| Avro 558 | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Ultralight Biplane |
| Manufacturer | A.V.Roe and Company Limited |
| Number built | 2 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1923 |
| First flight | 1923 |
The Avro 558 was a British single-engined ultralight biplane built by Avro at Hamble Aerodrome.
Design and development
The Avro 558 was designed for the 1923 light aircraft trials for single-seaters at Lympne Aerodrome. Two Avro 558 biplanes were built, they were biplanes powered by motorcycle engines (one with a B&H twin-cylinder air-cooled engine, the second with a 500 cc Douglas engine). The first aircraft was modified with a 698 cc (42.6 in³) Blackburne Tomtit and both had modifications to the landing gear.
Operational history
The aircraft did not win the competition, but the second aircraft went on to establish a world record for its class of aircraft of 13,850 ft (4,222 m) over Lympne on 13 October 1923. It is not known what happened to the two aircraft, not having been reported since 1923.
Operators
Specifications
Data from Avro Aircraft since 1908
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 19 ft 6 in (5.94 m)
- Wingspan: 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)
- Wing area: 166 sq ft (15.4 m)
- Empty weight: 294 lb (133 kg)
- Gross weight: 480 lb (218 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Douglas 500cc air-cooled motorcycle engine, 18 hp (13 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
- Service ceiling: 13,850 ft (4,220 m)
See also
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References
- Jackson 1974, p.292.
- Jackson 1990, p.215.
- Flight 4 October 1923, p.607.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing.
- "The Light 'Plane Competitions at Lympne, Oct 8–13: Twenty-Eight Machines Entered". Flight. Vol. XV, no. 771. 4 October 1923. pp. 602–611.
- Jackson, A.J. (1974). British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1. London: Putnam. ISBN 0-370-10006-9.
- Jackson, A.J. (1990). Avro Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0-85177-834-8.
- Riding, Richard (July 1984). "British pre-war ultra-lights: No. 40: Avro 558". Aeroplane Monthly. Vol. 12, no. 7. pp. 386–388. ISSN 0143-7240.
External links
- Avro 558 – British Aircraft Directory