Neha Patil (Editor)

Avro 501

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Top speed
  
89 km/h

Length
  
10 m

Manufacturer
  
Avro

Wingspan
  
14 m

First flight
  
January 1913

Avro 501 httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Avro 501


The Avro Type H, Type 501, and Type 503 were a family of early British military seaplanes. They were a development of the Avro 500 design and were originally conceived of as amphibious, the prototype being fitted with a single large main float (equipped with wheels) under the fuselage, and two outrigger floats under the wings. Tests were conducted on Windermere in January 1913. It was later converted to a twin-float configuration and bought by the British Admiralty. It now, however, proved too heavy and was converted again - this time to a landplane.

Contents

An improved version, designated the 503 was demonstrated to the Inspector of Naval Aircraft, who placed an order for three machines. The prototype itself was demonstrated for the Imperial German Navy in its seaplane trials in June 1913 and was purchased by the government of the German Empire for evaluation purposes. This machine subsequently became the first aircraft to fly across the North Sea, from Wilhelmshaven to Heligoland, in September 1913. Gotha purchased a licence from Avro and produced the type as the WD.1 (Wasser Doppeldecker - "Water Biplane"). Unlicensed copies were also built by Albatros, AGO, Friedrichshafen. Some WD.1s were provided to the Ottoman Empire following their withdrawal from German navy service.

Operators

 German Empire
  • Kaiserliche Marine - one aircraft.
  •  United Kingdom
  • Royal Naval Air Service
  •  Turkey
  • Ottoman Air Force
  • Specifications (501 seaplane)

    Data from Avro Aircraft since 1908

    General characteristics

  • Crew: one pilot
  • Capacity: one observer or passenger
  • Length: 33 ft 0 in (10.06 m)
  • Wingspan: 47 ft 6 in (14.48 m)
  • Height: 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)
  • Wing area: 478 ft2 (44.4 m2)
  • Empty weight: 1,740 lb (789 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,700 lb (1,225 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Gnome Omega Omega 14-cyl two row air-cooled rotary piston engine, 100 hp (75 kW) each
  • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 55 mph (89 km/h)
  • References

    Avro 501 Wikipedia