Avro 530
Avro · United Kingdom · first flew 1917 · fighter
The Avro 530 was a British two-seat fighter biplane prototype designed during World War I as a potential successor to the Bristol F.2B Fighter. It was evaluated by the Royal Flying Corps but not selected for production.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.69 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- WWI British two-seat fighter biplane prototype, 1917
- Equal-span staggered biplane wings with Rolls-Royce Falcon inline engine
- Evaluated against Bristol F.2B but not selected
Well-proportioned two-seat biplane with equal-span staggered wings and an inline Rolls-Royce engine giving it a sharp nose profile; heavier and longer than the Avro 504 family but broadly similar in layout.
Specifications
- The Avro 530 has a length of 8.69 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.97 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 183 km/h (114 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Built in 1917 to meet an RFC requirement for a fast two-seat fighter, the Avro 530 was a clean and well-designed biplane powered by the Rolls-Royce Falcon inline engine. Despite showing promise, it was not ordered in preference to the established Bristol F.2B, and only one prototype was completed.
Variants
Single prototype; no variants were built.
Where you'll see it
Tested by the RFC at Martlesham Heath but not adopted for service; remained a prototype throughout its existence.
Related aircraft
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