In October 1949, G-AGUA running up both of its close-cowled Centaurus engines. The Vickers Warwick with which George Errington carried out the Centaurus single-engine testing is seen in the background.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947Vickers Warwick - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1939

Now with Rolls-Royce Tyne turboprops and marked G-37-3, the second prototype awaits its turn on a wet Farnborough runway at the SBAC show, 9.58.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-AKRD was obtained by Rolls-Royce and used as a testbed for their Tyne turboprop with a similar installation to the Proteus. Flown as G-37-3, Capt Gillman credited it with a fighter-like climb rate of 4,000 ft/min

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

The 16 ft 6 in. diameter 4-blade de Havilland propeller with hollow steel blades for the Proteus engine being tested on the Centaurus engined Ambassador G-AKRD

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-AKRD being flown as a testbed for the Proteus 705 turboprop engines for the Britannia. The jetpipes were carried over the wing clear of the existing structure which was not affected.
The second prototype Airspeed Ambassador, G-AKRD, as a testbed for the Proteus 705 intended for the Britannia 100. First flown thus powered on December 22,1953, it appeared in the following year’s SBAC Display.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

The unpainted prototype Ambassador G-AGUA making its first take-off in the hands of Chief Test Pilot George Errington at Christchurch on 10.7.47. The trim tab broke away on the centre rudder which as a result was then converted to a central fixed fin.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

Airspeed designed the power pack for the installation of the Centaurus 661 on the production Ambassador and it is seen here on prototype G-AGUA which now also has the production undercarriage

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-AGUA on test in 1951 demonstrates single-engine flying with the port Centaurus stopped and propeller feathered. By this time the propellers had been changed to the reversible type.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

Second prototype G-AKRD, the first Ambassador with pressurised cabin and Centaurus 630 in 1948. It carried the old type D/F 'egg' but it and the first prototype (for a short time) were the only ones to do so.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-AKRD seen on single engine trials. The propeller had an automatic drag-limiting system, torque falling to 30% of take-off power resulting in a 'super coarse' pitch which reduced drag and allowed feathering in 5 seconds. In the photograph G-AKRD is wearing the early BEA winged logo on the nose.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

For de-icing tests of the Proteus the spray rig is seen attached to the forward fuselage of G-AKRD. An unexpected problem was ice impact damage to the hollow steel propeller blades.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

Second prototype G-AKRD (RT668) painted as the BEA 'Elizabethan' class with the airline titles below the windows and the three crowns shield on the nose. Later named 'Golden Lion', it did not in fact fly BEA services but went on to become a flying testbed for Proteus, Tyne and Dart propjets.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

Tyne Ambassador G-37-3 taxying provides a good view of the 3-fin tail unit with combined aerodynamic and mass balance ahead of the rudder hinge and trim tab on the rudder trailing edge of the outboard units.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

G-37-3/G-AKRD late in its career as a testbed for the Rolls-Royce Dart RDa10 (port nacelle) and RDa8 (starboard nacelle) in which role it did not suffer the airframe limiting speeds of the hard-worked Dart Dakota G-37-2.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

As Proteus testbed, G-AKRD from above shows the long Proteus nacelles and jetpipes and the outboard fins and rudders in line with the propeller slipstream. Part of the initials 'BEA' are still visible on top of the port wing in this view.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

In the air off the Christchurch coast. G-AGUA shows its high aspect ratio almost laminar-flow wing, cleanly curved fuselage lines and its two Centaurus 130 engines with big spinners

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

A further view of prototype G-AGUA (RT665) with centre rudder fixed after the first flight and with spinners fitted. It is seen with the port engine stopped and propeller feathered, flying over Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight coast with the Solent in the background.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947

Three-view silhouettes continued to be produced in peacetime for the Inter-Services Recognition Journal, such as this one of Airspeed's new Ambassador.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Airspeed Ambassador / AS.57 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1947