Airspeed AS.5 Courier

Airspeed AS.5 Courier

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04/30/2008. This is the prototype of the Courier, pictured on her first flight from Portsmouth on April 11, 1933. Four days later it crashed at Portsmouth, receiving minor damage. Repaired, it had another accident at RAF Martlesham Heath. It was used in aerial refueling experiments by the well-known British aviation pioneer Sir Alan Cobham, using two Handley Page W10s as aerial tanker.

The experiments let to the attempt of a non-stop flight to India, that started at Portsmouth on September 24, 1934. It ended the same day when Cobham had to make a forced landing at Malta, due to a broken throttle, in the event the Courier was damaged. The aircraft was impressed into the RAF in June 1940, s/n X9427. The fate of the aircraft is unknown.


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04/30/2008. This is the prototype of the Courier, pictured on her first flight from Portsmouth on April 11, 1933. Four days later it crashed at Portsmouth, receiving minor damage. Repaired, it had another accident at RAF Martlesham Heath. It was used in aerial refueling experiments by the well-known British aviation pioneer Sir Alan Cobham, using two Handley Page W10s as aerial tanker. The experiments let to the attempt of a non-stop flight to India, that started at Portsmouth on September 24, 1934. It ended the same day when Cobham had to make a forced landing at Malta, due to a broken throttle, in the event the Courier was damaged. The aircraft was impressed into the RAF in June 1940, s/n X9427. The fate of the aircraft is unknown.