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Airspeed AS-57
Ambassador |
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Aircaft in Detail |
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Development |
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Entwicklung |
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The Airspeed AS.57
Ambassador is a twin piston-engined airliner that was designed and
produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Airspeed Ltd. It was one
of the first postwar airliners to be produced.
The Ambassador was developed in response to a requirement identified by
the Brabazon Committee for a twin-engined short-to-medium-haul airliner
as a replacement for the Douglas DC-3. Airspeed assembled a design team
in 1943, which initially worked on a smaller proposal powered by Bristol
Hercules radial engines; this was quickly superseded by a larger
capacity design aimed at better fulfilling the expansion in postwar
civil air travel.
On 10 July 1947, the first prototype Ambassador conducted its maiden
flight; a total of three prototypes would be built. Early on, British
European Airways (BEA) emerged as an key customer for the type, having
placed a £3 million order for 20 aircraft in September 1948. The type
was quickly outperformed by the turboprop-powered Vickers Viscount, with
BEA opting to withdraw its Ambassadors in 1958. |
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Die Airspeed AS.57 Ambassador
ist ein Flugzeug mit Doppelkolbenmotor, das vom britischen
Flugzeughersteller Airspeed Ltd. entwickelt und hergestellt wurde. Es war
eines der ersten Flugzeuge der Nachkriegszeit, die hergestellt wurden.
die Ambassador wurde als Reaktion auf eine vom Brabazon-Komitee festgelegte
Anforderung an ein zweimotoriges Kurz- bis Mittelstreckenflugzeug als Ersatz
für das Douglas DC-3 entwickelt. Airspeed stellte 1943 ein Designteam
zusammen, das zunächst an einem kleineren Vorschlag arbeitete, der von
Bristol Hercules-Sternmotoren angetrieben wurde. Dies wurde schnell durch
ein größeres Design
abgelöst, das darauf abzielte, die Ausweitung des zivilen Flugverkehrs der
Nachkriegszeit besser zu erfüllen.
Am 10. Juli 1947 führte der erste Prototyp der Ambassador seinen
Jungfernflug durch. Insgesamt wurden drei Prototypen gebaut. Schon früh war
British European Airways (BEA) ein wichtiger Kunde für diesen
Typ, nachdem im September 1948 20 Flugzeuge im Wert von 3 Mio. GBP bestellt
worden waren. Der Typ wurde vom Vickers Viscount mit Turboprop-Antrieb
schnell übertroffen, und BEA entschied sich 1958 für die ausser
Dienststellung der Ambassador. |
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Variants |
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Versionen |
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AS.57
Ambassador 1 |
Prototype aircraft with
Bristol Centaurus 130 engines, two built. |
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AS.57
Ambassador 1 |
Prototyp eines Flugzeugs
mit Bristol Centaurus 130-Triebwerken, zwei gebaut. |
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AS.57 Ambassador 2 |
Production version with
Bristol Centaurus 661 engines, 21 built including the production
prototype. |
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AS.57 Ambassador 2 |
Serienversion mit Bristol
Centaurus 661 Motoren, 21 davon inklusive Serienprototyp. |
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Airlines |
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Specifications |
AS.57 Ambassador
2 |
Wingspan |
Spannweite |
35,05 m |
Length |
Länge |
25,05 m |
Height |
Höhe |
5,60 m |
Wing
area |
Flügelfläche |
110.00 m2 |
Engine |
Motor |
2 × Bristol Centaurus 661
18-cylinder air-cooled piston engines, 2,625 hp each |
Maximum
speed |
Höchstgeschwindigkeit |
502 km/h |
Empty
weight |
Leergewicht |
16,277 kg |
Loaded
weight |
Startgewicht |
23,587 kg |
Climb
Rate |
Steigrate |
7.7 m/s |
Service
ceiling |
Gipfelhöhe |
7.600 m |
Range |
Reichweite |
1,160 km |
Capacity |
Zuladung |
Crew 3, 60 passengers |
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Operator |
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Betreiber |
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Autair International Airways |
3 Aircraft |
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BKS Air Transport |
3 Aircraft |
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British European Airways |
20 Aircraft |
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AUS |
Butler Air Transport |
3 Aircraft |
- |
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Dan-Air |
7 Aircraft |
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Decca Navigator Company |
1 Aircraft |
- |
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Globe Air |
3 Aircraft |
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Shell Aviation Limited |
2 Aircraft |
- |
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NZ |
South Seas Airways* |
0 Aircraft |
- |
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Moroccan Royal Flight |
1 Aircraft |
1989
- 1994 |
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Royal Jordanian Air Force |
3 Aircraft |
1959
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*
bought one aircraft
but failed to gain an operators licence; the aircraft was not delivered to
New Zealand. |
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Producionlist |
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Produktionsliste |
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Mishaps |
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Zwischenfälle |
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8. April 1955
British European Airways
G-AMAB (Sir Francis Bacon) No.1 engine went into reverse whilst in the
climb. The pilots turned back to the airport in an attempt to land,
however they were forced to go around due to weather, during which the
aircraft stalled and crashed into a field. All 47 passengers and 6 crew
survived. |
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6. February 1958
British European Airways
G-ALZU (Lord Burghley) crashed on takeoff after a refuelling stop at
Munich while operating a charter flight from Belgrade, Yugoslavia, to
Manchester, England. Of the 44 people on the plane, 21 died in the crash
and 2 died later, including eight Manchester United players. |
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14. April 1966
Dan-Air G-ALZX was damaged beyond repair when its undercarriage
collapsed on landing at Beauvais, France. |
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14. September 1967
Autair G-ALZS was damaged beyond repair on landing at Luton
Airport, UK. The aircraft overran the runway and ended up in soft clay. |
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3. July 1968
BKS Air Transport G-AMAD crashed at London Heathrow Airport. All but two
of its crew as well as several horses which were being transported and
their grooms, were killed. A parked Trident airliner was damaged beyond
repair (G-ARPT) and another Trident had its tail torn off before the
airliner hit terminal buildings and came to rest. The accident was
caused by a failed flap actuating rod in the left wing. |
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30. September 1968
Dan-Air G-AMAG was damaged beyond repair in a wheels-up landing at
Manston, UK |
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Text: |
Michael E. Fader |
Drawings: |
Michael E. Fader |
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