Armstrong Whitworth A.W.14 Starling
Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1927 · fighter
The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.14 Starling was a prototype British single-seat biplane fighter of the late 1920s. It competed unsuccessfully against the Bristol Bulldog.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.67 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-bay sesquiplane with the lower wing much smaller than the upper
- Staggered wings with ailerons on the upper wings only
- Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar radial engine
It has a fuselage built of bolted steel tube and wings using the symmetrical RAF 30 aerofoil. The armament was two synchronised .303 in Vickers machine guns.
Specifications
- The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.14 Starling has a length of 7.67 m (25 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.55 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 257 km/h (160 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was the sole contender for Specification 28/24, a single-seat day and night fighter to replace the Siskin. The first prototype flew on 12 May 1927.
Variants
The Starling I was the first prototype with a Jaguar engine, later a 460 hp Jaguar V. The Starling II of 1930 was extensively redesigned with a 525 hp Panther II and first flew on 5 December 1929.
Where you'll see it
The first prototype failed to exceed 160 mph against a requirement of 180 mph and was rejected by the RAF, which chose the Bristol Bulldog. Two were built.
Related aircraft
- Armstrong Whitworth Siskin IIIA
- Armstrong Whitworth A.W.16
- Armstrong Whitworth Atalanta
- Armstrong Whitworth A.W.23
- Arado SD I
- Avia BH-33
- Avro 584 Avocet
- Blackburn Turcock
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