Avro 558

The Avro 558 was a relatively small single-seat biplane of the British manufacturer Avro from the Avro chief designer Roy Chadwick made ​​specifically for an endurance event for small planes, the. During the period from 8 to 13 October 1923 was held in Lympne.

CEO Roe gave his designer a free hand in the design, but built a second model, the Avro for the same event 560

History

Chadwick built two engine variations in its basic construction, which was the type designation Avro 558. Both planes took part in the competition. The first machine was equipped with an air-cooled B & H 2- cylinder V-type motorcycle engine, who worked directly on the propeller shaft, the second machine was a 500 cc Douglas motorcycle engine with an intermediate gearbox (reduction via chain ).

The second plane showed better flight performance and was awarded a prize for the achieved altitude of about 4221.5 m.

The first machine proved to fly difficult. After an emergency landing during the current competition was a replacement of the engine - built was now a 698 cc Blackburn Tomtit engine.

Both machines were problematic landing characteristics in tall grass and on uneven slopes and were still fitted in October 1923 with a modified suspension.

On October 27, 1923, the second machine took part in a further flight competition in Hendon, reaching there a third place.

Construction

The Avro 558 was a einstieliger biplane with a fabric-covered wooden trunk, the wood wings were covered with fabric and had ailerons on all four surfaces. The chassis consisted of a two-wheeled rigid main landing gear (depending on model half buried in the hull or with a long-legged V chassis ) and a rigid tail skid.

Specifications

( depending on model)