As it was recognised that the aircraft held sales potential within the civil market, a civilian-oriented variant, designated "AW.65", was also designed alongside the military design; the AW.65 principally differed from the AW.66 via the installation of full-section doors at each end of the fuselage to enable rapid loading and unloading operations. However, a lack of available finance contributed to the company's decision to abandon all work towards meeting the military requirement; despite this setback, Armstrong Whitworth had already decided to proceed with developing the civil variant as a private venture. The company believed that the type would have significant appeal to the growing short-haul air freight sector of both the European and American markets. At that time, no other aircraft had been purpose-designed for such a purpose. As work continued, the AW.65 was extensively redesigned, including the adoption of four Rolls-Royce Dart turboprop engines; the resulting aircraft being designated as the "AW.650".