Designed and built by the Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft company based at Baginton airport Coventry, the AW650 Argosy was intended for use as a freighter for civil and military operators. The AW650 prototype made it's maiden flight from Baginton on January 8th 1959 in the hands of company test pilot Eric Franklin. The design utilised a twin boom layout with cargo doors at the front and rear, and wings from the Avro Lincoln, (a bad short term decision).