Avro Buffalo
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| Type 571 Buffalo | |
|---|---|
| Type | Torpedo Bomber |
| Manufacturer | Avro |
| Maiden flight | 1926 |
| Status | Prototype |
| Number built | 1 |
The Avro 571 Buffalo was a prototype British carrier based torpedo bomber, designed and built by Avro in the 1920's. It was not selected for service, the Blackburn Ripon being ordered instead.
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[edit] Design and development
The Avro 571 Buffalo was designed by Avro as a private venture to meet the requirements of Air Ministry Specification 21/23,for a two seat torpedo bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, intended to replace the Blackburn Dart. The prototype (G-EBNW) first flew at the Avro works at Hamble during 1926 [1]. It was evaluated against the Blackburn Ripon and the Handley Page Harrow but was found to have poor handling and was therefore rejected [2].
The prototype was therefore rebuilt as the Avro 572 Buffalo II, with new, all metal wings, fitted with controllable Handley Page Slats and a more powerful engine. In this form, the Buffalo was much improved. By this time however, the Blackburn Ripon had been declared the competition winner [2].
[edit] Operational history
After it failed to be ordered into production the Buffalo was converted into a seaplane in 1928 for the Air Ministry. As serial number N239 it was used for trials at the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Felixstowe.
[edit] Variants
- Avro 571 Buffalo I
- Prototype powered by 450 hp Napier Lion Va engine.
- Avro 572 Buffalo II
- Rebuilt Buffalo I with new wing and powered by 530 hp Lion XIA.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (Buffalo II)
[edit] Design
The Buffalo was a single bay biplane, with a deep fuselage of tubular steel construction with a cabin under the pilot and observer's cockpits for operating the radio and bomb aiming. The Buffalo I had mixed metal/wooden construction wings, which were replaced in the Buffalo II with new metal wings.
Data from Avro Aircraft since 1908 [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: Two
- Length: 37 ft 3 in (11.36 m)
- Wingspan: 46 ft 0 in (14.02 m)
- Height: 14 ft 0 in (4.27 m)
- Wing area: 684 ft² (63.6 m²)
- Empty weight: 4,223 lb (1,920 kg)
- Loaded weight: 7,430 lb (3,377 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Napier Lion XIA 12 cylinder broad arrow piston engine, 530 hp (395 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 117 knots (135 mph, 217 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 91 knots (105 mph, 169 km/h)
- Range: 565 nm (650 mi, 1,046 km)
- Service ceiling 13,700 ft (4,180 m)
- Rate of climb: 770 ft/min (3.9 m/s)
- Wing loading: 10.9 lb/ft² (53.1 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.071 hp/lb (0.11 kW/kg)
Armament
- 1 fixed, forward firing Vickers gun (not Mk II) and one Lewis gun in rear cockpit.
Either
- One 18 in torpedo
or
- up to three 520 lb bombs
[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft Blackburn Ripon - Handley Page Harrow
[edit] References
- ^ a b Jackson, A J (1990). Avro Aircraft since 1908, 2nd edition, London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0-85177-834-8.
- ^ a b Mason, Francis K (1994). The British Bomber since 1914. Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0 85177 861 5.
[edit] External links
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