Avro 521
Avro · United Kingdom · first flew 1915 · fighter
The Avro 521 was a British two-seat fighter biplane first flown in late 1915, based on the Avro 504. Only a single prototype was built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.59 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- WWI-era British Avro single-engine two-seat fighter biplane
- Open tandem cockpits with wire-braced two-bay wings
- Related to the ubiquitous Avro 504 family
Classic Avro WWI biplane silhouette: equal-span two-bay wings, tractor engine, tandem open cockpits, and a simple tailskid undercarriage; closely similar to the Avro 504 but distinguishable by dimensional differences.
Specifications
- The Avro 521 has a length of 8.59 m (28 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.14 m (30 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 152 km/h (94 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Powered by a 110 hp Clerget rotary with a Lewis gun in the rear cockpit, the prototype was tested by the RFC in early 1916 and 25 were ordered. The contract was cancelled, and the prototype crashed at the Central Flying School, Upavon, on 21 September 1916.
Variants
Only the single prototype was built; the order for 25 production aircraft was cancelled.
Where you'll see it
The prototype underwent RFC trials in 1916 but the type never entered service.
Related aircraft
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