Avro Avian
Encyclopedia
The Avro Avian was a series of British
light aircraft designed and built by Avro
in the 1920s and '30s. While the various versions of the Avian were sound aircraft, they were comprehensively outsold by the de Havilland Moth
and its descendants.
at Lympne Aerodrome
in September 1926. Its wooden fuselage was based on that of the Avro 576 autogyro
, but it was fitted with conventional biplane wings and powered by a 70 hp (50 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Genet
engine. It performed well at the trials, but it was eliminated due to engine failure.
In early 1927 it was re-engined with an 85 hp (63 kW) ADC Cirrus
engine as the Type 581A and sold to Bert Hinkler
. After further modifications to wings and undercarriage as the Avro 581E, Hinkler used it for a series of long-distance flights, culminating in a 15½-day solo flight from Croydon
, UK to Darwin
, Australia
. In 1998 Lang Kidby recreated this flight in a 1927 Type 594 Avian VH-UFZ (ex G-AUFZ)
Production aircraft were designated Type 594 and were built in a number of versions, mainly powered by Cirrus engines. A version with a welded steel tube fuselage was produced in 1929 as the Avro 616 Avian IVM to meet overseas requirements for an easier-to-repair structure. This version was built in the largest numbers, with approximately 190 built
and its derivatives, which first flew more than a year earlier than the Avain, the Avian was used extensively as a civil tourer or trainer, with many being sold overseas, Avians being built (or assembed) by the Whittesley Manufacturing Co., Bridgeport, Connecticut
, USA, and the Ottawa Car Manufacturing Co., Canada
, as well as by Avro itself.
Avro Avian 594 Avian III, SN: R3/AV/101, was owned by Lady Mary Heath and Amelia Earhart
. The Avian Amelia flew had an 84 hp (63 kW) Cirrus Mk II engine. It was originally registered to Lady Heath on 29 October 1927 and given the UK aircraft marking G-EBUG. When Amelia brought it to the United States it was assigned “unlicensed aircraft identification mark” 7083; aircraft not officially certificated in the United States were allowed to be flown as unlicensed but identified aircraft. Avian 7083 was used on Earhart's first long solo flight, which occurred just as Amelia was coming into the national spotlight. By making the trip in August 1928, she became the first woman to fly solo across the North American continent and back. In 2001 Carlene Mendita recreated this flight in Greg Herrick's Type 594 Avian which he had purchased from Lang Kidby. At the time Herrick purchased the Avian from Kidby, two years prior, it was the oldest flying aircraft in Australia. It is now based in Minneapolis, Minnestoa.
On January 7, 1931 Guy Menzies
flew an Avian, the Southern Cross Junior, from Australia
to New Zealand
. He was the first person to fly solo across the Tasman Sea
.
An Avian (Red Rose) was used by Bill Lancaster
on a successful long distance flight to Australia, and another (Southern Cross Minor) on his final record attempt to South Africa in 1933.
In July 1930, Winifred Brown won the King's Cup Race
flying Cirrus III Avian. One Avian, piloted by Sydney Thorn, took part in the Challenge International de Tourisme 1930 with moderate success (16th place).
A single Genet-powered Avian II was bought by the Royal Air Force
, while Avians were also bought by the South African Air Force
, the Chinese Naval Air Service
, the Estonian Air Force
and the Royal Canadian Air Force
.
Avro 581 Avian: First prototype, one 70 hp (52 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Genet
.
Avro 581A: Modified first prototype, one 85 hp (63 kW) ADC Cirrus and reduced span wings.
Avro 581E: Further modified Avro 581A for long distance flights, with new wings and modified fuselage.
Avro 594 Avian I: Pre production aircraft, two built.
Avro 594 Avian II: Initial production, 85 hp (63 kW) Cirrus II engine, nine built.
Avro 594 Avian III: Modified engine mount and tubular steel struts, 33 built.
Avro 594 Avian IIIA: 95 hp (71 kW) Cirrus III engine, 58 built.
Avro 594 Avian IV: Revised undercarriage and ailerons, 90 built.
Avro 605 Avian: Two Avro 594 Avian IIIs were converted into floatplanes.
Avro 616 Avian IVM: Steel tube fuselage. Powered by 105 hp (78 kW) Cirrus Hermes I or 100 hp (75 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major, approximately 190 built.
Avro 616 Sports Avian: Version for racing with reduced drag, 16 built.
Avro 616 Avian IVA: modified one-off long range version for Charles Kingsford Smith
, Southern Cross Junior, 120 hp (90 kW) de Havilland Gipsy
II engine, with additional fuel tank and revised 30ft span wings.
Avro 616 Avian V: Long range single seater again built for Charles Kingsford Smith, Southern Cross Minor. Bill Lancaster
would later attempt to fly solo from England to South Africa in this aircraft, and die in the attempt.
Avro 625 Avian Monoplane: Low wing monoplane development, two built.
Canada
South Africa
Spain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
light aircraft designed and built by Avro
Avro
Avro was a British aircraft manufacturer, with numerous landmark designs such as the Avro 504 trainer in the First World War, the Avro Lancaster, one of the pre-eminent bombers of the Second World War, and the delta wing Avro Vulcan, a stalwart of the Cold War.-Early history:One of the world's...
in the 1920s and '30s. While the various versions of the Avian were sound aircraft, they were comprehensively outsold by the de Havilland Moth
De Havilland Moth
The de Havilland Moths were a series of light aircraft, sports planes and military trainers designed by Geoffrey de Havilland. In the late 1920s and 1930s they were the most common civil aircraft flying in Britain and during that time every light aircraft flying in the UK was commonly referred to...
and its descendants.
Design and development
The Avro 581 Avian prototype was designed and built to compete in the Lympne light aircraft trialsLympne light aircraft trials
The Lympne Light Aircraft Trials were held to encourage the development of practical light aircraft for private ownership, with a strong but not exclusive emphasis on fuel economy. They were held in 1923, 1924 and 1926. Each year saw different restrictions on engine size, framed initially in terms...
at Lympne Aerodrome
Lympne Airport
Lympne Airport , , was a military and later civil airfield at Lympne, Kent, United Kingdom, which operated from 1916 to 1984. RFC Lympne was originally an acceptance point for aircraft being delivered to, and returning from, France during the First World War...
in September 1926. Its wooden fuselage was based on that of the Avro 576 autogyro
Autogyro
An autogyro , also known as gyroplane, gyrocopter, or rotaplane, is a type of rotorcraft which uses an unpowered rotor in autorotation to develop lift, and an engine-powered propeller, similar to that of a fixed-wing aircraft, to provide thrust...
, but it was fitted with conventional biplane wings and powered by a 70 hp (50 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Genet
Armstrong Siddeley Genet
-Bibliography:* Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6.-External links:*...
engine. It performed well at the trials, but it was eliminated due to engine failure.
In early 1927 it was re-engined with an 85 hp (63 kW) ADC Cirrus
Cirrus Engine
Cirrus Aero-Engines Limited was a British aircraft engine manufacturer, known for their line of 4-cylinder air-cooled vertical inline engines for general aviation use. The company traded between 1927 and 1931.-History:...
engine as the Type 581A and sold to Bert Hinkler
Bert Hinkler
Herbert John Louis Hinkler AFC DSM , better known as Bert Hinkler, was a pioneer Australian aviator and inventor. He designed and built early aircraft before being the first person to fly solo from England to Australia, and the first person to fly solo across the Southern Atlantic Ocean...
. After further modifications to wings and undercarriage as the Avro 581E, Hinkler used it for a series of long-distance flights, culminating in a 15½-day solo flight from Croydon
Croydon
Croydon is a town in South London, England, located within the London Borough of Croydon to which it gives its name. It is situated south of Charing Cross...
, UK to Darwin
Darwin, Northern Territory
Darwin is the capital city of the Northern Territory, Australia. Situated on the Timor Sea, Darwin has a population of 127,500, making it by far the largest and most populated city in the sparsely populated Northern Territory, but the least populous of all Australia's capital cities...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. In 1998 Lang Kidby recreated this flight in a 1927 Type 594 Avian VH-UFZ (ex G-AUFZ)
Production aircraft were designated Type 594 and were built in a number of versions, mainly powered by Cirrus engines. A version with a welded steel tube fuselage was produced in 1929 as the Avro 616 Avian IVM to meet overseas requirements for an easier-to-repair structure. This version was built in the largest numbers, with approximately 190 built
Operational history
While outsold by the de Havilland MothDe Havilland Moth
The de Havilland Moths were a series of light aircraft, sports planes and military trainers designed by Geoffrey de Havilland. In the late 1920s and 1930s they were the most common civil aircraft flying in Britain and during that time every light aircraft flying in the UK was commonly referred to...
and its derivatives, which first flew more than a year earlier than the Avain, the Avian was used extensively as a civil tourer or trainer, with many being sold overseas, Avians being built (or assembed) by the Whittesley Manufacturing Co., Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
, USA, and the Ottawa Car Manufacturing Co., Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, as well as by Avro itself.
Avro Avian 594 Avian III, SN: R3/AV/101, was owned by Lady Mary Heath and Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Mary Earhart was a noted American aviation pioneer and author. Earhart was the first woman to receive the U.S. Distinguished Flying Cross, awarded for becoming the first aviatrix to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean...
. The Avian Amelia flew had an 84 hp (63 kW) Cirrus Mk II engine. It was originally registered to Lady Heath on 29 October 1927 and given the UK aircraft marking G-EBUG. When Amelia brought it to the United States it was assigned “unlicensed aircraft identification mark” 7083; aircraft not officially certificated in the United States were allowed to be flown as unlicensed but identified aircraft. Avian 7083 was used on Earhart's first long solo flight, which occurred just as Amelia was coming into the national spotlight. By making the trip in August 1928, she became the first woman to fly solo across the North American continent and back. In 2001 Carlene Mendita recreated this flight in Greg Herrick's Type 594 Avian which he had purchased from Lang Kidby. At the time Herrick purchased the Avian from Kidby, two years prior, it was the oldest flying aircraft in Australia. It is now based in Minneapolis, Minnestoa.
On January 7, 1931 Guy Menzies
Guy Menzies
Guy Lambton Menzies was the Australian aviator who flew the first solo trans-Tasman flight, from Sydney, Australia to the West Coast of New Zealand, on 7 January 1931....
flew an Avian, the Southern Cross Junior, from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. He was the first person to fly solo across the Tasman Sea
Tasman Sea
The Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...
.
An Avian (Red Rose) was used by Bill Lancaster
Bill Lancaster (aviator)
Captain William Newton "Bill" Lancaster was a pioneering British aviator.-Early life:Born in Birmingham, England, Lancaster emigrated to Australia as a child prior to World War I. In 1916, he joined first the Australian Army and later the Australian Flying Corps...
on a successful long distance flight to Australia, and another (Southern Cross Minor) on his final record attempt to South Africa in 1933.
In July 1930, Winifred Brown won the King's Cup Race
King's Cup Race
The King's Cup Race is an annual British handicapped cross-country air race, first contested on 8 September 1922. The event was open to British pilots only, but that did include members of the Commonwealth....
flying Cirrus III Avian. One Avian, piloted by Sydney Thorn, took part in the Challenge International de Tourisme 1930 with moderate success (16th place).
A single Genet-powered Avian II was bought by the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, while Avians were also bought by the South African Air Force
South African Air Force
The South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
, the Chinese Naval Air Service
Republic of China Navy
The Republic of China Navy is the maritime branch of the Armed forces of the Republic of China . The ROC Navy's primary mission is to defend ROC territories and the sea lanes that surround Taiwan against a blockade, attack, or possible invasion by forces of the People's Republic of China...
, the Estonian Air Force
Estonian Air Force
The Estonian Air Force is the name of the unified aviation forces of Estonia.The Õhuvägi is the main arm of the Estonian aviation forces. The average size of the military formation in peacetime is about 210 men. The Estonian Air Force is tasked with dealing with political, military, economical,...
and the Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Canadian Air Force
The history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
.
Variants
Armstrong Siddeley Genet
-Bibliography:* Lumsden, Alec. British Piston Engines and their Aircraft. Marlborough, Wiltshire: Airlife Publishing, 2003. ISBN 1-85310-294-6.-External links:*...
.
Avro 581A: Modified first prototype, one 85 hp (63 kW) ADC Cirrus and reduced span wings.
Avro 581E: Further modified Avro 581A for long distance flights, with new wings and modified fuselage.
Avro 594 Avian I: Pre production aircraft, two built.
Avro 594 Avian II: Initial production, 85 hp (63 kW) Cirrus II engine, nine built.
Avro 594 Avian III: Modified engine mount and tubular steel struts, 33 built.
Avro 594 Avian IIIA: 95 hp (71 kW) Cirrus III engine, 58 built.
Avro 594 Avian IV: Revised undercarriage and ailerons, 90 built.
Avro 605 Avian: Two Avro 594 Avian IIIs were converted into floatplanes.
Avro 616 Avian IVM: Steel tube fuselage. Powered by 105 hp (78 kW) Cirrus Hermes I or 100 hp (75 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major, approximately 190 built.
Avro 616 Sports Avian: Version for racing with reduced drag, 16 built.
Avro 616 Avian IVA: modified one-off long range version for Charles Kingsford Smith
Charles Kingsford Smith
Sir Charles Edward Kingsford Smith MC, AFC , often called by his nickname Smithy, was an early Australian aviator. In 1928, he earned global fame when he made the first trans-Pacific flight from the United States to Australia...
, Southern Cross Junior, 120 hp (90 kW) de Havilland Gipsy
De Havilland Gipsy
The de Havilland Gipsy is a British air-cooled 4-cylinder in-line aircraft engine designed by Frank Halford in 1927 to replace the ADC Cirrus in the de Havilland D.H.60 Moth light biplane....
II engine, with additional fuel tank and revised 30ft span wings.
Avro 616 Avian V: Long range single seater again built for Charles Kingsford Smith, Southern Cross Minor. Bill Lancaster
Bill Lancaster (aviator)
Captain William Newton "Bill" Lancaster was a pioneering British aviator.-Early life:Born in Birmingham, England, Lancaster emigrated to Australia as a child prior to World War I. In 1916, he joined first the Australian Army and later the Australian Flying Corps...
would later attempt to fly solo from England to South Africa in this aircraft, and die in the attempt.
Avro 625 Avian Monoplane: Low wing monoplane development, two built.
Military Operators
Canada
- Royal Canadian Air ForceRoyal Canadian Air ForceThe history of the Royal Canadian Air Force begins in 1920, when the air force was created as the Canadian Air Force . In 1924 the CAF was renamed the Royal Canadian Air Force and granted royal sanction by King George V. The RCAF existed as an independent service until 1968...
- Chinese Nationalist Air Force
- Chinese Naval Air ServiceRepublic of China NavyThe Republic of China Navy is the maritime branch of the Armed forces of the Republic of China . The ROC Navy's primary mission is to defend ROC territories and the sea lanes that surround Taiwan against a blockade, attack, or possible invasion by forces of the People's Republic of China...
- Estonian Air ForceEstonian Air ForceThe Estonian Air Force is the name of the unified aviation forces of Estonia.The Õhuvägi is the main arm of the Estonian aviation forces. The average size of the military formation in peacetime is about 210 men. The Estonian Air Force is tasked with dealing with political, military, economical,...
South Africa
- South African Air ForceSouth African Air ForceThe South African Air Force is the air force of South Africa, with headquarters in Pretoria. It is the world's second oldest independent air force, and its motto is Per Aspera Ad Astra...
Spain
- Spanish Republican Air ForceSpanish Republican Air ForceThe Spanish Republican Air Force, , was the air arm of the Second Spanish Republic, the legally established government of Spain between 1931 and 1939...
- Spanish Air ForceSpanish Air Force-The early stages:Hot air balloons had been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of Alfredo Kindelán, Leonardo Torres y Quevedo directed the construction of the first Spanish dirigible in the Army Military Aerostatics Service, created in 1896 and located...
- Royal Air ForceRoyal Air ForceThe Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...