Armstrong Whitworth Ape  J7754                                          (c/n  145)

                             

                                 In the 1920s the Royal Aeronautical Establishment (RAE) commissioned a spec for an 'infinitely
                                 adjustable' aeroplane which, by adding and subtracting bits and pieces would provide answers to
                                 various aerodynamic problems.  Armstrong Whitworth came up with the oddly named "Ape".
                                 "Jigsaw Puzzle" might have been more apt. The equal chord, untapered box-like fuselage could
                                 be made longer by adding sections.  Various sizes of rudder and tailplanes could be fitted.  The
                                 latter was mounted on a pivot at the rear of the fuselage.  The angle of incidence could be altered
                                 during flight (although hopefully not as far as the inclination in this photograph shows on the ground).
                                 By varying the length and rake of various struts the wing position, stagger, gap and dihedral could
                                 be varied.   Well, you get the idea.    Pretty advanced stuff.   Three prototypes were built, although
                                 by the time one crashed landed at Farnborough in 1929 the glamour had worn off and the project
                                 was cancelled.