Avro 504K, Old Warden 2007, ©Nigel Key
ROLE
Basic Trainer.
FIRST FLIGHT
18th of September 1913.
The 504 was a First World War biplane manufactured by AVRO Aircraft Company.
The Avro 504 was developed from the Avro 500 as a two seater Bi-plane with an all wooden and fabric construction, including a square sectioned fuselage with an unmistakeable single skid between the front wheels.
Control surfaces consisted of Ailerons on the wings, all moving rudder and elevators.
The 504K has a universal mount so that it could accommodate different engines such as the Clerget 9B producing 130 hp, Gnome Monosoupape producing 100 hp. or the Le Rhone 9J engine producing 110 hp.
PRODUCTION
The Avro 504 was produced from 1913 to 1932, with over 11,000 built.
ENGINE
Gnome Lambda rotary engine, producing 80 hp.
ARMAMENT
1 x Lewis 0.303” machine gun
4 x 20 lb Bombs
The Avro 504 was mainly used as an instructor aircraft but during the first months of WWI it was also used as a reconnaissance-bomber.
The Avro 504 was the first aeroplane to strafe troops on the ground and the first Allied aircraft to be shot down, which occurred on the 22nd of August 1914, piloted by 2nd Lieutenant Vincent Waterfall with his navigator Lieutenant Charles George Gordon Bayly of 5 Squadron.
On the 21st of November 1914, three Avro 504B's of the RNAS set out to bomb the Zeppelin factory at Friedrichshafen. They carried four 20lb bombs each under the wings and achieved several direct hits on the Zeppelin Hangars and also destroyed the Hydrogen plant.
After WWI the Avro 504 continued in service as a trainer for the Royal Air Force (RAF), Due to the large quantities produced during the war many were surplus to requirements and were offered for sale. Over 300 were registered for civilian use such as training, pleasure flights, banner towing etc.
In 1925 the Avro 504 was improved and redesigned to accommodate an Armstrong Siddeley Lynx radial engine producing 160 hp., twice the original Avro 504 and given the mark 504N. The Avro 504N replaced the 504K with 592 being manufactured between 1925 and 1932. These aircraft were issued to the RAF's five training schools and also used as communication aircraft.
In 1933 the Avro 504N was replaced by the Avro Tutor for RAF service.
| Crew - 1 or 2 (in tandem) |
| Wing Type - Bi-plane |
| Length - 29ft 5in (8.97m) |
| Wingspan - 36ft 0in (10.97m) |
| Height - 10ft 5in (3.17m) |
| Empty Weight - 1,231lb (558.38kg) |
| Max. Weight - 1,829lb (829.63kg) |
| Max. Speed - 95mph (152.9km/h) |
| Range - 250 miles (400km) |
