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Although intended for carrying passengers and mail on the Empire routes, this use of the Ensigns was marred by the war which broke out when 11 aircraft had been delivered.
After seeing varied service, most of the fleet were employed in a ferrying role in the Near East and later still on the Cairo to Calcutta route.
Two aircraft were captured by the Germans and five destroyed through enemy action, leaving seven aeroplanes to be disposed of at the end of the war. Most of these had logged between 3000 & 4000 hrs. It was finally decided that refurbishing would be too costly, so they were broken up.
It may be of interest to know that the price of the prototype was £70,000 (Design £27,000 & make £43,200) and for production £37,000 each.
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Power Plant:
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Armstrong Siddeley Tiger IX air cooled radial engines of 850 h.p.
These were replaced by 4 Wright Cyclone radial air cooled engines of 950 h.p.
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Dimensions:
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Span: 123 ft.
Length: 114 ft.
Height: 23 ft.
Wing Area: 2,450 sq. ft.
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Weight:
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36,585 lb. Empty
12,000 lb. Payload & Crew
55,500 lb. A.U.W.
All with Tiger engines.
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Performance:
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Max. Speed at 7,000ft. 210 mph
Rate of Climb at Sea Level 900 ft. / min.
Service Ceiling 24,000 ft.
Normal Range in Still Air 1,370 miles.
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Accommodation:
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Crew of 5.
40 seated passengers, or
20 passengers by night with sleeping accommodation.
Promenade Deck in the Empire Class layout.
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Registrations:
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G-ADSR, G-ADSW, G-ADTA, G-ADSS, G-ADSX, G-ADTB, G-ADST, G-ADSY,
G-ADTC, G-ADSU, G-ADSZ, G-AFZU, G-ADSV & G-AFZV.
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