relatively affordable endeavour as surplus Oxfords were both common and inexpensive to acquire.[1] It proved to be superficially attractive as a small twin-engine airliner, and Airspeed promptly offered a conversion kit for this specific purpose. In a charter configuration, the Consul's cabin would be typically outfitted with five seats, although the addition of a sixth seat was possible.[7] The cabin furnishings consisted of detachable carpets, leather upholstery, and fabric trimmings of various colours. In the cockpit, the radio operator would be seated alongside the pilot in the former instructor's position.[8]
Multiple variants of the Consul were developed by Airspeed, often to suit particular niche roles of the market.
Operational history
The Consul saw service with numerous small scheduled and charter airlines as feeder liners in Great Britain, and also Belgium, Iceland, Ireland, Malta,
Various owners emerged for individual aircraft.[12] A number were acquired for training purposes. Several Consuls were operated as executive transports by a number of large industrial companies.[13]
However, the aircraft's wooden construction, heavy wartime use, somewhat tricky handling and small capacity typically counted against their long term use. Many of the 'civil' conversions were bought by military users; and the Consul served as a VIP transport with the air forces of Britain, Canada and New Zealand, all of whom already operated Oxfords. During 1949, the Israeli Air Force purchased a number of civil Consuls and re-converted them to military trainers. They were used by 141 Squadron until 1957, a year after the Oxford was retired by the Royal Air Force.
By 1960, there were at least nine Consuls known to be in operation worldwide.[7] According to Taylor, it had a relatively good safety record, although the loss of five of the first ten Consuls was particularly unfortunant. Furthermore, the aircraft is believed to be Airspeed's only civil transport to achieve financial success.[14]
While several Oxfords survive, the Consul has not been so fortunate. G-AIKR, a former children's playground attraction, is owned by the
Operators
Civil operators
- The aircraft was used by companies, individuals and air charter companies and the following:
- Union of Burma Airways – four aircraft delivered in 1947[15]
- Loftleidir – one aircraft delivered in January 1951, fatal crash in April 1951[15]
- Airways (India) – two aircraft delivered in 1947 [15]
- Aer Lingus – two aircraft delivered in 1947[15]
- Soc Transports Aerei Mediterranei (STAM) – three aircraft delivered 1955–56[15]
- Arab Airways Association – one aircraft loaned in 1951[15]
- Air Jordan – seven aircraft from 1950 to 1951[15]
- Malayan Airways – three aircraft delivered in 1947[15]
- East African Airways – one aircraft delivered in 1954[15]
- Commercial Air Services – one aircraft delivered in 1949.[15]
- Natal Airlines – four aircraft delivered in 1955.[15]
- Silver Flight – one aircraft delivered in 1947.[15]
- Iberia – three aircraft first delivery in 1952.[15]
- Aero Nord Sweden – one aircraft from Aeropropaganda in 1953.[15]
- Aeropropaganda – two aircraft delivered 1950–51.[15]
- Nordisk Air Transport – one aircraft delivered in 1951.[15]
- Transair Sweden – one aircraft from Nordisk Air Transport in 1951.[15]
- United Air Services – three aircraft delivered 1947–48.[15]
- Air Charter
- Air Enterprises – seven aircraft based at Croydon Airport.[16]
- Air Kruise[15]
- Airspan Travel
- Atlas Aviation – four aircraft based at Elstree.[16]
- Britavia[15]
- British Air Transport[15]
- British Aviation Services – four aircraft based at Blackbushe Airport.[16]
- British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC Training Flight)[15]
- British South American Airways[15]
- Cambrian Airways[15]
- Chartair[15]
- Guernsey Air Charter[15]
- Hornton Airways – three aircraft based at Gatwick Airport.[15][16]
- International Airways[15]
- Lancashire Aircraft Corporation[15]
- Mercury Air Services[15]
- Ministry of Civil Aviation Flying Unit for radio aids calibration, trials and pilot testing.[16]
- Alvis
- Morton Air Services[15]
- Northern Air Charter[15]
- Olley Air Services[15]
- Patrick Laing Air Services[15]
- Portsmouth Aviation[15]
- Pullman Airways[15]
- Silver City Airways[15]
- Scottish Aviation[15]
- Solar Air Services
- Southern Airways[15]
- Stiener Air Services – six aircraft based at Speke Airport[15][16]
- Transcontinental Air Services[15]
- Transair Ltd – five aircraft based at Croydon Airport.[15]
- Westminster Airways – seven aircraft based at Elstree.[15][16]
Military operators
- Argentine Air Force – ten aircraft delivered in 1947.[17][18]
- Force publique – six aircraft delivered in 1949.[18]
- Union of Burma Air Force – nine aircraft from 1949 to 1950.[18]
- Israeli Defence Force Air Force – eleven aircraft from 1949 to 1959.[18]
- Royal New Zealand Air Force – six conversions by De Havilland Aircraft of New Zealand in early 1950s.[19]
- Turkish Air Force – two VIP aircraft from 1946 used by the Transport Liaison Group.[18]
Accidents and incidents
- 29 April 1947 – G-AIOZ of Milburnair Limited crashed at Botley Hill, Limpsfield on approach to Croydon Airport, two killed.[citation needed]
- 27 February 1948 - G-AJGE, of Pullman Airways Limited, lost at sea in the Gulf of Sidra off North Africa during a charter flight from Nairobi to London. Five killed.
- 11 February 1949 – the first Consul conversion G-AGVY of Air Enterprises crashed at Jezzin, Lebanon while on charter to the United Nations, two onboard killed.[citation needed]
- 15 June 1950 – UB340 of the Union of Burma Air Force was on a demonstration flight when a rocket exploded under the wing killing the Burmese Chief of Air Staff.[citation needed]
- 12 April 1951 – TF-RPM of Flugferdir H/F crashed at Howden Moor, Yorkshire, England on a flight from Croydon to Iceland, three killed.
- 11 December 1951 – NZ1902 of the Royal New Zealand Air Force crashed on Mount Ruapehu.[citation needed]
- 14 June 1952 – G-AHFT of Morton Air Services ditched in the English Channel following an engine failure, six killed.[citation needed]
Specifications
Data from British Civil Aircraft since 1919,[20] Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1947[21]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Capacity: six passengers
- Length: 35 ft 4 in (10.77 m)
- Wingspan: 53 ft 4 in (16.26 m)
- Height: 10 ft 1.5 in (3.086 m)
- Wing area: 348 sq ft (32.3 m2)
- Empty weight: 6,047 lb (2,743 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 8,250 lb (3,742 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 156 imp gal (187 US gal; 709 L) in 4 wing tanks ; 17 imp gal (20 US gal; 77 L)
- Powerplant: 2 × Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah 10seven cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 395 hp (295 kW) each at 2,425 rpm at 4,300 ft (1,311 m), with 2.25 psi (15.51 kPa) boost
- Propellers: 2-bladed Fairey-Reedfixed-pitch metal propellers
Performance
- Maximum speed: 190 mph (310 km/h, 170 kn) at 4,800 ft (1,463 m)
- Cruise speed: 163 mph (262 km/h, 142 kn) maximum weak mixture
- Stall speed: 64 mph (103 km/h, 56 kn)
- Range: 900 mi (1,400 km, 780 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,800 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,070 ft/min (5.4 m/s) at sea level
- Time to altitude: 10,000 ft (3,048 m) in 10 minutes
- Wing loading: 23.1 lb/sq ft (113 kg/m2)
- Power/mass: 0.096 hp/lb (0.158 kW/kg)
- Fuel consumption: < 30 imp gal/h (36 gal/h; 136 L/h)
- Take-off distance to 66 ft (20 m): 1,725 ft (526 m) in 5 mph (4 kn; 8 km/h) wind
- Landing run: 825 ft (251 m)
Avionics
- Standard Telephones STR11/16
- or
- STR 9 radio
- Decca Navigator (optional)
See also
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
Notes
Citations
- ^ a b c d Stroud Aeroplane Monthly July 1995, p. 67.
- ^ a b Jackson 1974, p. 396.
- ^ Middleton Aeroplane Monthly June 1980, pp. 323–324.
- ^ Taylor 1970, p. 134.
- ^ a b Taylor 1970, pp. 134-135.
- ^ a b Taylor 1970, p. 135.
- ^ a b c d Taylor 1970, p. 137.
- ^ Taylor 1970, pp. 137-138.
- ^ a b Taylor 1970, p. 138.
- ^ Taylor 1970, pp. 138-139.
- ^ Taylor 1970, pp. 142-144.
- ^ Taylor 1970, pp. 144-145.
- ^ Taylor 1970, p. 144.
- ^ Taylor 1970, p. 139.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au Hamlin 2001, pp. 262–285
- ^ a b c d e f g h Jackson 1973, pp.30–33
- ^ Ay, Carlos (15 August 2013). "Catálogo Ilustrado de Aeronaves de la Fuerza Aérea Argentina". Gaceta Aeronautica (in Spanish). Retrieved 31 May 2014.
- ^ a b c d e Hamlin 2001, pp. 246–259.
- ^ Hamlin 2001, pp. 225–233
- ^ Jackson 1973, p. 33.
- ^ Bridgman, Leonard, ed. (1947). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1947 (35th ed.). London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. pp. 10c–11c.
Bibliography
- Aloni, Shlomo (March–April 2001). "Turtles and the Cheetahs". Air Enthusiast (92): 44–49. ISSN 0143-5450.
- Elliott, Bryn (January–February 1999). "On the Beat: The First 60 Years of Britain's Air Police". Air Enthusiast (79): 68–75. ISSN 0143-5450.
- Ford, Daniel (September–October 1996). "Oxford Graduate: Airspeed's Consul–New Life for the 'Oxbox'". Air Enthusiast (65): 58–63. ISSN 0143-5450.
- Hamlin, John F (2001). The Oxford, Consul & Envoy File. Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England: ISBN 0-85130-2890.
- Jackson, A. J. (1973). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.
- Middleton, Don (June 1980). "RAF Piston Trainers No. 9: Airspeed Oxford Part 2". Aeroplane Monthly. Vol. 8, no. 6. pp. 322–327.
- Stroud, John (July 1995). "Post War Propliners: Airspeed Consul". ISSN 0143-7240.
- Taylor, H. A (1970). Airspeed Aircraft since 1931. London: Putnam. ISBN 0370001109.