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Avro 504
Role	Trainer, Fighter, Bomber
Manufacturer	Avro
First flight	18 September 1913[1]
Introduction	1913
Retired	1934
Primary users	Royal Flying Corps Royal Naval Air Service
Produced	1913–1932
Number built	8970[1] (during World War I)

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 the First World War, in any military capacity, during that conflict. More than 10,000 were built from 1913 until production ended in 1932.^{[citation needed]}

Design and development

First flown on 18 September 1913,^[2] powered by an 80 hp (60 kW) 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

Operational history

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)^[3][4] 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 20 lb (9 kg) 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.^[5]

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.^[6]

Foster-mounted Lewis gun on night fighter Avro 504K

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 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome or 110 hp (80 kW) 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.^[7]

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 in Soviet service in the late 1920s.

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^[8] 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.

Variants

Qantas Avro 504K replica with Sunbeam engine displayed at Qantas Domestic Terminal

• 
  504: 80 hp (60 kW) Gnome Lambda engine.

Original model

• 
  504A:

Modified with smaller ailerons and broader struts. 80 hp (60 kW) Gnome engine.

• 504B

Version for RNAS with larger fin. 80 hp (60 kW) Gnome or Le Rhône engine.

• 504C

Single-seat anti-zeppelin aircraft for the RNAS. The 504C was fitted with an extra fuel tank, in place of the observer.

• 504D

Single-seat anti-zeppelin aircraft for the Royal Flying Corps. Six built.

• 
  504E: 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome Monosoupape engine. Ten built.


• 
  504F: 75 hp (56 kW) Rolls-Royce Hawk engine. One built.


• 
  504G: 80 hp (60 kW) Gnome engine.


• 504H

Used for catapult trials. 80 hp (60 kW) Gnome engine.

• 504J

Used as a trainer. 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome or 80 hp (60 kW) Le Rhône 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 conversion used for anti-zeppelin work. Several were assembled in Australia by Australian Aircraft & Engineering.^[9] 130 hp (97 kW) Clerget 9, 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome Monosoupape or 110 hp (82 kW) 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.^[10]

• 504L

Floatplane version. 150 hp (110 kW) Bentley BR1, 130 hp (97 kW) Clerget or 110 hp (82 kW) Le Rhône engines.

• 504M

Three-seat cabin biplane. Only one was ever built. 100 hp (75 kW) Gnome engine.

• 504N

Two-seat training aircraft. Redesigned postwar trainer for RAF with 160 hp (120 kW) 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.^[11]

• 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 (100 hp/75 kW Gnome Monosoupape, 100 hp/75 kW) Avro Alpha, 140 hp/104 kW Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major and 150 hp/110 kW) 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.^[12]

• 504S

Two-seat training aircraft. Built under licence in Japan by Nakajima.

• Yokosuka K2Y1

Japanese version of the Avro 504N, given the long designation Yokosuka Navy Type 3 Primary Trainer, powered by a 130 hp (97 kW) Mitsubishi-built Armstrong Siddeley Mongoose radial piston engine, 104 built.

• Yokosuka K2Y2

Improved version of the K2Y1, powered by a 160 hp (120 kW) Gasuden Jimpu 2 radial piston engine. 360 built (K2Y1 and K2Y2).^[13] Watanabe built aircraft were given the long designation Watanabe Navy Type 3-2 Land-based Primary Trainer.

• 
  U-1 (Uchebnyi - 1) Avrushka
  

Russian copy of the 504K. Over 700 built.^[14]

• MU-1 (Morskoy Uchebnyi - 1)

Russian seaplane version.

Operators

 Argentina

• 
  Argentine Army Aviation Service ^{[15][n 1]}

 Australia

• 
  Australian Flying Corps
  
  • 
    No. 5 (Training) Squadron in the United Kingdom
    
  
  
  • 
    No. 6 (Training) Squadron in the United Kingdom
  
  
  • 
    No. 7 (Training) Squadron in the United Kingdom
  
  
  • 
    No. 8 (Training) Squadron in the United Kingdom
  
  
  • 
    Central Flying School AFC at Point Cook, Victoria
    
  
  


• 
  Royal Australian Air Force
  
  • 
    No. 1 Flying Training School RAAF at Point Cook^[9]


• 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^[16] These were replaced by the 504N, 17 being built by Avro in 1929–31,^[17] and 31 being built under license.^[18]

 Bolivia

• Bolivian Air Force

 Brazil

• Brazilian Air Force


• Brazilian Naval Aviation

 Canada

• Royal Canadian Air Force

 Chile

• Chilean Air Force


• Chilean Navy

 China

• Republic of China Air Force

 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).^[19]

 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.

Kingdom of Spain

• Spanish Navy


• Spanish Republican Navy

 Sweden

• Swedish Air Force


• Swedish Navy

  Switzerland

• Swiss Air Force

 Siam (Thailand)

• 
  Royal Siamese Air Force - 40 Avro 504N (at least).^[20]


• Royal Thai Navy

 Turkey

• 
  Turkish Air Force - Two aircraft

 United Kingdom

• Royal Flying Corps


• Royal Air Force


• Royal Naval Air Service

 United States

• American Expeditionary Force


• United States Army Air Service

 Uruguay

• Uruguayan Air Force

Surviving aircraft and replicas

Survivor Avro 504K flying at Shuttleworth Uncovered 2015

Australia

• 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.^[21]

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.^[22][23]


• 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.^[24][23]

Finland

• AV-57 – 504K in storage at the Finnish Airforce Museum in Tikkakoski, Jyväskylä.^[25][26]

New Zealand

• ZK-ACU – 504K purchased by the New Zealand Permanent Air Force in 1925, allocated serial A202, and subsequently operated as a civilian aircraft. The restored aircraft is airworthy and owned by The Vintage Aviator.^[27]

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.^[28]

Russia

• Replica – 504K airworthy in Russia. It was previously on display at the Military Aviation Museum in Virginia Beach, Virginia.^[29][30] 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.^[31][32][33]


• C4451 - Replica 504J on static display at Solent Sky in Southampton built by ADJ, BAPC No 210


• D7560 – 504K on static display at the Science Museum in London.^[34]


• H2311 – 504K on static display at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester.^[35][36]


• 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.^[37][38]

United States

• A company in Virginia named Blue Swallow Aircraft is building two reproduction Avro 504s.^[39][40]


• Original Avro 504 serial number A201 under restoration by Blue Swallow Aircraft, LLC in Earlysville, VA. Sister ship to Stuart Tantrums A202 restored in New Zealand prior to his death.


• Replica – 504K undergoing work to airworthy at the Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome in Red Hook, New York.^[41][42] It has been flying since 1971.^[43]


• 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.^[44][23]

Specifications (Avro 504K)

Avro 504K drawing

Data from The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft^[45]

General characteristics

• 
  Crew: two


• 
  Length: 29 ft 5 in (8.97 m)


• 
  Wingspan: 36 ft (10.97 m)


• 
  Height: 10 ft 5 in (3.18 m)


• 
  Wing area: 330 ft² (30.7 m²)


• 
  Empty weight: 1,231 lb (558 kg)


• 
  Useful load: 180 lb (82 kg)


• 
  Max. takeoff weight: 1,829 lb (830 kg)


• 
  Powerplant: 1 × Le Rhône 9J Rotary, 110 hp (82 kW)

Performance

• 
  Maximum speed: 90 mph (145 km/h)


• 
  Cruise speed: 75 mph (121 km/h)


• 
  Range: 250 mi (402 km)


• 
  Service ceiling: 16,000 ft (4,876 m)


• 
  Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)


• 
  Wing loading: 5.54 lb/ft² (18.2 kg/m²)


• 
  Power/mass: 0.06 hp/lb (0.099 kW/kg)


• 
  Climb to 3,500 ft (1,065 m) in 5 min

Armament

1 fixed .303 Lewis atop upper wing (single-seat night fighter variants)
^[46]

Manufacturers

The following companies are recorded as manufacturing the Avro 504 under licence.^[47][48]

• 
  A. V. Roe and Co Ltd., Park Works, Newton Heath, Manchester; and at Hamble Aerodrome, near Southampton, Hants.


• 
  Australian Aircraft and Engineering, Sydney, NSW, Australia


• Bleriot and SPAD Aircraft Works, Addlestone


• 
  The Brush Electrical Engineering Co Ltd, Loughborough


• 
  Canadian Aeroplanes Ltd, Toronto, Ontario, Canada


• 
  The Eastbourne Aviation Co Ltd, Eastbourne
  


• 
  Aero Historic, Parana, Argentina (www.aerohistoric.com.ar)


• 
  Fabrica Militar de Aviones, Cordoba, Argentina


• 
  Frederick Sage and Co Ltd, Peterborough and London


• 
  The Grahame-White Aviation Co Ltd, Hendon Aerodrome, London


• 
  Harland and Wolff Ltd, Belfast


• 
  The Henderson Scottish Aviation Factory, Aberdeen


• 
  Hewlett and Blondeau Ltd, Luton.


• 
  Humber Limited, Coventry


• Morgan and Co, Leighton Buzzard
  


• 
  Nakajima Hikoki Seisaku Sho, Ohta-Machi, Tokyo, Japan


• 
  Parnall & Sons, Bristol


• Regent Carriage, Fulham


• 
  S. E. Saunders Ltd, East Cowes, Isle of Wight


• Savages Ltd, King's Lynn,


• 
  Societe Anonyme Belge de Constructions Aeronautiques Haren, Brussels, Belgium


• 
  The Sunbeam Motor Car Co Ltd, Wolverhampton


• 
  TNCA, Balbuena field in Mexico City.


• 
  Yokosuka Naval Arsenal, Japan

Notable appearances in media

See also

• German language page on the Soviet-produced U-1 Avrushka
  

Related development

• La Cierva C-6

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Curtiss JN-4


• 
  Polikarpov U-2, the Soviet U-1 Avrushka's replacement (late 1920s)


• Standard J

Related lists

• List of Interwar military aircraft


• List of aircraft of the Spanish Republican Air Force

Footnotes

References

Notes

Bibliography

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Avro 504.

• Argentine AVRO 504 (Spanish)


• Avro 504 site


• RAF Museum Hendon/London


• Biplanes.de German language page with Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome's Avro 504 reproduction


• Biplanes.de German language page with assembly photos of ORA's Avro 504 reproduction


• YouTube Video of Old Rhinebeck's Avro 504 reproduction in flight


• Avro 504 in Greek service


• Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome's Avro 504 page