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Armstrong Whitworth Ara

Military Aircraft

The Armstrong Whitworth Ara was a British single-seat biplane fighter of the First World War, designed by the firm's chief designer Fred Murphy to meet the Air Ministry's Type 1 specification of early 1918 for a replacement for the Sopwith Snipe. The specification named the new ABC Dragonfly radial engine, and three prototypes were ordered. The Ara was a two-bay biplane with a square-section fuselage, a pointed cowling that left the cylinder heads exposed, and a low upper wing to give the pilot a better view upwards. The Dragonfly proved hopelessly unreliable and was the undoing of the Ara, as it was of the other fighters built to the same specification. Two of the three prototypes were completed, the first flying in mid-1919, and the type was abandoned late that year when Armstrong Whitworth closed its aircraft department.

Facts
Year
1919 1
Engine Class
Piston 1
Status
Abandoned 1
Top Speed (km/h)
241 2
Mass (kg)
599 2
Maximum Mass (kg)
875 1
Engine
ABC Dragonfly I 1
Comparison
Body Style
Aircraft (no road body style) 1
Connections

Exemplifies

Aviation, Modes
Source Armstrong Whitworth Ara (Wikipedia)

Of Make

Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, Networks and Operators
Source Armstrong Whitworth Ara (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Manufactured By

Armstrong Whitworth

Also in Business Atlas: the manufacturer of this subject.

Source Armstrong Whitworth Ara (Wikipedia)Lead, builder
Quote, Lead, builder
was an unsuccessful British single-seat biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War built by Armstrong Whitworth

Originated In

United Kingdom

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Source Armstrong Whitworth Ara (Wikipedia)Lead, origin
Quote, Lead, origin
was an unsuccessful British single-seat biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War built by Armstrong Whitworth
Sources
1. Armstrong Whitworth Ara (Wikipedia)
  • Lead, builder
    was an unsuccessful British single-seat biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War built by Armstrong Whitworth
  • Lead, origin
    was an unsuccessful British single-seat biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War built by Armstrong Whitworth
  • Design and development, first flight
    Two of the three prototypes were completed, the first flying in mid-1919.
  • Design and development, outcome
    The Ara was abandoned towards the end of the year
  • Lead, type
    was an unsuccessful British single-seat biplane fighter aircraft
  • Specifications, powerplant
    Powerplant: 1 × ABC Dragonfly I nine-cylinder radial engine, 320 hp (240 kW)
  • Specifications, engine type
    Powerplant: 1 × ABC Dragonfly I nine-cylinder radial engine, 320 hp (240 kW)
  • Specifications, gross weight
    Gross weight: 1,930 lb (875 kg)
  • Of Make: Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft, Lead, maker
    was an unsuccessful British single-seat biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War built by Armstrong Whitworth
  • Exemplifies: Aviation, Lead, aircraft type
    was an unsuccessful British single-seat biplane fighter aircraft of the First World War built by Armstrong Whitworth
View the Source
2. Aviastar: Armstrong Whitworth Ara
Aviastar
  • Specification, performance
    Max. speed 241 km/h 150 mph
  • Specification, weights
    Empty weight 599 kg 1321 lb
View the Source
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