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Avro 504 Derivatives

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For a description of the format and data included in Production Tables, see here.

Type Description and Production Data

Type 527 Type 536 Type 540 Type 545 Type 546
Type 547 Type 547A Type 548 Type 548A Type 551
Type 552 Type 552A Type 552B Type 582 Type 585
Projected Variants
Production Summary
Type 527
Two seat reconnaissance fighting biplane, based on the Type 504E fuselage and tailplane, fitted with Type 504K wings. 150 h.p. Sunbeam Nubian powerplant, the radiator for which was directly in front of the pilot, along with twin exhaust stacks that protruded above the upper wing. Proposed armament consisted of a single free-mounted Lewis gun in the rear cockpit.
Production Details
Serial Range C/n Batch
Qty		 Conv. Canc'd Notes
 1 aircraft built by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Newton Heath, Manchester. First flew early 1916.
 none    1      To Works Order 2100
Total Production 1
Type 536
Type 504K airframe with the fuselage widened by 9in to accommodate four passengers in two side-by-side pairs in the rear cockpit, and a Type 504L fin and rudder. One 150 h.p. Bentley B.R.I powerplant (Avro built aircraft) or 130 h.p. Clerget (conversions by Surrey Flying Services Ltd).

Type 536 Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Range Service Ceiling
36 ft 9 in 29 ft 5 in 10 ft 5 in 335 sq ft 1431 lb 2226 lb 70 mph/ 61 kn 90 mph/ 78 kn 190 mi 12000 ft
11.2 m 8.97 m 3.18 m 31.12 m2 649 kg 1010 kg 113 km/h 145 km/h 306 km 3658 m

Production Details (Converted From stored Type 504K airframes)
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 10 conversions by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Hamble, Hants, between May and August, 1919, plus one completed as Type 546.
 ATC.1  K-114 / G-EACC  Retained by A.V. Roe. First flew at Hamble in April 1919 and as a seaplane in June.
 ATC.2  K-104 / G-EAAQ  Retained by A.V. Roe. Crashed as K-104; G-EAAQ ntu.
 ATC.3  K-105 / G-EAAP  Retained by A.V. Roe. Used for joy riding from Hounslow Heath.
 ATC.4  K-106 / G-EAAO  Converted from Type 504L. Retained by A.V. Roe. Crashed as K-106; G-EAAO ntu.
 ATC.5  K-137 / G-EADC  Retained by A.V. Roe.
 ATC.6  K-161 / G-EAGM  Retained by A.V. Roe. Crashed as K-161; G-EAGM ntu.
 ATC.7  K-165 / G-EAHA  Believed sold in Netherlands
 ATC.8  K-166 / G-EAHB  Retained by A.V. Roe. Used for joy riding
 ATC.9  K-116 / G-EACG  Retained by A.V. Roe.
 ATC.11  K-139 / G-EADV  Retained by A.V. Roe. Two seater with large fuselage fuel tank for experimental work or long distance competition flying.
 ATC.23  G-EAOM  Completed as Type 546
 12 conversions by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Newton Heath, Manchester. Completed mid 1919.
 B.1  K-173 / G-EAID  Retained by A.V. Roe and placed in storage at Alexandra Park.
 B.2  K-174 / G-EAIE  Retained by A.V. Roe and placed in storage at Alexandra Park.
 B.3  G-EAKD  Retained by A.V. Roe and placed in storage at Alexandra Park.
 B.4  K-175 / G-EAIF  Retained by A.V. Roe and placed in storage at Alexandra Park.
 B.5  G-EAJR  Retained by A.V. Roe and placed in storage at Alexandra Park.
 B.6  G-EAKJ  Retained by A.V. Roe. Used for joy riding at Brighton and elsewhere until sold to Surrey Flying Services at Croydon in April 1924.
 B.7  G-EAKK  Retained by A.V. Roe and placed in storage at Alexandra Park.
 B.8  G-EAKL  Retained by A.V. Roe and placed in storage at Alexandra Park. Re-erected by Surrey Flying Services as G-EBOY.
 B.9  G-EAKM  Retained by A.V. Roe and placed in storage at Alexandra Park until sold to Surrey Flying Services at Croydon in July 1925.
 B.0  G-EAKN  Retained by A.V. Roe and placed in storage at Alexandra Park until sold to F.J.V. Holmes (Berkshire Aviation Tours Ltd).
 B.1  G-EAKO  Retained by A.V. Roe and placed in storage at Alexandra Park.
 B.2  G-EAKP  Retained by A.V. Roe and placed in storage at Alexandra Park until sold to Surrey Flying Services at Croydon in June 1925.
 4 conversions by Surrey Flying Services Ltd., Croydon in 1926-1927.
   G-EBOF  Rebuild of stored airframe. Retained by Surrey Flying Services.
 P8  G-EBOY  Rebuild of G-EAKL. Retained by Surrey Flying Services.
   G-EBRB  Rebuild of stored airframe. Retained by Surrey Flying Services.
   G-EBTF  Rebuild of stored airframe. Retained by Surrey Flying Services.
Total Production  (26)
Type 540
Gunnery training version of Type 504K (possibly based on the Type 536). The design was done for Japan and some built there. (See Note 1)
Production Details
Serial Range C/n Batch
Qty		 Conv. Canc'd Notes
 An unknown number of Type 504K airframes were converted to Type 540 gunnery trainers.
       (??)    See Note 1
Total Production
Type 545
Experimental Type 504K fitted with a 90 h.p. Curtiss OX-5 powerplant. It featured spiral tube radiators on each side of the front cockpit.

Production Details (Converted From stored Type 504K airframe)
C/n Initial
Registration		 Military
Serial		 Notes
 1 conversion by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Newton Heath, Manchester, in October, 1919.
   G-EAPR  H2323  Retained by A.V.Roe. Later converted to Type 551. See note 2.
Total Production  (1)
Type 546
Type 536 with enclosed accommodation for three passengers, the pilot retaining an open cockpit. One 150 h.p. Bentley B.R.I powerplant.
Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 1 conversion by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Hamble, Hants, in December, 1919.
 ATC.23  G-EAOM  Retained by A.V. Roe. Construction started as Type 536 but completed as 546.
Total Production  (1)
Type 547
Two bay commercial triplane airliner using many surplus Type 504 components. The unstaggered wings, tailplane and undercarriage, were all from Type 504K, along with a Type 504L style fin, the new deep fuselage housing a fully enclosed cabin to seat four passengers, the pilot sitting in an open cockpit behind the cabin, offset to port. Ailerons were fitted to all six wings, with the centre pair having aerodynamic balance servo surfaces mounted above and ahead of the ailerons. The forward fuselage was a plywood box assembly, while the rear fuselage was a rectangular section, wire braced, box-girder. One 160 h.p. Beardmore powerplant.
Type 547A
As Type 547 with 240 h.p. Siddeley Puma powerplant to meet the requirements of the 1920 Air Ministry small Commercial Aeroplane Competition.

Type 547 Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Range Service Ceiling
37 ft 4 in 29 ft 10 in 14 ft 5 in 498 sq ft 2077 lb 3000 lb 83 mph/ 72 kn 96 mph/ 83 kn 230 mi
11.38 m 9.09 m 4.39 m 46.27 m2 942 kg 1361 kg 134 km/h 154 km/h 370 km

Type 547 and Type 547A Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 1 aircraft built by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Hamble, Hants as the Type 547. First flew early 1920.
 547/1  G-EAQX  To Australia for Qantas as G-AUCR, via Australian Aircraft and Engineering Co Ltd, Sydney.
 1 aircraft built by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Hamble, Hants as the Type 547A. First flew mid 1920. A second machine was not completed.
 547A/1  G-EAUJ  Demonstrator. Retained by A.V. Roe. Flown in Air Ministry Civil Aeroplane Competition, Martlesham in August 1920.
Total Production  2  (Plus 1 Not Completed)
Type 548
Type 504K airframe modified to carry two passengers in tandem behind the pilot. Fuel, entirely gravity fed, was carried in a large centre section tank and a false decking covered the large rear cockpit so that each occupant had his own windscreen. One 80 h.p. Renault powerplant.
Type 548A
Type 548 fitted with the 120 h.p. A.D.C. Airdisco powerplant.

Type 548 Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Range Service Ceiling
36 ft 29 ft 5 in 10 ft 5 in 330 sq ft 1338 lb 1943 lb 65 mph/ 56 kn 80 mph/ 70 kn 175 mi
10.97 m 8.97 m 3.18 m 30.66 m2 607 kg 881 kg 105 km/h 129 km/h 282 km

UK Civil Registered Type 548 and Type 548A Production Details (Converted From ex Military Type 504K Except As Noted)
C/n Initial
Registration		 Military Serial Type Notes
 4 conversions by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Hamble, Hants, 1919-21.
 548/1  G-EAPQ  H2322  548  Prototype, first flew late 1919. To W.G. Pudney in February 1922. C/n unconfirmed.
 548/2  K-147 / G-EAFH    548  Converted from civil 504K. To the Welsh Aviation Co, May 1921. C/n unconfirmed.
 548/3  G-EALF    548  Converted from civil 504K. Retained by A.V. Roe. C/n unconfirmed.
 548/4  G-EAVH    548  To A.V. Roe. To Frank Shingleton and operated by flying school Montevideo, Uruguay, 1920.
 3 conversions by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Hamble, Hants, in 1924. Built from spares.
 5100  G-EBIT    548A  To North Sea Aerial and General Transport Co. Ltd, Brough.
 5101  G-EBIU    548A  To North Sea Aerial and General Transport Co. Ltd, Brough.
 5102  G-EBIV    548A  To North Sea Aerial and General Transport Co. Ltd, Brough.
 11 conversions by the Aircraft Disposal Co., Ltd., Croydon, Surrey, 1921-26.
   G-EAAL    548  Converted from civil 504K. To de Havilland in 1925, named "Vida".
   G-EAYD    548  Converted from civil 504K.
   G-EBAG  H2025  548  To Southern Counties Aviation, June 1925.
   G-EBFL  H2053  548  To de Havilland Aircraft Co. Ltd., March 1923.
   G-EBFM  H2070  548  To de Havilland Aircraft Co. Ltd., March 1923.
   G-EBHK  H7488  548  Sold abroad August 1925.
   G-EBHL  H2067  548  To de Havilland Aircraft Co. Ltd., August 1923.
   G-EBKN  E449  548A  Converted from 504K in 1925. To A.G. Head, Shoreham, in February 1930.
 R/R3/RE/70022  G-EBOK    548  Built from spares? To Light Planes (Lancs) Ltd., (Lancashire Aero Club), June 1926.
   G-EBPJ  E9337  548  To Nigel Norman, October 1926.
   G-EBPO  E3387  548  To Newcastle-upon-Tyne Light Aeroplane Club, November 1926.
 3 conversions by Surrey Flying Services Ltd., Croydon, Surrey, 1921-22.
   G-EBAJ  E3043  548  To Marconi Wireless Telegraph Co. Ltd., December 1921.
   G-EBBC  H2212  548  To Derwnt Hall Caine, January 1922.
 G516  G-AABW    548  Built frome spares? Dual control trainer. Retained by Surrey Flying Services Ltd.
 7 conversions by the Henderson School Of Flying Ltd., Brooklands, Surrey, 1927-29
   G-EAJB  H2598  548  Converted from civil 504K. Retained by Henderson Flying School Ltd.
   G-EBRD    548  Built from spares. Retained by Henderson Flying School Ltd.
   G-EBSC    548  Built from spares. Retained by Henderson Flying School Ltd.
   G-EBVE    548  Built from spares. Retained by Henderson Flying School Ltd.
   G-EBWH    548  Built from spares. Retained by Henderson Flying School Ltd.
   G-EBWJ    548  Built from spares. Retained by Henderson Flying School Ltd.
   G-AADT  F8767  548  Retained by Henderson Flying School Ltd.
 2 conversions by the Berkshire Aviation Tours. Ltd., Barton, Manchester, 1931.
   G-ABMB  H2232  548  To the Giro Aviation Co, May 1931.
   G-ABSV    548  To the Giro Aviation Co, December 1931.
Total Production  (30)
Non-UK Civil Registered Type 548 and Type 548A (Converted From Type 504K)
C/n Initial
Registration		 Military Serial Type Notes
Australia Total Production (4)
 D.1  G-AUBG    548A  Converted by Matthews Aviation, Essendon.
   G-AUBK    548  Converted by E. W. Percival, Richmond NSW, but still registered as a 504K. Later converted to Type 548A.
   G-AUBK    548  Type 504K G-AUEW rebuilt in 1928 by D.G. Brims and Sons, Milton Vic, but still registered as a 504K.
 Later to Type 548A.
   G-AUEW    548A  Converted by Courier Aircraft Ltd.
Canada  3 conversions by Canadian Vickers Ltd., Vickers Works, Montreal, Canada, 1920-21
 1160  G-CACD    548  To Canadian Aircraft Co Ltd, Winnipeg.
   G-CACI  D8997  548  Ex 504K G-CABS. To Canadian Aircraft Co Ltd, Winnipeg.
 1161  G-CACN    548  To McCall-Hanrahan Aero Services, Calgary.
Total Production  (7)
U.K. Built Type 548 and Type 548A Delivered For Export As Military (Converted From Type 504K)
Serial Range C/n Type Qty Notes
Portugal  2 aircraft to the Portuguese Grupo de Aviação de Informação (GAI, Aviation Reconnaissance Group), origin unknown, in 1924.
 3,??    548A  (2)  
Latvia  2 aircraft to the Latvijas Aviācijas Nodaļa (Latvian Aviation Division), origin unknown, in December 1924.
 32, 33  16874, 16891  548  (2)  
Total Production (4)
Type 551
Type 504K fitted with a 180 h.p. Wolseley Viper powerplant.
Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 1 aircraft converted by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Newton Heath in 1920.
   G-EAPR  Ex Type 545 and later converted to the prototype Type 552. See note 2.
Total Conversions  (1)
Type 552
Two seat trainer, similar to the Type 551 but fitted with full dual controls and tapered ailerons. Early aircraft featured an additional fuel tank above the centre section, but on later aircraft this was replaced by two underwing tanks just outboard of the upper wing centre section. Optional wheeled (504K style) or float undercarriage, floatplane versions featuring an additional large fin, similar to the Type 504B, but retaining the standard 'comma' rudder. One 180 h.p. Wolseley Viper powerplant.
Type 552A
Canadian built version, similar to later build Type 552. Built as single seater with the Type 504N undercarriage, or as two seater with single centreline float. All featured 25 gallon wing tanks for greater range.
Type 552B
Type 552 fitted with a single central main float and two wingtip floats. UK built prototype only.

Type 552 Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Range Service Ceiling
39 ft 5 in 28 ft 10 ft 330 sq ft 1480 lb 2260 lb 86 mph/ 75 kn 92 mph/ 80 kn 360 mi
12.01 m 8.53 m 3.05 m 30.66 m2 671 kg 1025 kg 138 km/h 148 km/h 579 km

UK Built Avro 552 Delivered As Military (Converted From Type 504K)
Serial Range C/n Batch
Qty		 Conv. Canc'd Notes
Argentina  14 aircraft converted by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Hamble, Hants, for the Argentine Naval Aviation School (Escuela de Aviación Naval). Delivered in April 1922
 E-1 - E-14      (14)    See note 4.
Chile  8 aircraft converted by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Hamble, Hants, for the Chilean Military Aviation Service (Servicio de Aviación Militar de Chile). Delivered in 1923
 81, 90 - 95, 97      (8)    
Total Production (22)
UK Civil Registered Type 552 (all landplanes except see note 2)
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 1 aircraft converted by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Newton Heath in 1921.
   G-EAPR  Prototype, ex Type 551. See note 2.
 1 aircraft converted by L.G. Anderson in 1930.
   G-ABGO  Ex Type 586 autogiro G-EBTX. See note 2.
 3 aircraft built from spares by C.B. Field in 1933-34.
   G-ACAW  Built from spares. To Plane Advertising Ltd.
 12  G-ACAX  Built from spares. To Plane Advertising Ltd.
 9  G-ACRP  Built from spares. To Plane Advertising Ltd.
Total Conversions  (5)
Non-UK Civil Registered Type 552
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 Bulgaria  2 aircraft converted by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Newton Heath, for Bulgaria, converted from unknown 504K airframes.
   B-BAHA  Converted from 504K
   B-BBAH  Converted from 504K
Total Conversions  (2)
Non-UK Built Type 552A Delivered As Military
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 Canada  5 aircraft built by Canadian Vickers Ltd., Vickers Works, Montreal, Canada, for the RCAF. Delivered between December 1924 and March 1925.
 Known as Avro Viper Landplane (A.V.L.) in service. All aircraft carried civil registrations.
 C.V.10  G-CYFT  
 C.V.11  G-CYFU  
 C.V.12  G-CYFV  
 C.V.13  G-CYFW  
 C.V.14  G-CYFX  
 Canada  9 aircraft built by Canadian Vickers Ltd., Vickers Works, Montreal, Canada, for the RCAF. Delivered between May and July 1925.
 Known as Avro Viper Seaplane (A.V.S) in service. All aircraft carried civil registrations.
 C.V.20  G-CYGB  
 C.V.21  G-CYGC  
 C.V.22  G-CYGD  
 C.V.23  G-CYGE  
 C.V.24  G-CYGF  
 C.V.25  G-CYGG  Converted to 504NS
 C.V.26  G-CYGH  
 C.V.27  G-CYGI  
 C.V.28  G-CYGJ  
Total Production  14
Type 582
One Type 504N fuselage fitted experimentally with special thick high-lift wing and single-bay struts.
Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 1 conversion by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Hamble, Hants, March, 1927.
 5104  G-EBKQ  Avro Type 504K (504N Development aircraft) G-EBKQ became the only Avro 582 and later a 504O.
Total Conversions  (1)
Type 585
Experimental Type 504R fitted with the 'N'-type undercarriage. One 90 h.p. Avro Alpha powerplant.
Production Details
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 1 conversion by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Hamble, Hants, in December 1926.
 R3/R/70000  G-EBPH  Ex Type 504R G-EBPH.
Total Conversions  (1)

Projected Variants

  • Type 527A
  • Type 527 with longer span wings.
  • Type 547B
  • Floatplane derivative of Type 547A.
  • Type 553
  • Trainer version of Type 548.
  • Type 557
  • Single seat monoplane with fuselage from Type 552, undercarriage from Type 504N and a new parasol mainplane. One 180 h.p. Wolseley Viper powerplant.
    The Type Number was reallocated to the Ava.
  • Type 598 Warregull I
  • Two seat trainer for the Australian Government based on the Type 504N. 160 h.p. Armstrong Siddeley Lynx powerplant.
  • Type 599 Warregull II
  • Redesigned variant of Type 598.
  • Type 599A Warregull II
  • Seaplane variant of Type 599.

Production Summary

All Aircraft By Type
Type Built New Conv Canc'd Total
 Type 527 1 1
 Type 536 (26) 26
 Type 540 ??
 Type 545 (1) 1
 Type 546 (1) 1
 Type 547 2 1 3
 Type 548 (27) 27
 Type 548A (5) 5
 Type 551 (1) 1
 Type 552 (29) 29
 Type 552A 14 14
 Type 552B (1) 1
 Type 582 (1) 1
 Type 585 (1) 1
17 (93) 1

Notes

  1. The exact number of Type 540 conversions unknown. Thanks to Eric Harlin for clarifying the origin of the Type 540 (via e-mail).
  2. Unused Type 504K H2323 was fitted with a Curtiss OX-5 powerplant in 1919 to became the prototype Type 545 G-EAPR, the Curtiss being replaced by a Wolseley Viper in 1920, the aircraft now becoming the sole Type 551. Fitted with an additional overwing fuel tank, dual controls and tapered ailerons, G-EAPR became the prototype Type 552 in 1921. Initially retaining the standard Type 504K skid type undercarriage, G-EAPR was fitted with a V-type undercarriage for the aerial Derby of 16 July that year, then almost immediately afterwards was fitted with twin floats. This optional float / 504K skid undercarriage became the standard Type 552 configuration.
    In 1922, G-EAPR was again modified to test various features to be incoporated in the Type 504N, including replacing the overwing fuel tank by two tanks just outboard of the upper wing centre section, and the 'N' Type undercarrige. In this form it probably became the Type 552A, although this designation is also applied to the Canadian built aircraft. Finally, fitted with a rather antiquated flat bottomed cental float, G-EAPR became the prototype 552B.
    In 1927, the fuselage of G-EAPR was used to create the Cierva C.8V G-EBTX (Avro Type 586), reconverted to a 552A as G-ABGO for Leslie George Anderson, Kensington, London W.8, in 1931.
  3. Frequently erroneously referred to Type 552B, these 9 two seat single float seaplanes were in fact designated Type 552A, the same as the single seat landplanes. They differed from the Avro produced Type 552B in having a significantly more modern float design.
  4. All aircraft could be equiped as land or floatplanes. It has been noted that when floats were fitted, they had the prefix 'H' to their serial, but the only photograph of an 'H' prefix this author has seen belonged to a landplane!.

Production References

  1. Avro Aircraft Since 1908, A.J. Jackson (Putnam, 1965 and 1990)
  2. Canadian Aircraft Since 1909, K.M. Molson and H.A. Taylor (Putnam, 1982)
  3. Avro An Aircraft Album, E.A. Harlin and G.A. Jenks (Ian Allen, 1973)
  4. Canadian Military Aircraft Serial Numbers at CASPIR (Canadian Aircraft Serials Personnel Information Resource) at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
  5. Air Britain Digest, 1989/1 (Air-Britain Publications)
  6. Air Britain Digest, 1989/3 (Air-Britain Publications)
  7. Air Britain Digest, 1990/3 (Air-Britain Publications)
  8. The British Civil Aircraft Registers 1919-1928, Compiled and Edited by Peter W. Moss (Air-Britain, 1969)
  9. The British Civil Aircraft Registers G-AAAA-'AAZZ (1928-1930), Compiled and Edited by Peter W. Moss (Air-Britain, 1971)
  10. British Isles Civil Aircraft Registers 1919-2011 (LAAS International, 2011)
  11. http://www.histarmar.com.ar/Armada%20Argentina/AviacionNaval/TR-AT-Avro552.htm
  12. http://latvianaviation.com/Avro_504K.html
  13. Avro 548 in Portuguese service at https://ex-ogma.blogspot.com/search?q=avro+548
  14. Aviation News, Vol.15, No.20 "British Aircraft in Argentine Navy Service", Jorge F. Nunez Padin
  15. British Combat Aircraft in Latin America, Santiago Rivas (Hikoki, 2019)

Page Revision History

Revised at Version 2.0.0
  • Improved Type Description and Added Specification details.
  • Type 552 export to Argentina dates corrected.
  • Type 552 exports to Chile serials added.
Revised at Version 1.4.0
  • Corrected 548/548A quantities.
  • Added user details.