The Armstrong Whitworth Siskin was a biplane single-seat fighter aircraft developed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. It was also the first all-metal fighter to be operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF), as well as being one of the first new fighters to enter service following the end of the First World War.
Development of the Siskin was heavily influenced by RAF Specification Type I, including its initial use of the ABC Dragonfly radial engine. Making its first flight in May 1919, the Siskin possessed good qualities in spite of the Dragonfly's poor performance. In the following year, the much better Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar was installed and flight with this powerplant was made on 20 March 1921. In response to Air Ministry Specification 14/22, the aircraft was redesigned with an all-metal structure, and orders were placed in 1922.
It was angular in form, with little attention paid to obvious avenues for drag reduction. Perhaps its most distinctive feature was its fixed conventional landing gear, which had relatively lengthy oleo strut shock absorbers carrying the axle, which was in turn connected by radius rods to a pair of V-struts situated behind the axle. Its wings were of unequal span. It was powered by a single ABC Dragonfly radial engine, which was installed on the nose in a streamlined cowling. To regulate the engine's temperature, each individual cylinder had its own cooling channel. Armament consisted of a pair of Vickers machine guns mounted directly in front of the pilot.
Between 1926 and 1939, Canada operated a sizable fleet of Siskins. During 1926, the British Air Ministry had dispatched a pair of Siskin IIIs to Canada, where they underwent testing by the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) under winter flying conditions. The Siskin was considered a modern type at the time of its acquisition by the RCAF, which opted to purchase the Mark IIIA. The Canadian procurement involved both new-built aircraft and second-hand RAF Siskins being supplied to numerous RCAF squadrons.
The Siskin equipped the Fighter Flight at Camp Borden and Trenton. During 1937, the Flight became No. I (Fighter) Squadron, and was transferred from Trenton to Calgary in August 1938. The unit continued to operated the Siskin up until the outbreak of the Second World War, shortly after which the type was rapidly retired and replaced by Hawker Hurricane monoplane fighters. Following the Siskin's withdrawal by the RCAF, the airframes were turned over to various technical establishments for use as instructional airframes. Wikipedia (with revisions)
Wikipedia Armstrong Whitworth Siskin
Armstrong Whitworth Siskin - Kestrel Publications
Known Squadron Assignments: 3; 1; 113
Ex RAF J8632. Initially assigned to Training Squadron, B Flight, Camp Borden, Ontario. Part of the 1929 air demonstration team, flew first RCAF public demonstrations that summer across Ontario and Eastern US. Took part in air show in Toronto, 1929 or 1930. Named "Captain Sir Arthur Whitten Brown" in ceremony on 19 July 1929. Part of Siskin Exhibition Flight, 1932. Renumbered as 302.Known Squadron Assignments: 3; 1
Registration G-CYZE reserved, only used briefly (if at all). Initially assigned to Training Squadron, B Flight, Camp Borden, Ontario.Known Squadron Assignments: 3; 1
Initially assigned to Training Squadron, B Flight, Camp Borden, Ontario. Took part in air show in Toronto, 1929 or 1930. Took part in 1931 Trans Canada Air Pageant. Part of Siskin Exhibition Flight, 1932Known Squadron Assignments: 113
Initially assigned to Training Squadron, B Flight, Camp Borden, Ontario. Operated on skiis. Part of the 1929 air demonstration team. Took part in 1931 Trans Canada Air Pageant. Part of Siskin Exhibition Flight, 1932. Served with Test flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, dates unknown. Renumbered as 306 sometime after 1932.Known Squadron Assignments: 3; 1; 113
Took part in 1931 Trans Canada Air Pageant, while marked as 210.Known Squadron Assignments: 1
Modified to Mk. IIIA on 12 January 1930. Some sources have this aircraft becoming 305, but this may be wrong. Fighter Flight of No. 3 (B) Squadron, RCAF Station Trenton, 1935 to 1937. Used by No. 1 (F) Squadron, at RCAF Station Trenton, Ont., 1937 and 1938. Also with No. 113 (F) Squadron in 1939. Later became Instructional airframe A 30.06 Used by No. 113 (F) Squadron in 1939. Became Instructional Airframe A 29.x RAF J7759. Initially operated with RAF serial number, for evaluation. Then assigned to Training Squadron, B Flight, Camp Borden, Ontario. The subsequent identity is not clear, may have become 305 or 310?Known Squadron Assignments: 3; 1
Renumbered from 21. With Fighter Flight of No. 3 (B) Squadron, RCAF Station Trenton, 1935 to 1937. Used by No. 1 (F) Squadron, at RCAF Station Trenton, Ont., 1937 and 1938. Damaged in landing accident, date unknown. Used as an instructional airframe throughout WW2, serial A 27. To No. 58 (Royal Canadian Air Cadets) Squadron as training aid. 2024-03-09Known Squadron Assignments: 113
Used by No. 113 (F) Squadron in 1939. Became Instructional Airframe A 29. 2024-03-09Known Squadron Assignments: 2
Arrived in Canada on 25 January 1926. Operated with RAF serial number for evaluation. Evaluated by No. 2 (Operations) Squadron at High River, Alberta, in June 1927. Crashed 28 June 1927 at High River, killing pilot Pilot Officer C. M. Anderson. Sometimes reported as becoming RCAF serial number 10, then 301, but this was probably J7759. 2024-03-09