Avro (Roe) Triplane IV
A.V. Roe & Co. · United Kingdom · first flew 1910 · light aircraft
The Avro Triplane IV was one of a series of triplane designs built by Alliot Verdon Roe in 1909–1910, representing an important step in early British aviation and now kept in the public eye by a flying replica operated by the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Open framework fuselage with the pilot seated between the second and third wing planes |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Three equal-chord planes stacked vertically, giving a distinctive triple-wing silhouette
- Built by Alliot Verdon Roe, pioneer of British aviation; the Shuttleworth Collection flies a flying replica
- Open framework fuselage with the pilot seated between the second and third wing planes
Unique triple-stacked straight-wing biplane-era aircraft with three equal narrow wings, open lattice-boom fuselage, a nose-mounted engine, and a simple wheeled undercarriage with a forward skid.
Specifications
- The Avro (Roe) Triplane IV has a length of 7.32 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 6.4 m (21 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 80 km/h (50 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
A.V. Roe experimented with triplane configurations from 1909, finding that three narrow-chord planes gave adequate lift with lower drag than a single broad plane. The Triplane IV of 1910 was flown successfully at Wembley and Brooklands. The Shuttleworth Collection's replica, built in the 1960s, demonstrates the type at air displays and is the only flying representative of Edwardian triplane design in Britain.
Variants
Roe built four triplane variants between 1909 and 1910, progressively refining the structure and engine; the Triplane IV was the most developed and the basis for the Shuttleworth replica.
Where you'll see it
All Roe triplanes were private experimental aircraft; the type did not enter any form of operational or commercial service.
Related aircraft
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