Some Avro Experimental WWI Designs

AVRO 521 & 504E

(Monochrome Photograph - Avro 504E.)

Designed in late 1915 as a two seat reconnaissance machine for the RFC the 521 used many standard 504 components but with short span wings and a 110 hp (82 kW) Clerget rotary engine.

25 aircraft were ordered but the prototype (shown left) proved to be difficult to control and the order was cancelled. However, at least 10 fuselages were completed with standard 504 wing and under-carriage components. In this guise they were sold to the RNAS with the
designation Avro 504E

AVRO 530

(Monochrome Photograph - Avro 530.)

This aeroplane was conceived in early 1917 as a stream-lined design of two seat fighter reconnaissance machine for the RFC powered by a 200 hp (150 kW) water cooled Hispano-Suiza.

Unfortunately, it suffered from directional instability and was not ordered into production as its performance was inferior to that of the Bristol F2b already in production.

AVRO 533 Manchester

(Monochrome Photograph - Avro 533 Manchester.)

The last Avro wartime design was a three seat twin engined bomber powered by two of the new 350 hp (260 kW) seven cylinder A.B.C. Dragonfly air-cooled radials.

The first prototype was completed in October 1918 but with no A.B.C. engines available it had two 300 hp (225 kW) Siddeley Pumas installed and was redesignated Manchester Mk. II.

Two Dragonfly engines were made available for the second machine, the Mk. I, (shown left) but with the end of the war the project
was cancelled.