Home > Armstrong Whitworth AW.660 Argosy

Designed as a replacement for the Vickers Valetta , the Argosy first flew in March 1961. It was the military counterpart to the AW.650 civil transport which had flown 27 months previously.

The Argosy had four Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.8 Mk101 1,998kW (2,680shp) engines driving Rotol four-blade propellers, upward/downward opening 'crocodile doors' for straight-in loading and air drops. Its strong tricycle landing gear allowed take-off and landing on rough or unprepared airstrips.

Production of the Argosy for the RAF totalled 56 aircraft which served in six squadrons; three in the UK and one each in Aden, Cyprus & the Far East. The Argosy was withdrawn from service in 1975 as an economic measure.

1 Specifications (Argosy C Mk.1)

1.1 General Characteristics

• Crew: four
• Capacity: up to 69 troops or 28,930 lb (13,150 kg) of cargo
• Length: 45 ft 3 in (27.18 m)
• Wingspan: 115 ft 0 in (35.05 m)
• Height: ft in ( m)
• Wing area: 1,458 ft² (135 m²)
• Empty: 10,200 lb (4,627 kg)
• Loaded: lb ( kg)
• Maximum takeoff: 102,784 lb (46,720 kg)
• Powerplant: 4x Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.8 Mk 101, 2,440 hp (1,820 kW) each

1.2 Performance

• Maximum speed: 269 mph (431 km/h)
• Range: 3,269 miles (5,230 km)
• Service ceiling: 18,040 ft (5,500 m)
• Rate of climb: ft/min ( m/min)
• Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)
• Power/Mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)

2 Related content

Related development:

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence:

AW.66