It was a single bay biplane with wings of unequal span braced with N-type interwing struts, and bore a close family resemblance to the A.W.XIV Starling Mk I, though with a less Siskin-like, humped fuselage.

Developed to fulfil Specification F9/26, engine-related delays heavily contributed to domestic opportunities being lost to the competing Hawker Nimrod.

Problems with the Armstrong Siddeley Panther radial engine had delayed the aircraft's development, and the competing Hawker Nimrod was purchased before the AW.16 could be delivered for evaluation.

[1] Despite missing out on this opportunity, Armstrong Whitworth decided to continue marketing the aircraft, and even produced a second prototype (G-ACCD) that was fitted with a more reliable Panther IIA engine for submission against Specification F7/30 for an order from the Royal Air Force.

In terms of its general configuration, it comprised metal construction, a single-bay staggered design, and had a relatively clean streamlined exterior.

[5] All of strut ends, landing gear fittings, and other drag-producing elements were faired, and all of navigation lights were embedded into the leading edge of the wing and the rudder.

[8] To assist the pilot in getting in and out of the aircraft, particularly during an emergency, there were two handgrips present while the door on the port side was fitted with a relatively robust opening device.

In terms of its structure, it conformed with Armstrong Whitworth's established practice at that time of combining built-up spars with drawn steel strips, while the ribs were girder-like and built up of open sections.

[8] The aircraft was powered by a single Armstrong Siddeley Panther air-cooled radial engine, which could either be moderately or fully supercharged as well as geared.

[5] Armaments included a pair of forwards-facing fixed .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers machine gun that were mounted at the peak of the cowling directly forward of the pilot; these fired through the propeller.

Data from The Complete Book of Fighters,[3] National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics[11]General characteristics Performance Armament