Avro 523 Pike

Avro

Industry	Aircraft manufacturing
Founded	1910 in United Kingdom
Headquarters	United Kingdom

The Avro 523 Pike was the inaugural Avro model to be assigned a formal name and served as a British multi-purpose combat aircraft during the First World War. It remained at the prototype phase and was designed to fulfill the Royal Naval Air Service's need for an anti-Zeppelin fighter that could also undertake extended reconnaissance missions and perform bombing operations.

Design and development

Featuring a traditional three-bay biplane configuration, the Avro Pike was a sizable aircraft powered by two pusher propellers. It accommodated three open cockpits, with the pilot positioned centrally and gunners placed both ahead and behind him. Although the Admiralty conducted assessments of the aircraft, it ultimately declined to adopt it. Subsequently, Avro constructed a second prototype, replacing the original Sunbeam powerplants with Green E.6 engines, which was designated as the 523A variant.

Operational history

In November 1916, the Admiralty re-evaluated the design but concluded that it had become outdated by that time and chose not to proceed with procurement. Both prototypes continued to serve as experimental platforms under Avro's control throughout the duration of the war.

References

Bibliography

• Jackson, A.J. Avro Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam, 1990. ISBN 0-85177-834-8.
• Mason, Francis K. The British Bomber since 1912. London: Putnam, 1994. ISBN 0-85177-861-5.
• Taylor, Michael J. H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 1989, p. 93.
• World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing.