Avro 511

Avro

Industry	Aerospace
Founded	1910
Headquarters	United Kingdom

The Avro 511 was developed as a rapid reconnaissance aircraft shortly before the outbreak of the First World War. It was later adapted into the Avro 514. Despite incorporating several advanced design elements, its progress ceased with the onset of war.

Design and development

Conceived in 1913 as a swift military scout, the Avro 511 emerged during the early phase when aviation’s military potential was just being recognized. This single-seat biplane featured a wooden frame covered in fabric. Its fuselage had a square cross-section and was equipped with Avro’s distinctive "comma"-shaped rudder, notably lacking a fixed fin. The wings exhibited significant stagger and pronounced sweepback, both aimed at enhancing flight stability.

Departing from traditional construction techniques, the wings did not utilize conventional spanwise spars but were built using a cellular structural method. The interplane struts were constructed as multi-component, broad-chord assemblies covered in fabric rather than simple shaped rods. Between the fuselage and upper wing, standard "N"-shaped midsection struts were present. Ailerons were installed on both sets of wings. Uncommonly for the era, the inner section of the lower wing included landing flaps, enabling the aircraft to touch down at a modest speed of 35 mph (56 km/h).

The powerplant was a single rotary Gnome Monosoupape engine, initially enclosed in a streamlined cowling that was subsequently altered to enhance cooling efficiency. The undercarriage consisted of main wheels mounted on a single axle combined with a central skid, complemented by a tailskid.

In 1914, modifications introduced new straight wings without sweepback, along with a V-shaped (cranked axle) main landing gear lacking skids, resulting in the redesignation to Avro 514.

Operational history

In March 1914, the Avro 511 was exhibited as a static model at the Olympia Aero Show in London. It was subsequently registered to compete in the Aerial Derby around London scheduled for May; however, adverse weather conditions caused the event to be postponed. Although its speed did not meet initial projections of 95-100 mph (150–160 km/h), the aircraft was entered again for the rescheduled race in June after being modified and redesignated as the Avro 514. Unfortunately, a mechanical issue during taxiing prevented it from taking part.

Following repairs, the Avro 514 successfully completed flights in July 1914, but no additional advancements or production were pursued thereafter.