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Armstrong Whitworth AW. 650 Argosy T. 2 9Q-COA
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Armstrong Whitworth AW. 650 Argosy T. 2 9Q-COA
(ex Royal Air Force) Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy T.2 9Q-COA Jason (msn 6791, ex XR136), of O.R.A.S. (Otrag Range Air Services) at East Midlands Airport, in November 1977. After the removal of the Argosy C.1 from the cargo-transport role, it was decided to modify 14 Argosies as Navigation Trainers for RAF Training Command, to replace the Vickers Varsity. Only two aircraft were fully modified to Argosy T.2, (XP447 and XR136), before the programme was cancelled in defence spending cuts. When the T.2 programme was cancelled the completed XR136 conversion was sold to O.R.A.S. which provided air transport for the OTRAG rocket range in Zaire, hence the Zaire registration. OTRAG (German: Orbital Transport und Raketen AG, or Orbital Transport and Rockets, Inc.), was a German company based in Stuttgart, which in the late 1970s and early 1980s planned to develop an alternative propulsion system for rockets. After intense international pressure OTRAG was forced to re-locate to Libya, but had closed down by 1987. 9Q-COA was scrapped at East Midlands on 10 June 1981. Date: 1977
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Media ID 32228504
© The Peter Butt Aviation Collection / Mary Evans
1977 1981 1987 Airport Alternative Argosy Armstrong Based Cancelled Closed Command Completed Conversion Cuts Decided Defence Develop Forced Fully Intense Jason Libya Midlands Modified Navigation Orbital Planned Pressure Programme Propulsion Provided Range Registration Removal Replace Rocket Rockets Role Scrapped Services Sold Spending Stuttgart System Trainers Varsity Vickers Whitworth Zaire Modify
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This rare print captures the Armstrong Whitworth AW.650 Argosy T.2 9Q-COA, formerly of the Royal Air Force, in all its glory at East Midlands Airport in November 1977. This particular aircraft, with serial number 6791 and ex XR136 designation, was part of a unique programme to convert Argosies into Navigation Trainers for RAF Training Command. Unfortunately, only two aircraft were fully modified before the programme was cancelled due to defense spending cuts.
After being left without a purpose, XR136 found new life with O.R.A.S (Otrag Range Air Services) providing air transport for the OTRAG rocket range in Zaire. The German company behind OTRAG had ambitious plans to develop an alternative propulsion system for rockets but faced international pressure and eventually closed down by 1987.
Despite its interesting history and service in Africa, 9Q-COA met its end at East Midlands Airport on June 10th, 1981 when it was ultimately scrapped. This print serves as a reminder of not only the technological advancements made during this era but also the fleeting nature of aviation history.
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