Avro 539
| Industry | Aviation |
|---|---|
| Founded | April 1, 1910 |
| Headquarters | United Kingdom |
Avro 539 was a British single-seat racing biplane developed by Avro specifically for the 1919 Schneider Trophy competition.
Development
The Avro 539, later designated 539A, was a single-seat floatplane that first took to the skies on 29 August 1919. This aircraft featured a single-bay, unstaggered biplane configuration powered by a 240 hp (180 kW) Siddeley Puma piston engine mounted at the nose, and was equipped with twin wooden floats. The pilot operated from an open cockpit positioned behind the wings. Bearing the registration G-EALG, it underwent modifications prior to the race, including the addition of a balanced rudder and an extended fin. Although the Schneider Trophy event occurred on 10 September 1919, the Avro 539 did not advance in the competition. Subsequently, it was converted into a landplane with a reduced fin size and participated in the Aerial Derby held in July 1920. After a forced landing, the aircraft was reconstructed as the Avro 539B for the 1921 Aerial Derby, featuring a more powerful 450 hp (340 kW) Napier Lion engine and updated landing gear, registered as G-EAXM. Unfortunately, it was destroyed during a landing mishap at Hamble on 15 July 1921, just before the race.
Variants
- Avro 539A
- Floatplane version designed for the Schneider Trophy, powered by a 240 hp (180 kW) Siddeley Puma engine. Later converted to a landplane and rebuilt following a forced landing.
- Avro 539B
- Rebuilt Avro 539A fitted with a 450 hp (340 kW) Napier Lion engine.
Specifications (539A)
See also
References
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External links
- Avro 539 – Directory of British Aircraft