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Britain's Airspeed Oxford ("Ox-box") trainer1
Airspeed Oxford Mk I trainer:
Design
The Airspeed Oxford was based on the pre World War II Envoy transport.1
The Oxford was made out of wood.1
Gunnery Training
There was an Armstrong Whitworth dorsal turret, in some models, for air gunnery training.1
Prototype
The prototype was first flown on June 19, 1937.1
Production
Total Oxfords produced 8,586 from 1937 to July 1945.1
Airspeed, de Havilland, Percival, and Standard Motors constructed the Airspeed Oxfords.1
Variants
- Oxford Mk I: Bombing and gunnery training with dorsal turret.1
- Oxford Mk II: Navigation and radio trainer.1
- Oxford Mk III: Navigation and radio trainer.1 Had constant speed propellars.1
- Oxford Mk IV: Used as a test vehicle for the de Havilland Gipsy Queen engine.1
- Oxford Mk V: Navigation, pilot, and radio trainer.1 Had constant speed propellars.1 Primarily used in Canada and Southern Rhodesia.1
Usage
The Royal Air Force Central Flying School first received the Oxfords in November 1937.1
Important Trainer
Aircrews were trained in twin engined flying, bombing, gunnery, radio, and navigation.1
Used by Countries
The Airspeed Oxford was used by Australia (391), Britain, Canada, France, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa (700), Southern Rhodesia, and United States.1
| Airspeed Oxford | Airspeed Oxford Mk I1 | Airspeed Oxford Mk II1 | Airspeed Oxford Mk III1 | Airspeed Oxford Mk IV1 | Airspeed Oxford Mk V1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Aircrew trainer1 Light transport1 |
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| Crew | 31 | |||||
| Passengers | 61 | |||||
| Engine (Type) | 2: Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX1 | 2: Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah X1 | 2: Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah XV1 | 2: Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior1 | ||
| Cylinders | Radial 71 | Radial 91 | ||||
| Cooling | ||||||
| HP | 355 each1 | 375 each1 | 425 each1 | 450 each1 | ||
| Propeller blades | 21 | |||||
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Span | 53' 4"1 16.25 m1 |
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| Length | 34' 6"1 10.51 m1 |
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| Height | 11' 1"1 3.38 m1 |
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| Wing area | ||||||
| Weight | ||||||
| Empty | 5,380 lb1 2,440 kg1 |
5,670 lb1 2,572 kg1 |
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| Loaded | 7,600 lb1 3,447 kg1 |
8,000 lb1 3,630 kg1 |
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| Performance | ||||||
| Speed | 188 mph1 302 kph1 |
205 mph1 330 kph1 |
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| Climb | 1,480'/minute1 450 m/minute1 |
2,000'/minute1 610 m/minute1 |
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| Service ceiling | 19,500'1 5,944 m1 |
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| Range | 550 miles1 885 km1 |
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| Armament | ||||||
| Dorsal turret | 0.303" MG1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
