Avro Avocet

Last updated

Avocet
AvAvocet.jpg
RoleFighter
Manufacturer Avro
Designer Roy Chadwick
First flightDecember 1927
StatusPrototype
Primary user Royal Air Force
Number builtTwo

The Avro Type 584 Avocet was a British single-engined naval fighter prototype, designed and built by Avro. While the Avocet was not built in numbers, one of the prototypes was used as a seaplane trainer for the Royal Air Force's (RAF) High Speed Flight.

Contents

Design and development

The Avro 584 Avocet was designed by Avro's chief designer, Roy Chadwick to meet the requirements of Specification 17/25 for a Naval fighter. [1] It was a single-engined, all-metal biplane, powered by a 230 hp Armstrong Siddeley Lynx engine, having interchangeable wheels and floats. Although it did not have folding 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 the Fleet Air Arm at RAF 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

Although no production occurred, the second prototype was used by the RAF's High Speed Flight at Calshot as a seaplane trainer for Schneider Trophy pilots. [2]

Operators

Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom

Specifications (Avocet (Wheeled undercarriage))

Data from The British Fighter since 1912 [1]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Mason, Francis K (1992). The British Fighter since 1912. Naval Institute Press. ISBN   1-55750-082-7.
  2. 1 2 Jackson, A J (1990). Avro Aircraft since 1908 (2nd ed.). London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN   0-85177-834-8.