Armstrong Whitworth A.W.52
Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft · United Kingdom · first flew 1947 · light aircraft
The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.52 was a British twin-jet tailless flying-wing research aircraft first flown in 1947, designed to investigate the aerodynamic properties of flying-wing layouts as a potential basis for future laminar-flow airliners. It was a bold and technically ambitious postwar research programme.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbojet, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | British tailless flying-wing jet research aircraft with swept wing and no fuselage |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- British tailless flying-wing jet research aircraft with swept wing and no fuselage
- Two Rolls-Royce Nene turbojets buried in the wing
- One aircraft was the first in Britain to use an ejection seat in an emergency
A pure tailless flying wing — no distinct fuselage, no tail surfaces of any kind — with two jet engines embedded in the wing and a broad, moderately swept planform. Unmistakable.
Specifications
- The Armstrong Whitworth A.W.52 has a length of 11.4 m (37 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 27.4 m (90 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 805 km/h (500 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Two A.W.52s were built; the first was lost in 1949 when test pilot Jo Lancaster became the first person in Britain to save their life using an ejection seat in a genuine emergency. The second aircraft continued testing but the programme was eventually cancelled as the concept did not lead to a viable airliner. A smaller glider, the A.W.52G, had preceded the jets.
Variants
Two powered examples were built (one with Nene engines, one with Derwent engines); the A.W.52G was the unpowered glider predecessor.
Where you'll see it
Operated only as a research aircraft by Armstrong Whitworth and the RAF; never operational in any conventional sense. Of UK significance as the site of Britain's first emergency ejection.
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