A light transport of conventional all-wood construction, with all control surfaces fabric-covered, of 1935. The first British aircraft with retractable undercarriage to go into production, a five-six-seat cantilever low-wing cabin monoplane.
First flown on 11 April 1933 (G-ABXN) from Portsmouth, four days later it crashed at Portsmouth, receiving minor damage. Repaired, it had another accident at RAF Martlesham Heath. It was used in aerial refuelling experiments by Sir Alan Cobham, using two Handley Page W10s as aerial tankers. The experiments led to an attempt of a non-stop flight to India that started at Portsmouth on 24 September 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.
Sixteen were built with a total of 15 production aircraft.
AS.5A
Engine: Armstrong Lynx IVC
AS.5B
Engine: Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah V, 301 hp
Length : 28.51 ft / 8.69 m
Wingspan : 47.014 ft / 14.33 m
Wing area : 250.048 sqft / 23.23 sq.m
Max take off weight : 3999.9 lbs / 1814.0 kg
Weight empty : 2328.5 lbs /1056.0 kg
Max. speed : 144 kts / 266 km/h
Cruising speed : 126 kts / 233 km/h
Service ceiling : 16995 ft / 5180 m
Wing load : 15.99 lb/sq.ft / 78.00 kg/sq.m
Range : 556 nm / 1030 km
Crew : 1
All Aero 