Avro 618 Ten
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| Avro 618 Ten | |
|---|---|
| Type | Passenger & military transport |
| Manufacturer | Avro |
| Designed by | Anthony Fokker |
| Introduced | 1930 |
| Primary user | Australian National Airways, Imperial Airways |
The Avro 618 Ten or X was a passenger transport aircraft of the 1930s. It was a licenced copy by Avro of the Fokker F.VIIB/3m.
Contents |
[edit] Development
In 1928 Avro came to an arrangement with Fokker to license production of its successful F.VIIB/3m for sale in the British Commonwealth (except Canada, and Fokker also licensed separately for Italy and Japan.)
The Avro designation 618 Ten was adopted as the aircraft was capable of carrying 2 crew and 8 passengers.[1]
After a modification of the centre motor mounting to accommodate British airworthiness requirements, the aircraft was first displayed at the 1929 Olympia Aero Show.
[edit] Operational history
[edit] Australia
The first five aircraft were sold to Australian National Airways, a new company started by Charles Kingsford Smith and Charles Ulm. The type entered service on 1 January of 1930 on the Brisbane-Sydney route, and later Melbourne-Sydney.[1] They were:
- VH-UMF Southern Cloud
- VH-UMG Southern Star
- VH-UMH Southern Sky
- VH-UMI Southern Moon (later VH-UXX Faith in Australia)
- VH-UNA Southern Sun
Unfortunately, two of this fleet were lost in accidents; Southern Cloud in the Toolong range of the Australian Alps on 21 March 1931, and Southern Sun in Malaya in November 1931, while attempting the first airmail flight to the United Kingdom (the wreckage of Southern Cloud was not found until 1958). The airline folded and the remaining aircraft were sold. Another two 618 Ten aircraft were also sold to Australian companies.
The last surviving 618 Ten in Australia evacuated many people from New Guinea in 1941. This former Australian National Airlines aircraft was rebuilt in 1933 for long-range service, fitted with 330 hp (246 kW) Wright Whirlwind radial engines.
[edit] Britain
Five 618 Tens were delivered to British customers. Two went to Imperial Airways (April and June 1931) and were chartered to the Iraq Petroleum Transport Company before returning to Britain in 1933. Two went to Airwork (December 1931) and were later sold to the Egyptian Army air force, one of these later going to Indian National Airways for use by the Viceroy of India. One went to Midland & Scottish Air Ferries (May 1933).
The last production 618 Ten was delivered to the Royal Aircraft Establishment's Wireless and Equipment Flight in July 1936 and was later fitted with a Monospar wing.
[edit] Variants
- Type 618 Ten : Ten-seat civil transport aircraft.
- Type 619 Five : Five-seat civil transport aircraft. Scaled down version of Avro Ten. Three 105 hp Armstrong Siddeley Genet engines. Four aircraft built.
- Type 624 Six : Six-seat civil transport aircraft. Revised version of Avro Five with accommodation for two pilots and four passengers. Three aircraft built.
- Type 642 Eighteen : Eighteen-seat civil transport aircraft, using same wing as Avro Ten.
- Type 642-2m : Twin-engine civil transport aircraft. Two 450 hp Armstrong Siddeley Jaguar engines. One built.
- Type 642-4m : Four-engine civil transport aircraft. Four 215 hp Armstrong Siddeley Lynx engines.
[edit] Operators
- Australian National Airways.
- Queensland Air Navigation Co.
- Commercial Air Hire.
- Far Eastern Aviation Company.
- The Government of China.
- Indian National Airways.
- The Viceroy of India
- Indian State Airways.
- Imperial Airways
- Midland and Scottish Air Ferries.
- Stephans Aviation.
- W.R. Carpenter Airlines.
- Wilson Airways
[edit] Military Operators
[edit] Specifications (Avro 618)
This aircraft article is missing some (or all) of its specifications. If you have a source, you can help Wikipedia by adding them.Data from Avro Aircraft since 1908[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: Two
- Capacity: Eight passengers
- Length: 47 ft 6 in (14.48 m)
- Wingspan: 71 ft 3 in (21.72 m)
- Height: 12 ft 9 in (3.89 m)
- Wing area: 772 ft² (71.7 m²)
- Empty weight: 6,020 lb (2,736 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 10,600 lb (4,818 kg)
- Powerplant: 3× Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IVB or IVC radial engine, 240 hp (179 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 100 knots (115 mph, 185 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 87 knots (100 mph, 161 km/h)
- Stall speed: knots ()
- Range: 348 nm (400 miles, 644 km)
- Service ceiling 16,000 ft (7270 m)
- Rate of climb: 675 ft/min (3.43 m/s)
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Jackson, A J (1990). Avro Aircraft since 1908, 2nd edition, London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0-85177-834-8.
[edit] External links
- Avro 618 Ten VH-UMG - Image collection of Ed Coates
- [1] - Wilson Airways purchased two Avro 619 Five aircraft, the first in 1929 VP-KAE and VP-KAD at a later date.
[edit] See also
Related development
Related lists
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