Avro 547
The Avro 547 was a British prototype triplane airliner developed shortly after the First World War. It incorporated parts from the widely acclaimed Avro 504 but featured an additional wing set and a newly designed deep fuselage that contained a fully enclosed cabin accommodating four passengers. Propulsion was provided by a 160 hp (120 kW) Beardmore engine. The pilot operated from an open cockpit positioned to the left side. The initial prototype demonstrated flight characteristics comparable to the Avro 504,[1] while the second unit underwent significant modifications to enter a British Air Ministry competition aimed at commercial aircraft, being re-engined with a 240 hp (180 kW) Siddeley Puma engine. This variant, known as the 547A, proved to be slow and exhibited poor stability in flight, ultimately failing to secure any prizes at the August 1920 contest.[1] Following damage sustained during a forced landing at the event, the second prototype was dismantled in 1922.[2]
Nonetheless, Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services (QANTAS) purchased the first prototype in November 1920 for GBP 2,798, intending to deploy it on the route between Charleville and Katherine. After being reassembled in Australia, it took to the air again on 2 March 1921 but suffered damage upon landing and remained unrepaired for more than a year. The Avro 547 proved entirely unsuitable for rugged outback operations and was soon retired; its fuselage was eventually repurposed as a chicken coop in Sydney.[3]
Operators
Specifications (547)
References
- Jackson, A.J. Avro Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam, 1990. ISBN 0-85177-834-8.
- Prins, François. "Pioneering Spirit: The QANTAS Story." Air Enthusiast, no. 53, Spring 1994, pp. 24–32.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 1989, p. 93.
External links
- Avro 547 – Entry in the British Aircraft Directory