Siskin IIIA

The Armstrong Whitworth Siskin IIIA was a single‑seat, single‑engine biplane fighter developed in the early 1920s for the Royal Air Force. Originating from the earlier Siskin Mk I and Mk II prototypes, the IIIA entered service in 1924 as the first all‑British‑designed fighter to be produced in quantity after World War I. Powered by a 420‑horsepower Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar radial engine, it featured a sturdy steel‑tube fuselage covered with fabric and wooden wings of equal span, a fixed two‑wheel undercarriage, and a synchronized Vickers machine‑gun mounted on the forward fuselage. The aircraft’s design emphasized robustness and ease of maintenance, allowing it to operate from a variety of airfields, including the primitive grass strips of the era. During its operational life the Siskin IIIA equipped several RAF squadrons, notably No. 41 and No. 19, and served as a trainer for the emerging generation of pilots. Though quickly outclassed by newer monoplane types, the Siskin IIIA played a crucial role in the inter‑war period, demonstrating the viability of indigenous British fighter production, shaping RAF tactics, and providing the technical foundation for later Armstrong Whitworth designs such as the Whitley bomber.

Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft

Classification

Design & Classification