Avro Tutor

Last updated

Avro 621 Tutor
Avro Tutor 'K3241' (G-AHSA) (30226029807).jpg
Avro Type 621 Tutor of the Shuttleworth Collection
RoleTrainer
National originUnited Kingdom
Manufacturer Avro
Designer Roy Chadwick
First flightSeptember 1929
Introduction1933
Retired1941
Primary user Royal Air Force
Number built606
Variants Avro 626, PWS-18

The Avro Type 621 Tutor [1] [2] is a two-seat British radial-engined biplane from the interwar period. It was a simple but rugged basic trainer that was used by the Royal Air Force as well as many other air arms worldwide.

Contents

Design and development

The Avro Model 621 was designed by Roy Chadwick as an Avro private venture metal replacement for the Avro 504. Conceived as a light initial pilot trainer, the biplane design featured heavily staggered equal-span, single-bay wings; the construction was based on steel tubing (with some wooden components in the wing ribs) with doped linen covering. A conventional, fixed divided main undercarriage with tailskid was used in all but the latest aircraft, which had a tailwheel.

The Model 621 was powered either by a 155 hp (116 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Mongoose or Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IV (180 hp/130 kW) or IVC (240 hp/179 kW) engine; later Lynx-powered models had the engine enclosed in a Townend ring cowling. The Mongoose-powered version was called the 621 Trainer and the more numerous Lynx-engined aircraft the Tutor. The Tutor also differed by having a more rounded rudder.

The first flight of the prototype G-AAKT was in September 1929, piloted by Avro chief test pilot Captain Harry Albert "Sam" Brown.

Operational history

Avro Tutor, 1937 Avro Tutor. Gosport. 21-05-1937 MOD 45130346.jpg
Avro Tutor, 1937

Production was started against an order for three Tutors from the Irish Free State and 21 Trainers from the Royal Air Force. The RAF required a replacement for the wooden Avro 504, and after three years of trials against other machines such as the Hawker Tomtit it was adopted as their basic trainer, supplanting the 504 in 1933 and remaining in this role until 1939. As well as the first batch of 21 Trainers, a total of 381 Tutors and 15 Avro 646 Sea Tutors were eventually ordered by the RAF. RAF units to operate the type in quantity included the Royal Air Force College, the Central Flying School and Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 Flying Training Schools. [3]

Subsequently, the Model 621 achieved substantial foreign sales. A.V. Roe and Co exported 29 for the Greek Air Force, six for the Royal Canadian Air Force, five for the Guangxi AF, three for the Irish AF (where it was known as the Triton) and two for each of the South African and Polish AFs. In addition 57 were licence-built in South Africa, and three licence-built by the Danish Naval Shipyard.

The sole surviving Tutor wearing the 1930s yellow training colour scheme at RAF Abingdon in 1968 Avro 621 Tutor K3215 Shuttleworth ABIN 15.06.68 edited-2.jpg
The sole surviving Tutor wearing the 1930s yellow training colour scheme at RAF Abingdon in 1968

A total of 30 Tutors were exported to the Greek Air Force and at least 61 were licence-built [4] [5] in Greece by KEA. A number of Greek Tutors was incorporated in combat squadrons after Greece's entrance in WWII, used as army cooperation aircraft.

Known for its good handling, the type was often featured at air shows. Over 200 Avro Tutors and five Sea Tutors remained in RAF service at the beginning of the Second World War.

The 621 was designed as a military trainer and few reached the civil registers. In the 1930s, in addition to ten prototypes and demonstrators, two were used by Alan Cobham's Flying Circus and two trainers were retired from the RAF into private use. One 621 was used from new by Australian National Airways. After the war another four ex-RAF 621s appeared on the civil register.

Variants

Avro 621 Trainer (Mongoose powered)
Two-seat primary training aircraft.
Avro 621 Tutor (Lynx powered)
Two-seat primary training aircraft.
Avro 621 Tutor II
One aircraft was modified into a two-bay biplane.
Avro 623
Three-seat version of the Type 621 Tutor upgraded for use in Tanganyika as aerial survey aircraft. Three were built between May and December 1930 and issued to the Director of Surveys of Tanganyika. Powered by a 240 hp Armstrong-Siddeley Lynx IV.
Avro 646 Sea Tutor
Two-seat seaplane fitted with twin floats, 15 built
PWS-18
Polish-built licence version with 200 hp (150 kW) Wright J-5 engine. 40 built 1935–36. Still in service with Polish Air Force in 1939. [6]

Operators

Flag of the Czech Republic.svg  Czechoslovakia
Flag of Denmark.svg  Denmark
Canadian Red Ensign (1921-1957).svg  Canada
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  China
Flag of Iraq (1924-1959).svg  Iraq
Flag of Ireland.svg  Ireland
Flag of Greece (1822-1978).svg  Greece
Flag of Poland.svg  Poland
Flag of South Africa (1928-1982).svg  South Africa
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
The Shuttleworth Collection's Avro Tutor K3215/G-AHSA Avro Tutor 2008.jpg
The Shuttleworth Collection's Avro Tutor K3215/G-AHSA

Surviving aircraft

G-AHSA was used for communication duties during the Second World War, struck off December 1946 and purchased by Wing Commander Heywood. After suffering engine failure in the early stages of the filming of Reach for the Sky , it was purchased by the Shuttleworth Collection and restored to flying condition. [9]

Up to the end of 2003, G-AHSA was still flying as K3215 in RAF trainer yellow. Since January 2004 it has flown painted as K3241 in the colours of the Central Flying School. (The real K3241 built in 1933, served RAF College Cranwell, until transferred to the CFA in 1936.)

Specifications (Tutor)

Avro 621 Trainer 3-view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No.119 Avro 621 Trainer 3-view NACA Aircraft Circular No.119.jpg
Avro 621 Trainer 3-view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No.119

Data from Avro Aircraft since 1908 [10]

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avro 504</span> 1913 multi-role military aircraft family

The Avro 504 was a First World War biplane aircraft made by the Avro aircraft company and under licence by others. Production during the war totalled 8,970 and continued for almost 20 years, making it the most-produced aircraft of any kind that served in any military capacity during the First World War. More than 10,000 were built from 1913 until production ended in 1932.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawker Hart</span> 1928 bomber airplane family by Hawker

The Hawker Hart is a British two-seater biplane light bomber aircraft that saw service with the Royal Air Force (RAF). It was designed during the 1920s by Sydney Camm and manufactured by Hawker Aircraft. The Hart was a prominent British aircraft in the inter-war period, but was obsolete and already side-lined for newer monoplane aircraft designs by the start of the Second World War, playing only minor roles in the conflict before being retired.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hawker Tomtit</span> Type of aircraft

The Hawker Tomtit is a British training biplane from the late 1920s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cierva C.30</span> 1933 autogyro family by Cierva

The Cierva C.30 is an autogyro designed by Juan de la Cierva and built under licence from the Cierva Autogiro Company by A V Roe & Co Ltd (Avro), Lioré-et-Olivier and Focke-Wulf.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avro 626</span> Type of aircraft

The Avro 626 is a single-engined British biplane trainer aircraft produced by Avro during the (1918-1939) inter-war period.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah</span> 1930s British piston aircraft engine

The Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah is a seven-cylinder British air-cooled aircraft radial engine of 834 cu in capacity introduced in 1935 and produced until 1948. Early variants of the Cheetah were initially known as the Lynx Major.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armstrong Siddeley Lynx</span> 1920s British piston aircraft engine

The Armstrong Siddeley Lynx is a British seven-cylinder aero engine developed by Armstrong Siddeley. It was developed as a single row version of the two-row Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar. Testing began in 1920 and 6,000 had been produced by 1939. In Italy Alfa Romeo built a 200 horsepower (150 kW) licensed version of this engine named the Alfa Romeo Lynx.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armstrong Siddeley Mongoose</span> 1920s British piston aircraft engine

The Armstrong Siddeley Mongoose is a British five-cylinder radial aero engine produced by Armstrong Siddeley. Developed in the mid-1920s it was used in the Hawker Tomtit trainer and Parnall Peto seaplane amongst others. With a displacement of 540 cubic inches (9 litres) the Mongoose had a maximum power output of 155 horsepower (115 kilowatts).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Airspeed Envoy</span> 1930s British light aircraft

The Airspeed AS.6 Envoy was a twin-engined light transport aircraft designed and produced by the British aircraft manufacturer Airspeed Ltd.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major</span> 1920s British piston aircraft engine

The Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major is a British five-cylinder, air-cooled, radial engine for aircraft, designed and built by Armstrong Siddeley and first run in 1928. It developed 140 horsepower (104 kW). In Royal Air Force use the seven-cylinder version was known as the Civet I. The Feliform names used are in line with company convention, the Genet and Civet both being large cat-like carnivores.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armstrong Whitworth Atlas</span> Type of aircraft

The Armstrong Whitworth Atlas was a British single-engine biplane designed and built by Armstrong Whitworth Aircraft. It served as an army co-operation aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF) in the 1920s and 1930s. It was the first purpose-designed aircraft of the army co-operation type to serve with the RAF.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avro Avocet</span> Type of aircraft

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avro 643 Cadet</span> Avro training aircraft

The Avro Cadet is a single-engined British biplane trainer designed and built by Avro in the 1930s as a smaller development of the Avro Tutor for civil use.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avro Club Cadet</span> British biplane trainer aircraft

The Avro Club Cadet was a 1930s single-engined British biplane trainer aircraft, designed and built by Avro as a development of the earlier Cadet. It was planned for private and club use and, unlike the Cadet, was fitted with folding wings.

The Avro 636 was a single-engined British fighter-trainer built by Avro in the mid-1930s. Four were built for the Irish Air Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cierva C.19</span> Type of aircraft

The Cierva C.19 was a 1930s British two-seat autogyro, designed by Spanish engineer Juan de la Cierva. It was built by Avro as the Avro Type 620. It proved to be the most successful and widely produced of the early de la Cierva designs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nieuport Nighthawk</span> Type of aircraft

The Nieuport Nighthawk was a British fighter aircraft developed by the Nieuport & General Aircraft company for the Royal Air Force towards the end of the First World War. Although ordered into production before the aircraft first flew, it did not enter large scale service with the RAF owing to unreliable engines. Re-engined aircraft did see service in Greece, serving from 1923 to 1938.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saro Cloud</span> Type of aircraft

The Saro Cloud was a British passenger amphibian flying boat designed and built by Saunders-Roe as the A.19. It was later produced as the A.29 for the Royal Air Force for pilot and navigator training.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gloster Grouse</span> Type of aircraft

The Gloster Grouse was a British biplane of the 1920s developed by the Gloster Aircraft Company. Often referred to as the prototype to the Gloster Grebe, the Grouse originally built as an experimental aircraft and then later developed as a trainer. Despite its compact design and maneuverability, the Grouse was not in itself a commercial success, although it formed the basis for the Gloster Grebe and Gamecock fighters which were used by Britain's Royal Air Force into the 1930s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avro 642 Eighteen</span> Type of aircraft

The Avro 642 Eighteen was a 1930s British monoplane airliner. Only two were built — one twin-engined and the other four-engined. The original had a circular partially glazed nose, but this was changed to a more traditional one. It used the wing of the Avro 618 Ten, which was a license produced Fokker V.II.

References

Notes

  1. Jackson 1990, pp. 283–291.
  2. Thetford 1957, pp. 46–47.
  3. Halley, 1976, pp. 22–23
  4. Official Greek Air Force site, info about 621 Tutor Archived 30 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Official Greek Air Force site (updated), info about 621 Tutor
  6. 1 2 Cynk 1971, pp.426–427
  7. Vančata 2006, p. 2.
  8. Avro 621 Tutor (RCAF)
  9. The Shuttleworth Collection – Avro Tutor Archived 31 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine www.shuttleworth.org Retrieved: 8 April 2010
  10. Jackson 1990, p. 290.

Bibliography