Airspeed AS.39 Fleet Shadower
Airspeed Ltd. · United Kingdom · first flew 1940 · light aircraft
The Airspeed AS.39 Fleet Shadower was a British experimental naval aircraft of 1940, designed to loiter at very low speeds over enemy fleets at night to maintain contact and report their position to Royal Navy forces. Four small piston engines enabled the aircraft to fly at little more than stalling speed for extended periods.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 4 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 12.14 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Experimental British naval observation aircraft with four small engines for very slow flight
- High-mounted straight wing with prominent slats and flaps for near-stall loiter
- Designed to shadow enemy fleets at night without losing contact
An unusual high-wing aircraft with four small engines widely spaced along the wing, heavy high-lift devices for slow-speed flight, and a generally utilitarian appearance. The four-engine arrangement on what would otherwise be a medium-sized aircraft is the key identifier.
Specifications
- The Airspeed AS.39 Fleet Shadower has a length of 12.14 m (40 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.87 m (55 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 203 km/h (126 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed to Specification S.23/37 alongside a competing design by General Aircraft, the AS.39 was tested in 1940 but the concept of the fleet shadower was overtaken by advances in radar and carrier aviation. Neither competing design was ordered into production as the tactical requirement became obsolete.
Variants
A single prototype was built; no production followed.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service; prototype only, evaluated at Farnborough.
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