Originally titled Tudor 8, modifications to the Tudor airframe needed to produce the test beds were considerable enough to warrant a new name.
The Tudor 8 was first flown on 6 September 1948 when it flew from Woodford to Boscombe Down. The Tudor 8 was demonstrated at Farnborough on 7 September 1948 with four Roll-Royce Nenes of 5000 lb thrust.
Six Ashtons on order in 1950, which were built for the Ministry of Supply to act as test-beds for research into jet operations.
The first Ashton made its maiden flight on 1 September 1950.
Powered by four 2270kg Rolls-Royce Nene 5 and 6 engines, the Ashton featured a nosewheel undercarriage which retracted forwards.
Four marks of Ashton were built.
Mk.1
High altitude turbojet research
Engines: 4 x Rolls-Royce Nene 5 and 6, 5000 lb
Wingspan: 120 ft
Length: 89 ft 6.5 in
Height: 31 ft 3 in
Loaded weight: 72,000 lb
Max speed: 439 mph
Cruise: 406 mph
Mk.2
High altitude air conditioning tests
Mk.3
Ventral radome and bomb containers outboard of engine nacelles
Bomb sight development
One Mk.3 used as Bristol Olympus testbed
Mk.4
Instrument development
Engines: 4 x 2270kg Rolls-Royce Nene 5 and 6
Take-off weight: 32688 kg / 72065 lb
Wingspan: 36.58 m / 120 ft 0 in
Length: 27.28 m / 90 ft 6 in
Height: 9.53 m / 31 ft 3 in
Wing area: 132.02 sq.m / 1421.05 sq ft
Max. speed: 707 km/h / 439 mph
Cruise speed: 654 km/h / 406 mph
All Aero 