Avro 652
The Avro 652 was a 1930s British light airliner, built by A.V. Roe and Company. It was a twin-engine, low-wing monoplane with a retractable undercarriage, and a tailwheel. Although only two were produced, it formed the basis for the successful Avro Anson.
Design and development
In 1933, Imperial Airways issued a specification to Avro, for a light airliner to transport four passengers for up to 420 mi (676 km) at a cruising speed of 130 mph (210 km/h). By August 1933, Roy Chadwick's team had produced a design study. This had to be revised when Imperial Airways changed the specification, to enable the machine to fly the Karachi-Bombay-Colombo night mail service. The amended design was accepted, and in April 1934 an order for two aircraft was issued. The first aircraft flew on 7 January 1935, and the type was certificated in March 1935.[1]
Operational history
On 11 March 1935, the two Avro 652s were delivered to Imperial Airways at Croydon Airport. They served with Imperial Airways, mostly operating the route from Croydon to Brindisi. In 1938, they were sold to Air Service Training Ltd, a civilian company operating under Air Ministry contracts. They served with No.3 E&RFTS (Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School) as navigational trainers, at Hamble airfield. In November 1939, both aircraft were transferred to No. 11 AONS (Air Observers' Navigation School), remaining at Hamble. In March 1941, they were impressed by the Air Ministry into RAF service with No. 1 School of Photography. In July 1941, both were transferred to the Fleet Air Arm, and served with 811 Squadron at RNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), until struck off charge in March 1942.[2][3][4]
Aircraft
- G-ACRM
- Imperial Airways, named Avalon, later to Fleet Air Arm with serial DG655.
- G-ACRN
- Imperial Airways, named Avatar, then Ava, later to Fleet Air Arm with serial DG656.
Operators
Specifications (Avro 652)
Data from Imperial-Airways.com[5]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Capacity: 4 passengers
- Length: 42 ft 3 in (12.88 m)
- Wingspan: 56 ft 5 in (17.2 m)
- Height: 13 ft 1 in (3.99 m)
- Wing area: 410 ft² (38.09 m²)
- Empty weight: 5,375 lb (2,438 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 7,400 lb (3,357 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah V radial engine, 270 hp (201 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 163 kn (188 mph, 302 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 143 kn (165 mph, 265 km/h)
- Stall speed: < 60 mph ()
- Range: 687 nmi (790 mi, 1,271 km)
- Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,791 m)
- Rate of climb: 770 ft/min [6] (3.9 m/s)
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
- Airspeed Envoy
- Bristol 142
- Percival Q.6
- Related lists
- List of aircraft of Imperial Airways
References
- ↑ Mondey 1994
- ↑ "Fleet Air Arm Archive".
- ↑ Sturtivant 1988, p. 290
- ↑ Jackson 1970, p. 140
- ↑ "Imperial Airways".
- ↑ Jackson 1990
Bibliography
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Avro Anson. |
- Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.
- Jackson, A J (1990). Avro Aircraft since 1908 (2nd edition ed.). Putnam. ISBN 0-85177-834-8.
- Mondey, David (1994). The Hamlyn Concise Guide to British Aircraft of World War II. Chancellor Press. ISBN 1-85152-668-4.
- Sturtivant, Ray. 1988. The Anson File. Air-Britain ISBN 0-85130-156-8
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