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Avro 504 Biplane History
The Avro 504 was a two seat
all-wooden biplane introduced into RFC (Royal Flying Corps) service in late 1913. The
aircraft proved to be very popular with it's aircrew as it was reliable and
a relatively easy aircraft
to fly. When introduced, the Avro
504 was seen as a fighter bomber by the RFC, however, as WW1
progressed, it became unsuitable in any combat role. Once
it's performance no longer allowed it to keep up with the WW1 German
purpose designed fighters, it was demoted, becoming an
observation platform and scout aircraft. Due to it's excellent
flying qualities, it remained in production until 1933 as a trainer.
The Avro 504 Biplane as a Zeppelin
Interceptor
During the last year of WWI, some
Avro 504 aircraft were converted into a single seat configuration
and used in the skies over England as interceptors. Enemy fighters
lacked the range to reach the UK, but Zeppelin airships could do so
with ease. As a result, some Avro 504 aircraft were fitted with "aerial
bombs" for use against Zeppelins, while others were fitted with vertical
firing machine guns. The Avro 504's excellent stability made it the
perfect gun platform to defend against the "Zeppelin menace"
that London, in particular, was enduring.
This was not the first time
it had been used against Zeppelins, as the Royal Naval Air
Service (RNAS) had bombed the Zeppelin works at Friedrichshafen in
November 1914 using these biplanes. They caused considerable damage to the hydrogen generating
plant and several airship sheds with the loss of only one aircraft.
A total of 8,970 Avro 504 aircraft were produced during WW1.
An additional 1000+ aircraft were produced between 1918 and 1933, many of
which
were built by the Soviet Union, as the Avrushka U-1, and were used
alongside older British built aircraft as primary trainers.
The Avro 504 Biplane as an RAF
Trainer
When the RFC and RNAS combined to
form
the Royal Air Force (RAF) in April 1918, the Avro 504 was it's primary trainer and was
destined to remain in use with the RAF until 1933 when they were
replaced by the Avro Tutor.
The Avro 504 Biplane in WW2
When in
1939 WW2 started, a small number of Avro 504 aircraft were pressed
into RAF service once again; this time in the capacity of air
tugs. They were withdrawn from military service as soon as
newer replacements could be sourced.
Various scale
models, model kits and plans of this aircraft have been available
in the market place.
Avro 504k Biplane Specifications:
Avro 504 Crew: Pilot and gunner/trainee
Avro 504
Length: 29ft 5in (8.97m)
Avro 504
Wingspan: 36ft 0in (10.97m)
Avro 504
Height: 10ft 5in (3.17m)
Avro 504
Wing area: 330ft² (30.7 m²)
Avro 504
Empty weight: 1231lb (558kg)
Avro 504
Max takeoff weight: 1829lb (830kg)
Avro 504
Engine: Single 110 hp Le Rhône or Gnome Monosoupape Rotary engine
Avro 504
Maximum speed: 90mph (145 km/h)
Avro 504
Range: 250 mi (402 km)
Avro 504
Service ceiling: 16,000ft (4875m)
Avro 504k Biplane Armament:
Guns:
Single upper-wing mounted Lewis
gun Avro 504K
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