Avro 508
Avro · United Kingdom · first flew 1915 · reconnaissance aircraft
The Avro 508 was a prototype British reconnaissance aircraft of the 1910s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.15 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pusher biplane of unusual shape
- Resembles a back-to-front Avro 504
- Equal-span three-bay wings
A wooden, fabric-covered pusher biplane with three-bay wings of equal length.
Specifications
- The Avro 508 has a length of 8.15 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.41 m (44 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 105 km/h (65 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was built at Avro's Manchester works in December 1913 and assembled at Brooklands in January 1914. It was shown at the Olympia Aero Show in London, but its first flight was at the start of official testing in April 1915.
Variants
Only one was built, powered by an 80 hp Gnome Monosoupape rotary engine.
Where you'll see it
The Royal Flying Corps showed no interest. The aircraft remained a training aircraft and engine tester at Hendon Aerodrome until it was dismantled in April 1916.
Related aircraft
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