Avro 626
| Avro 626 | |
|---|---|
|
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| Type: | Training aircraft , reconnaissance aircraft |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
1930 |
| Number of pieces: |
198 |
The Avro 626 was an aircraft produced by the British manufacturer Avro .
history
Due to the demands of foreign air forces with low financial resources, Avro decided in 1930 to build a new, inexpensive aircraft based on the Avro 621 Tutor , which could be adapted in the form of a modular system for various purposes with the help of accessory kits. Such packages were developed for beginner training, for upgrading to a bomber, fighter or reconnaissance aircraft, making the machine suitable for night flight or providing hoods for blind flight training. The conversion to a seaplane was also possible.
Since Avro expected opportunities in the South American market, the first machine, called Avro 626, was shipped to Buenos Aires for a trade fair in January 1931 . There the machine was not only exhibited statically, demonstration flights also took place in various cities in Argentina , equipped with both wheeled undercarriages and floats. The Argentine Air Force had minor change requests; a few months later Avro delivered 14 machines to Argentina.
After further promotional flights with the 626, Avro was able to start producing a larger series. After a seaplane with Short floats that had been delivered to Brazil in 1933 , eight land planes were initially sold to Czechoslovakia and Austria . Further deliveries of land planes followed to Egypt , Argentina, Belgium , Brazil, Chile , Greece , Ireland , Canada (some of the Canadian machines were delivered with metal skis, closed cockpits and so-called Arctic engine cowlings), the autonomous Chinese region of Guangxi and to Lithuania and four machines with interchangeable floats to Estonia.
Basically, the Avro 626 was intended for military customers; 161 machines went to the relevant customers. Only 19 copies did not go into military use; these were prototypes, demonstration machines and aircraft from civilian customers.
Versions / licensed constructions
Avro 637
The Avro 637 was an armed patrol aircraft based on the 626. It differed from the base model in that it had rounded wing tips. The machine was equipped with a Vickers machine gun at the pilot's place and a Lewis machine gun at the observer's place; In addition, it was possible to equip it with bombs and an observation camera. Instead of the seat for the observer, there was also space for a stretcher.
Eight type 637 machines were delivered to the Air Force in the Guangxi Autonomous Region of China.
Avro Prefect
The Avro Prefect was a navigation trainer based on the Avro 621 Tutor , technically brought up to the state of the Avro 626. Made on the basis of a request from the Royal Air Force , seven machines of this type were delivered to the School of Air Navigation in Andover in 1935 , two of these machines later received civilian license plates. In contrast to the standard 626, the Prefects had a tail wheel.
Four other machines of this type were delivered to the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF). A New Zealand machine received a civil registration number from 1947 and flew until 1958. In 1980 the machine went to the RNZAF Museum and was brought back into airworthy condition in 1985 with the old military registration number.
Tatra T-126
The Czech company Ringhoffer-Tatra acquired a license to build the Avro 626 under license in 1935. The machine was built in two versions - a variant for the domestic Czech market, equipped with an Avia motor type Rk-17 and an output of 265 kW ( 360 hp) and a version that was delivered to Turkey and some Balkan states with a standard Armstrong-Siddeley Cheetah V engine, however, the Avia engine proved to be extremely problematic, so that only a few Czech machines were produced.
Portuguese license replica
After the delivery of 26 aircraft to Portugal, the Portuguese state-owned aircraft factory Officinas Gerais de Material Aeronautico (OGMA) acquired Avro's license to build the Avro 626 under license.
construction
The Avro 626 was a single-handled biplane with wings of the same length. Ailerons were only on the upper surfaces. The landing gear consisted of a two-wheeled main landing gear with a rigid tail spur; in the seaplane variant, the Avro 626 was equipped with a double float.
Military use
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- Greek Air Force : 21
- Irish Air Corps : 4
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- Royal Canadian Air Force : Dec.
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- Royal Air Force : 7
Technical specifications
|
Avro 626 - in the version with wheeled chassis
(Values in brackets apply to the version with Cheetah V radial engine) |
|
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| length | 8.59 m |
| height | 2.92 m |
| Wingspan | 10.36 m |
| Wing area | 27.88 m² |
| Empty weight | 800.6 kg (311.7 kg) |
| Max. Weight in flight with a full tank | 1247.4 kg (1209.7 kg) |
| drive | a 7-cylinder radial engine Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IV C with 160.3 kW (218 hp) or a 7-cylinder radial engine Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah with 194 kW (263.6 hp) |
| Top speed | 180 km / h (209 km / h) |
| Cruising speed | 153 km / h (174 km / h) |
| Climb performance | 268 m / min (329 m / min) |
| Service ceiling | 4511 m (5121 m) |
| Range | 386 km (338 km) |
| crew | 2, in special design 3 |
| Armament | in the trainer version unarmed, in the fighter version with a MG, in the bomber version with a corresponding bomb load |
See also
literature
- AJ Jackson: Avro Aircraft since 1908. 2nd edition, Putnam Aeronautical Books, London 1990, ISBN 0-85177-834-8 .
- John Pacco: Avro 626 'Prefect'. In: Belgisch Leger / Army Belge. Het Militair Vliegwezen / l'Aeronautique Militaire 1930–1940. JP Publications, Aartselaar 2003, ISBN 90-801136-6-2 , p. 83.
- V. Němeček: Československá letadla 1918–1945. Naše Vojsko, Prague 1983.
