Avro Bison
Avro · United Kingdom · first flew 1921 · transport aircraft
The Avro Bison was a British single-engine carrier-borne fleet spotter and reconnaissance biplane of the early 1920s, designed to operate from aircraft carriers of the Royal Navy.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Large boxy fuselage for crew accommodation |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- British carrier-borne fleet spotter biplane of the 1920s
- Large boxy fuselage for crew accommodation
- Single large radial engine between biplane wings
Identified by its deep slab-sided fuselage, high wing arrangement with substantial cabane struts, and the large frontal area of its radial or in-line engine; looks like a flying box by 1920s standards.
Specifications
- The Avro Bison has a length of 10.97 m (36 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.02 m (46 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 177 km/h (110 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1921, the Bison entered service with the Fleet Air Arm in 1923 and was used for spotting for naval gunfire and maritime reconnaissance. Its deep, box-like fuselage was intended to accommodate a navigator and wireless operator in reasonable comfort.
Variants
The Bison I and Bison II differed mainly in detail equipment fits; the Mk.II had a more powerful Napier Lion engine.
Where you'll see it
Served with the Fleet Air Arm aboard HMS Hermes and other carriers through the mid-1920s, replaced by more capable types by decade's end.
Related aircraft
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