Avro Antelope

The Avro 604 Antelope was a single-engined biplane of the British manufacturer Avro.

History

In November 1927, the prototype of the Avro 604 Antelope launched, which had been constructed at Avro due to a tender of the British Air Ministry from May 1926 for a light bomber to its first flight. The machine was powered by a Rolls- Royce F.XIB engine with an output of 358 kW ( 487 hp).

Patterns of competition were the Hawker Hart and the Fairey Fox II The specification of the Ministry called for a top speed of around 260 km / h - for that time an almost impossible task for designers. Testing and comparison flights with the competing models were carried out on 13 September 1928 on the Air Force Base Martlesham. Here, the Hawker Hart prevailed as the winner.

An attempt Avro, still get through the exhibition of the machine at the "Olympia Aero Show " in London in July 1929 a series job was failed, and so no more 604 Antelope was built.

The prototype was delivered to the Royal Air Force for the service of the troops No.100 Squadron in Bicester. In July 1930 a dual control system was installed in Avro factory in Hamble, from September 1930, the Antelope was established by " Royal Aircraft Establishment " (RAE ) at Farnborough as a testbed for the Gloster Hele - Shaw - Beacham - pitch propellers. For this purpose, two different engines have been installed in the aircraft, the 391 kW ( 532 hp) payable Rolls-Royce Kestrel IB and the 356 kW ( 484 hp) Rolls- Royce Kestrel IIS.

In September 1933, the Avro 604 Antelope was put out of service.

Construction

The Avro 604 Antelope was a einstieliger biplane. The metal wings were covered with fabric; the upper surfaces were equipped with ailerons.

The suspension consisted of a two-, oil-and rubber-sprung main gear and a tailwheel unguided.

Specifications

Later: a Rolls -Royce Kestrel IB with 391 kW ( 532 hp) and 356 kW or a Rolls -Royce Kestrel IIS with 356 kW ( 484 hp)

Approximately 225 kg bomb load