Armstrong Whitworth Ara Aircraft

Production Details

Design Company:

Sir W.G. Armstrong Whitworth & Co Ltd

First Flight:

December 1918

Ara:

2 - Armstrong Whitworth, Gosforth

Type Specification

Applies to:

Armstrong Whitworth Ara

Type:

Single seat fighter biplane

Wing:

Two bay biplane. Upper wing attached to top of fuselage by four struts, lower wing directly to bottom of fuselage. Lower wing is narrower than top and all wings have slight dihedral. Cutouts in trailing edges around cockpit. Ailerons on all wings.

Fuselage:

Deep fuselage of slad sided design, with curved top decking, tapering to rear

Tail Unit:

Wire braced tailplane mounted at mid height on fuselage together with elevators. Small fin mounted above fuselage with balanced rudder

Landing Gear:

Undercarriage of cross axle type carried on forward and rear struts. Forward struts attached to fuselage aft of engine. Rear struts attached to fuselage lower longerons

Power Plant:

One 320 hp A.B.C. Dragonfly 9 cylinder air cooled radial engine

Accommodation:

Pilot seated in cockpit just ahead of the trailing edge of the upper wing.

Armament:

Not known

Span:

27 ft 5 in

Length:

20 ft 3 in

Height:

7 ft 10 in

Wing Area:

257 sq ft

Empty:

1,320 lb

Max:

1,930 lb

Max Speed:

150 mph at sea level

Climb:

4.5 min to 10,000 ft

Service Ceiling:

28,000 ft

Endurance:

3.25 hr

Preserved in British Museums

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