Avro Avocet
| Avocet | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | Avro |
| Designer | Roy Chadwick |
| First flight | December 1927 |
| Status | Prototype |
| Primary user | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | Two |
TheAvro Type 584 Avocetwas a British single-engined navalfighterprototype, designed and built byAvro.While the Avocet was not built in numbers, one of theprototypeswas used as aseaplanetrainerfor theRoyal Air Force's (RAF) High Speed Flight.
Design and development
[edit]The Avro 584 Avocet was designed by Avro's chief designer,Roy Chadwickto meet the requirements ofSpecification 17/25for a Naval fighter.[1]It was a single-engined, all-metalbiplane,powered by a 230 hpArmstrong Siddeley Lynxengine,having interchangeable wheels and floats. Although it did not havefolding wings,it was designed to be easily dismantled for storage on board ship.
Two prototypes were built, the first flying as a landplane in December 1927 and the second prototype flying as a seaplane in April 1928.[1]Both prototypes were evaluated for theFleet Air ArmatRAF Martlesham Heath,where, owing to the low-powered engine, their performance was seen to be unimpressive,[2]and it was not ordered into production.
Operational history
[edit]Although no production occurred, the second prototype was used by the RAF's High Speed Flight atCalshotas a seaplane trainer forSchneider Trophypilots.[2]
Operators
[edit]
Specifications (Avocet (Wheeled undercarriage))
[edit]Data fromThe British Fighter since 1912[1]
General characteristics
- Crew:1
- Length:24 ft 6 in (7.47 m)
- Wingspan:29 ft 0 in (8.84 m)
- Height:11 ft 8.375 in (3.56553 m)
- Wing area:308 sq ft (28.6 m2)
- Empty weight:1,612 lb (731 kg)
- Gross weight:2,495 lb (1,132 kg)
- Powerplant:1 ×Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IV7-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 230 hp (170 kW)
- Propellers:2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed:133 mph (214 km/h, 116 kn)
- Service ceiling:23,000 ft (7,000 m)
- Wing loading:8.1 lb/sq ft (40 kg/m2)
- Power/mass:0.092 hp/lb (0.151 kW/kg)
Armament
- Guns:2 × fixed.303 in(7.7 mm)Vickers machine guns
See also
[edit]Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
[edit]- ^abcMason, Francis K (1992).The British Fighter since 1912.Naval Institute Press.ISBN1-55750-082-7.
- ^abJackson, A J (1990).Avro Aircraft since 1908(2nd ed.). London: Putnam Aeronautical Books.ISBN0-85177-834-8.
External links
[edit]
- Avro Avocet– British Aircraft Directory