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Siskin

Name : Siskin Manufacturer : Armstrong Whitworth Production Began : 1919 Retired : 1932 Number Built : 485

The Siskin first flew in May 1919, powered by a Dragonfly engine delivering 270 hp (200 kW), rather than the promised 320 hp (240 kW). Despite the expectations piled on it, the Dragonfly proved to be a disaster, far less powerful than expected and very unreliable, being prone to overheating and catastrophic vibration, that would normally cause crankshaft failure within a few hours. Despite the engine problems, the Siskin displayed good performance and handling, outmatching its Dragonfly-powered contemporaries. In 1919, Siddeley-Deasy merged with Armstrong Whitworth, with the aviation interests becoming Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. Siddeley-Deasly had inherited the design of the RAF.8 fourteen-cylinder radial engine and its designer Sam D. Heron, and by 1920 this engine, now known as the Jaguar, had been developed sufficiently to be a possible replacement for the Dragonfly. One of the prototype Siskins was fitted with a Jaguar, flying in this form on 20 March 1921. In 1922 Air Ministry Specification 14/22 was issued for an all-metal single-seat high performance landplane and one Jaguar-powered prototype was ordered from Armstrong Whitworth. As well as re-engining with the Jaguar, Major Green redesigned the Siskin with an all-metal structure, as the Siskin III. A contract for three production aircraft was placed on 13 October 1922 with a further six ordered on 26 January 1923 including one as a prototype of a two-seat variant. The Siskin III first flew on 7 May 1923,[11] with first deliveries to the RAF (six for evaluation) taking place in January 1924. The fighter was the first all-metal fighter in the British Royal Air Force. he first Siskin IIIs were delivered to No. 41 Squadron RAF at RAF Northolt in May 1924, quickly followed by No. 111 Squadron RAF. The Siskin III was popular in service, being highly manoeuvrable, although slightly underpowered. The improved Siskin IIIA was first delivered to No. 111 Squadron in September 1926. The Siskin was used by 11 RAF squadrons. The last operational RAF Siskins were replaced in October 1932 by Bristol Bulldogs. .

Pilots and Aircrew for : Siskin
A list of all aircrew from our database who are associated with this aircraft. A profile page is available by clicking their name.
Name	Info
Addams, Anthony Clifford Click the name above to see a profile of Addams, Anthony Clifford    Died : 16 / 6 / 1926	Addams, Anthony Clifford Commissioned Jul 1923; killed in a flying accident, Northolt, 16 June 1926; 41 Sqn Inter-Flight Addams Cup Competition inaugurated in his honour
Angell, David Victor Click the name above to see a profile of Angell, David Victor    Died : 19 / 3 / 1931	Angell, David Victor 12-Jan-31 Plt Off David Victor Angell unhurt in midair collision, North Weald between his Siskin IIIA J8946 and J8865 of 29 Sqn, North Weald. The other pilot Fg Off Frank Lemon (23) was killed. Plt Off David Victor Angell acquitted at court martial. Killed flying Siskin IIIA J9912, 29 Sqn, North Weald. Hit tree while low flying, Bourn, Cambs he was 21.
Arbuthnot, Terence John Click the name above to see a profile of Arbuthnot, Terence John    Died : 31 / 12 / 1995	Arbuthnot, Terence John Commissioned on graduation from Cranwell, Dec 1926; On 1st April 1937 promoted Sqn Ldr. 1st June 1940 promoted Wing Commander and Officer Commanding 26 Squadron. The Squadron was sent to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force in June 1940. In 1945 he became C.O at Fiskerton. retired as Gp Capt, Oct 1954; died Kensington, 31 Dec 1995
Attaway, Alfred Bertie Click the name above to see a profile of Attaway, Alfred Bertie    Died : 0 / 0 / 1982	Attaway, Alfred Bertie Joined RAF 41 st Sqd in 1927 Warrant Officer in SAAF during WWII; died Liverpool, 1982
BELLAIRS, Edmund Hamon Click the name above to see a profile of BELLAIRS, Edmund Hamon	BELLAIRS, Edmund Hamon Commissioned Apr 1929; retired Sep 1948, retaining Wg Cdr
BINT, Cyril Charles Click the name above to see a profile of BINT, Cyril Charles    Died : 0 / 0 / 1966	BINT, Cyril Charles Joined 41st Sqd 7th June 1924 Departed 1 November 1926 Formed company 'Aeroplane Services Ltd.' with C. H. Bint & A. V. Adams, Birmingham, Apr 1929; died Leicester, 1966
Bishop, Frank Anthony Russell Click the name above to see a profile of Bishop, Frank Anthony Russell	Bishop, Frank Anthony Russell Joined 41 Sqd 5th March 1929 left 3rd June 1931 Commissioned Mar 1928; resigned commission, Jun 1931
Dale, Ivor Gordon Easton Click the name above to see a profile of Dale, Ivor Gordon Easton    Died : 2 / 2 / 1945	Dale, Ivor Gordon Easton Commissioned Mar 1925; transferred to RAFO, Nov 1934; mobilised 1939; killed as Wg Cdr in 21 Sqn The Mosquito Departure RAF Thorney Island, Hampshire on a night intruder mission aircraft crashed furthee details requried W/Cdr Ivor Gordon Easton DALE DFC(pilot) RAF - killed F/O (143.102) Kenneth Arthur HACKETT (nav.) RAFVR - killed and are ; buried Stittard War Cemetery, Netherlands Ophoven,23:45 2 Feb 1945; buried Stittard War Cemetery, Netherlands
Duro, Hector Click the name above to see a profile of Duro, Hector    Died : 21 / 12 / 1942	Duro, Hector Commissioned Aug 1940; KIA in 7 Sqn Stirling, 21 Dec 1942; buried in Grave 3 of Seraincourt Churchyard, France;
Fell, Cecil Alfred Arthur Click the name above to see a profile of Fell, Cecil Alfred Arthur    Died : 13 / 2 / 1930	Fell, Cecil Alfred Arthur Killed 13 February 1930 in a Siskin of No.32 (Fighter) Squadron. Jumped form aiorcraft and parachute was not deployed
Lemon, Frank Click the name above to see a profile of Lemon, Frank    Died : 12 / 1 / 1931	Lemon, Frank Siskin IIIA J8865 & J8946, 29 Sqn, North Weald Crashed after midair collision, North Weald Fg Off Frank Lemon (23) killed and Plt Off David Victor Angell unhurt
Mcnair, Owen Herbert Click the name above to see a profile of Mcnair, Owen Herbert    Died : 8 / 8 / 1940	Mcnair, Owen Herbert Sgt Owen Herbert McNair was killed while flying this Siskin IIIA J9325, of 25 Sqn,baed at Hawkinge the Siskin Crashed while in a slow turn, near Falmer, Sussex He was 22
Sawyer, Wilfred Click the name above to see a profile of Sawyer, Wilfred    Died : 6 / 8 / 1930	Sawyer, Wilfred Plt Off Wilfred Sawyer was killed while flying a Siskin IIIA, of 41 Sqn, from Northolt when it Hit a tree,and crashed and caught fire, atCasthorpe, Barrowby, near Grantham he was 21.
Vaughan-Fowler, Denis George Click the name above to see a profile of Vaughan-Fowler, Denis George    Died : 7 / 8 / 1931	Vaughan-Fowler, Denis George Killed when his Siskin, of 41 Sqn, Northolt,Crashed on night landing and caught fire, near Hawkinge he was 21 and is buried at East Sheen and Richmond Cemeteries Richmond

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