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,[1] 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.[3]
11,303 including Japanese, Soviet and other foreign production[2]
Design and development
First flown from Brooklands by Fred "Freddie" Raynham on 18 September 1913,[4] powered by an 80hp (60kW)Gnome Lambda seven-cylinder rotary engine, the Avro 504 was a development of the earlier Avro 500, designed for training and private flying. It was a two-bay all-wooden biplane with a square-section fuselage.
The Shuttleworth Avro 504K
Manufacturers
The following companies are recorded as manufacturing the Avro 504 under licence.[5][6]
Small numbers of early aircraft were purchased by the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) prior to the start of the First World War, and were taken to France when the war started. One of the RFC aircraft was the first British aircraft to be shot down by the Germans, on 22 August 1914. The pilot was 2nd Lt. Vincent Waterfall and his navigator Lt Charles George Gordon Bayly (both of 5 Sqn RFC)[7][8] The RNAS used four 504s to form a special flight in order to bomb the Zeppelin works at Friedrichshafen on the shores of Lake Constance. Three set out from Belfort in north-eastern France on 21 November 1914, carrying four 20lb (9kg) bombs each. While one aircraft was shot down, the raid was successful, with several direct hits on the airship sheds and the destruction of the hydrogen generating plant.[9]
Soon obsolete as a frontline aircraft, it came into its own as a trainer, with thousands being built during the war, with the major production types being the 504J and the mass production 504K, designed with modified engine bearers to accommodate a range of engines in order to cope with engine shortages. 8,340 Avro 504s had been produced by the end of 1918.[10]
In the winter of 1917–18 it was decided to use converted 504Js and 504Ks to equip Home Defence squadrons of the RFC, replacing ageing B.E.2cs, which had poor altitude performance. These aircraft were modified as single-seaters, armed with a Lewis gun above the wing on a Foster mounting, and powered by 100hp (75kW) Gnome or 110hp (82kW) Le Rhône engines. 274 converted Avro 504Js and Ks were issued to eight home defence squadrons in 1918, with 226 still being used as fighters at the end of the First World War.[11]
Following the end of the war, while the type continued in service as the standard trainer of the RAF, large numbers of surplus aircraft were available for sale, both for civil and military use. More than 300 504Ks were placed on the civil register in Britain. Used for training, pleasure flying, banner towing and even barnstorming exhibitions (as was ongoing in North America following World War I with the similar-role, surplus Curtiss JN-4s and Standard J-1s); civil 504s continued flying in large numbers until well into the 1930s.
The embryonic air service of the Soviet Union, formed just after the First World War, used both original Avro 504s and their own Avrushka (" Little Avro") copy of it for primary training as the U-1 in the early 1920s, usually powered by Russian-made copies of the Gnome Monosoupape rotary engine. This Russian version of the 504 was replaced by what would become the most produced biplane in all of aviation history, the Polikarpov Po-2, first known as the U-2; the type remained in Soviet service till the late 1920s, and much later elsewhere.
Although Avro 504s sold to China were training versions, they participated in battles among warlords by acting as bombers with the pilot dropping hand grenades and modified mortar shells [citation needed].
The improved, redesigned and radial-engined 504N with a new undercarriage was produced by Avro in 1925. After evaluation of two prototypes, one powered by the Bristol Lucifer and the other by the Armstrong-Siddeley Lynx, the Lynx-powered aircraft was selected by the RAF to replace the 504K. 592 were built between 1925 and 1932, equipping the RAF's five flying training schools, while also being used as communication aircraft. The 504N was also exported to the armed forces of Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, Greece, Siam and South Africa, with licensed production taking place in Denmark, Belgium, Canada, Siam and Japan.
The RAF's 504Ns were finally replaced in 1933 by the Avro Tutor, with small numbers continuing in civilian use until 1940, when seven were impressed into RAF service, where they were used for target- and glider-towing.
The 504 was the first British aeroplane to strafe troops on the ground[12] as well as the first British aircraft to make a bombing raid over Germany.[1] It was also the first Allied aeroplane to be downed by enemy anti-aircraft fire and was the first aircraft flown by many future aces, including Billy Bishop.
The 504 is easily recognisable because of the single skid between the wheels, referred to as the "tooth pick" in the RAF.
Two-seat weapons training variant of the Type 504B for the RNAS. The Avro 504G was intended as a bombing/gunnery trainer, with provision for a Scarff ring mounted on the upper longerons, though the final ten delivered had no provision for a gun. Fitted with one 80 hp Gnome powerplant. 50 built and delivered between June 1917 and January 1918. 30 built by Avro and 20 constructed by The Regent Carriage Company.
504H
504C modified for catapult trials. 80hp (60kW) Gnome engine.
504J
504A modified to mount a 100hp (75kW) Gnome engine.
This Avro 504K was the first aeroplane in Iceland, taken there in 1919
504K
Two-seat training aircraft. The 504K had a universal mount to take different engines. Single-seat fighter (Comic) conversion used for anti-zeppelin work. Several were assembled in Australia by Australian Aircraft & Engineering.[13]130hp (97kW)Clerget 9B, 100hp (75kW)Gnome Monosoupape or 110hp (82kW)Le Rhône 9J engines.
504K Mk.II
Hybrid trainer based on 504K fuselage with 504N undercarriage and wings and powered by rotary engine. Built under licence in Mexico as Avro Anahuac.[14]
504L
Floatplane version. 150hp (110kW)Bentley BR1, 130hp (97kW) Clerget or 110hp (82kW) Le Rhône engines.
504M
Three-seat cabin biplane. Only one was ever built. 100hp (75kW) Gnome engine.
504N
Two-seat training aircraft. Redesigned postwar trainer for RAF with 160hp (120kW)Armstrong Siddeley Lynx engine. 598 built.
504O
Floatplane version of 504N. First aircraft to fly above the Arctic Circle in 1923 Oxford Expedition.
504P
Unbuilt version of the 504N with side-by-side seating.[15]
504Q
Three-seat cabin biplane. The 504Q was built for the Oxford University Arctic Expedition. Only one was ever built, powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Lynx engine.
504R Gosport
Reworked trainer with revised, lightweight structure. Five prototypes flown 1926 to 1927 with various engines (100hp/75kW Gnome Monosoupape, 100hp/75kW) Avro Alpha, (140hp/104kW) Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major and (150hp/110kW) Armstrong Siddeley Mongoose), with the Mongoose chosen for production aircraft. Ten were sold to Argentina, with 100 more built by FMA under licence in Argentina. Twelve were exported to Estonia, remaining in service until 1940, and an unknown number to Peru.[16]
504S
Two-seat training aircraft. Built under licence in Japan by Nakajima.
540
Observer training version of 504K for Japan.
582
Experimental version of 504N, with new wings of RAF 30 aerofoil section, Frise ailerons on the bottom mainplanes, wing struts reduced to a "K" arrangement and a simplified undercarriage. Converted back to 504N standard in 1928 for Bristol Titan engine test bed.
585
504R modified with 504N undercarriage and 90hp (67kW) Avro Alpha engine.
598 Warregull
Two-seat trainer based on 504N for Australia, not built.
599 Warregull II
Redesigned version of Type 598, not built.
Yokosuka K2Y1
Japanese version of the Avro 504N, given the long designation Yokosuka Navy Type 3 Primary Trainer, powered by a 130hp (97kW) Mitsubishi-built Armstrong Siddeley Mongoose radial piston engine, 104 built.
Yokosuka K2Y2
Improved version of the K2Y1, powered by a 160hp (120kW)Gasuden Jimpu 2 radial piston engine. 360 built (K2Y1 and K2Y2).[17] Watanabe built aircraft were given the long designation Watanabe Navy Type 3-2 Land-based Primary Trainer.
Orlogsværftet Flyvemaskineværksted LB.I - Danish production at the Royal Naval Dockyard (Orlogsværftet)[19]
Operators
Argentina
Argentine Army Aviation Service - purchased 10 directly from Avro, with a further 34 license-built by FMA from 1928 to 1937. In service until 1938.[20][21][n 1]
No. 1 Flying Training School RAAF at Point Cook[13]
Western Australian Airways
Qantas (Queensland And Northern Territory Aerial Service)
Belgium
Belgian Air Force purchased 50 British-built 504Ks from 1920 to 1922, with a further 27 being built under license by SABCA[22] These were replaced by the 504N, 17 being built by Avro in 1929–31,[23] and 31 being built under license.[24]
Bolivia
Bolivian Air Force 11 Avro 504R Gosport
Brazil
Brazilian Air Force
Brazilian Naval Aviation
Canada
Royal Canadian Air Force
Chile
Chilean Air Force
Chilean Navy
China
Republic of China Air Force
China-Nanjing
Reorganized Republic of China Air Force operated at least one in the trainer role.
Denmark
Royal Danish Air Force
Royal Danish Navy
Estonia
Estonian Air Force
Finland
Finnish Air Force
Greece
Hellenic Air Force
Hellenic Navy
Guatemala
Guatemalan Air Force
British India
Iran
Imperial Iranian Air Force
Ireland
Irish Air Service
Irish Air Corps
Japan
Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service
Latvia
Latvian Air Force
Aizsargi
Federated Malay States
Mexico
Mexican Air Force
Models made in Mexico were called "Avro Anáhuac"
Mongolia
Mongolian People's Army Air Corps
Netherlands
Dutch Army Aviation Group -
Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force
New Zealand
New Zealand Permanent Air Force
Norway
Norwegian Army Air Service
Peru
Peruvian Air Force
Poland
Polish Air Force - 1 Avro 504K (captured from the Soviets in 1920).[25]
Portugal
Portuguese Air Force
Portuguese Navy
Russian Empire
Imperial Russian Air Service
South Africa
South African Air Force
Soviet Union
Soviet Air Force - With original British-built examples, and Soviet built U-1 Avrushka copy.
A3-4 – 504K on static display at the Australian War Memorial in Campbell, Australian Capital Territory. It was initially given the serial number H2174 before being sent to Australia in 1918–19. It was donated to the memorial in August 1929. It was loaned to Qantas in 1965 and restored to resemble the first Qantas aircraft. It was restored to original condition and returned to the Australian War Memorial in 1987.[28]
Replica – 504K on static display at the Sydney Airport in Sydney, New South Wales. Built in 1988, it is marked as G-AUBG and represents the first Qantas Avro 504K.[citation needed]
Replica – 504K on static display at the RAAF Museum in Point Cook, Victoria. It uses an original engine, fittings, and instruments and is marked as E3747.[30]
Canada
H2453 – 504K on static display at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, Ontario. It was previously registered as G-CYFG and before that owned by Cole Palen.[31][32]
Replica – 504K on static display at the Base Borden Military Museum at CFB Borden near Angus, Ontario. It is on loan from the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, was previously registered as G-CYCK, and before that was owned by J.S. Appleby.[33][32]
Finland
AV-57 – 504K in storage at the Finnish Airforce Museum in Tikkakoski, Jyväskylä.[34][35]
New Zealand
A202 – 504K airworthy at The Vintage Aviator in Masterton, Wellington. It was purchased by the New Zealand Permanent Air Force in 1925, and subsequently operated as a civilian aircraft.[36][37][38]
Norway
Unknown – 504K on static display at the Norwegian Aviation Museum in Bodø, Nordland. It was in service from July 1921 to 1928 and has been on display at the museum since 1995. It is painted with the registration number 103, which belonged to 504A that crashed in 1919.[39]
Russia
Replica – 504K airworthy in Russia. It was previously on display at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia.[40][41] It has been given the serial number "H5991" and is painted in Royal Flying Corps colors.[citation needed]
United Kingdom
BK892 – 504K airworthy at the Shuttleworth Collection in Old Warden, Bedfordshire. It was originally given the serial number H5199, but was converted to a 504N and sold into civilian ownership. However, it was later impressed into RAF service during World War II as a glider tug, at which point it was given a new serial number. Again returned to civilian use after the war, it was used in the filming of Reach for the Sky.[42][43][44]
H2311 – 504K on static display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.[46][47]
Composite – 504K on static display at the Royal Air Force Museum London in London. It is made up of the fuselage of G-EBJE and the wings of G-EBKN.[48][49]
Replica – 504K on static display at the Brooklands Museum in Weybridge, Surrey.[50] Marked as G-AACA, it was originally built as a taxiable replica for the 1970s BBC TV series 'Wings'; later acquired by the RAF Museum, Hendon and stored at RAF Henlow then loaned to Brooklands Museum c.1987. Later donated to Brooklands Museum, fitted with an original rotary engine and restored to represent one of two 504s used by the Brooklands School of Flying in the late 1920s and early 1930s.[citation needed]
Replica – 504J on static display at Solent Sky in Southampton, Hampshire.[51] It is marked as C4451 and was built by ADJ, BAPC No 210.[citation needed]
Replica-504K built by Pursang in Argentina in 2010, bought by Eric Vernon-Roe, grandson of Alliot Vernon-Roe, founder of Avro, and then to the UK. Registered as G-EROE, it displays with the Great War Display Team.
United States
A201 – 504 under restoration at Blue Swallow Aircraft in Earlysville, Virginia.[citation needed]
Replica – 504 under construction at Blue Swallow Aircraft in Earlysville, Virginia[52][53]
Replica – 504K on static display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. It was built in 1966-1967 by the Royal Canadian Air Force's Aircraft Maintenance & Development Unit and arrived at the museum in May 2003. It was previously registered as G-CYEI.[57][32]
Specifications (Avro 504K)
Avro 504K 3-view drawing
Data from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft,[58] Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I[59]
List of aircraft of the Spanish Republican Air Force
Footnotes
The 504 is listed in several sources as having been used by the Argentine Air Force. This is because its predecessor, the Army Aviation Service, was established in 1912 and dissolved in 1945 when the Air Force was created.
Notes
Holmes, 2005. p 23.
"Avro 504". britishaviation-ptp.com. Retrieved 23 January 2019.
Morgała, Andrzej (1997). Samoloty wojskowe w Polsce 1918-1924 [Military aircraft in Poland 1918-1924] (in Polish). Warsaw: Lampart. p. 118. ISBN83-86776-34-X.
Garlicki, Jarosław (2001). Historia lotnictwa wojskowego Królestwa Tajlandii w latach 1912 - 1945. Część 2. "Militaria i Fakty". 1-2/2001, p. 34-35 (in Polish)
Gaertner, John, "Building The Avro 504... A 25 Year Dream", WW1 Aero
McCullough, Patrick; Haggerty, Tim. "World War I (1914-1918)". Cole Palen's Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome. Rhinebeck Aerodrome Museum. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
"FAA REGISTRY [N4929]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
Air Progress: 20. September 1971.{{cite journal}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
"Avro 504K". National Museum of the US Air Force. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
Donald, David (1997). The encyclopedia of world aircraft (Updateded.). Ottawa: Prospero Books. p.77. ISBN9781856053754.
John W.R. Taylor (1990). "forward". Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I. By Whittaker, W. E. De. B. New York, N.Y.: Military Press. pp.50–51. ISBN978-0517033760.
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