a six gun fighter. In armament terms, the A.10 fitted neither. In August 1929 it went to the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A&AEE) for tests under F.20/27, armed with just two guns. The reports were very critical: the A.10 suffered from longitudinal instability and was almost impossible to hold at constant speed in dives or in the climb. Ground handling was also said to be difficult. These trials ended in January 1930 and the A.10 went back to Saro's for modification. Changes included a 3 in (76 mm) shift aft of the main undercarriage to improve ground handling, a 1 ft 9 in (533 mm) fuselage extension and revised empennage. The tailplane now had a straight, rather than swept leading edge. When it went back to the A&AEE in September most of the old faults remained and no more were ordered. Curiously, in view of the A&AEE's comments on the problems the A.10's longitudinal instability would pose it as a gun platform, it was used by the Establishment to explore the effects of multi-gun armament, trials also involving the Gloster SS.19. These lasted initially until December 1930, then, after a period of unserviceability, from 1932 to 1933. Specifications (F.20/27 configuration, short fuselage) References Notes Bibliography A.10 1920s British fighter aircraft Aircraft first flown in 1929