Airspeed A.S. 65 Consul
The Airspeed Consul begun its
life as the Airspeed Oxford, A twin engined monoplane
wooden trainer which first flew on 19 June 1934. The
Oxford saw extensive service as a pilot and aircrew
trainer in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan
during World
War II, when it was also used for medical
use, radar calibration, communications as well as other
roles. 161 aircraft were refurbished after the war
for civilian use, these being renamed the Consul.
October 1949 saw the formation of
141 Squadron, the IAF's multi-engined-flying school,
in Ekron (Tel-Nof) AFB. 141 Squadron trained aircrew
in flying, navigation, radio operation, instrument
flying and aerial gunnery and operated both the Avro
Anson and a number of Consuls acquired from their British operator in 1949. The Consuls were primary
tasked with training pilots for the transport and de
Havilland Mosquito fighter bomber fleets. In 1950
the IAF flight school moved to Sirkin AFB and Consul
operations continued from there. As Consuls were also
fitted with 6 passenger seats, the aircraft were occasionaly
used as VIP transports as well. The most notable occasion
was in June 1949 when a Consul carried David
Ben-Gurion, Israel's first prime minister, and his entourage on
tour of southern Israel.
The aircraft initial poor mechanical
state, coupled with the poor quality of IAF maintenance
and the aircraft's tough handling characteristics,
caused a quick depletion in IAF Consul numbers. 14
aircraft were still operational in December 1952, but
only 3 had remained servicable by April 1957. The type
was retired in sometime during the same year.
Specification: Airspeed A.S. 65 Consul
Type: two crew, low-wing, pilot
and aircrew monoplane trainer.
Powerplant: two Armstrong Siddeley
Cheetah X.
Performance: cruising speed - 262km/h,
max speed - 306km/h, rate of climb - 305m/min, service
ceiling - 7,163m, range - 1,448km.
Weights: empty - 2,720kg, max takeoff
- 3,740kg.
Dimensions: span - 16.3m, length -
10.8m, height - 3.1m.
Armament: none.
Sources: IAF Inventory |