Avro Avenger

The Avro 566 Avenger was a prototype British fighter of the 1920s, designed and built by Avro. It was a single-seat, single-engine biplane of wood and fabric construction. Although it was a streamlined and advanced design, it never entered production.

566 Avenger
Avro Type 566
Role Fighter
Manufacturer Avro
Designer Roy Chadwick
First flight 26 June 1926
Retired 1931
Status Cancelled
Primary user RAF (intended)
Number built 1

Development

The Avenger was designed as a private venture and Roy Chadwick penned a machine of great aerodynamic cleanliness for its time. As originally built, it was powered by a 525 hp (391 kW) Napier Lion VIII and it first flew on 26 June 1926,[1] but no order was forthcoming; this was partly because by the time it was evaluated, the Air Ministry did not favour the Lion as a fighter engine.

In May 1928, the machine was modified as a racer, with equi-span wings of 28 ft (8.53 m) and revised struts and ailerons; it was fitted with a 553 hp (412 kW) Lion. The machine was subsequently redesignated Avro 567 Avenger II.

The Avenger ended its days as an instructional airframe.

Specifications (Avenger)

Data from The Complete Book of Fighters[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Length: 25 ft 6 in (7.77 m)
  • Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
  • Height: 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)
  • Wing area: 244 sq ft (22.7 m2) [1]
  • Empty weight: 2,368 lb (1,074 kg)
  • Gross weight: 3,220 lb (1,461 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Napier Lion VIII or Lion IX W-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 525 hp (391 kW) (Lion VIII)
553 hp (412 kW) (Lion IX)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 180 mph (290 km/h, 160 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 130 mph (210 km/h, 110 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 22,000 ft (6,700 m) [1]
  • Rate of climb: 2,100 ft/min (11 m/s)

Armament

  • Guns: provision for two machine-guns

References
  1. Jackson, A.J. Avro Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1990. ISBN 0-85177-834-8.
  2. Green, William; Swanborough, Gordon (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters. London: Salamander. p. 47. ISBN 1-85833-777-1.
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