Airspeed Cambridge

AS.45 Cambridge
Role	Military advanced trainer
Manufacturer	Airspeed Limited
First flight	19 February 1941
Number built	2

The Airspeed AS.45 Cambridge was a British advanced trainer of the Second World War built by Airspeed Limited. It did not reach the production stage.

Development

The AS.45 was designed in response to Air Ministry Specification T.4/39 for a single-engined trainer. It was a low-wing monoplane of composite construction with a single piston engine and a tailwheel-type, retractable undercarriage. The first of two prototypes flew on 19 February 1941. Testing showed deficiencies in both maximum speed and low-speed flight characteristics.

There was no attempt to rectify these shortcomings, partly because there was no shortage of advanced trainers thanks to plentiful supplies of Masters and Harvards and partly because of the importance of Airspeed's other products, the Horsa and Oxford.

Specifications (AS.45)

Data from The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 36ft 1in (11m)
• Wingspan: 42ft 0in (12.80m)
• Height: 11ft 6in (3.51m)
• Wing area: 290ft² (26.94m²)
• Empty weight: lb (kg)
• Loaded weight: lb (kg)
• Useful load: lb (kg)
• Max. takeoff weight: lb (kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Bristol Mercury VIII radial engine 2-blade, 730hp (544kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 237mph (381km/h)
• Range: 680mi (1,094km)
• Service ceiling: 24,800ft (7,560m)
• Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s)
• Wing loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
• Power/mass: hp/lb (W/kg)

Armament

• None

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Arado Ar 96
• Miles Master
• North American Harvard
• Tachikawa Ki-55