The Avro Type 557 Ava was a British twin-engined biplanetorpedo bomber of the 1920s. It was developed by Avro to meet a requirement for a heavy torpedo bomber for the Royal Air Force but was unsuccessful, only two prototypes being built.
The British Air Ministry produced Specification 16/22 in 1922 for a long-range land-based torpedo bomber. The specification required that the aircraft be capable of carrying a 21 in (533 mm) torpedo or an equivalent weight of bombs and produced responses both from Blackburn Aircraft (the Cubaroo) and Avro.[1]Roy Chadwick, chief designer of Avro, initially produced a single-engined design, the Avro 556 powered by a Napier Cub engine, similar to the Cubaroo. This was rejected in favour of a twin-engined aircraft using two Rolls-Royce Condor engines, the Avro Type 557 Ava and winning an order for two prototypes from the Air Ministry.[1] Completed in secret (owing to its armament of a 21 in (533 mm) torpedo, thought to be able to sink the largest warships), the first prototype Ava (serial numberN171) flew in mid-1924.[1]
The Ava was a three-bay biplane of wooden construction, with the un-cowled engines between the wings. It had a biplane tail, initially fitted with triple rudders, of which the centre rudder was soon removed.[2] The fuselage accommodated two pilots in an open cockpit, with nose and dorsal gun positions and a retractable ventral "dustbin" gun position that could be manned by the navigator/bomb aimer, who otherwise occupied a large enclosed cabin. The 2,000 lb (910 kg) torpedo or equivalent bomb load were carried on external racks under the fuselage.[1]
The Air Ministry dropped its plans to use the 21 in (533 mm) torpedo but Avro continued with construction of the second prototype, which was of all-metal construction but was otherwise similar to the first prototype, flying on 22 April 1927.[2] While a modified version of the Ava was proposed to meet Specification B19/27 for a heavy bomber, it was unsuccessful, no further aircraft being built.[1]
^ abcdefMason, Francis K (1994). The British Bomber since 1914. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. pp. 156–157. ISBN0-85177-861-5.
^ abJackson, A. J. (1990). Avro Aircraft since 1908 (2nd ed.). London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. pp. 209–211. ISBN0-85177-834-8.
^Lewis, Peter (1980). The British Bomber since 1914 (Third ed.). London: Putnam. pp. 416–417. ISBN0-370-30265-6.
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– British Aircraft Directory
March 13, 2024
avro, avro, type, british, twin, engined, biplane, torpedo, bomber, 1920s, developed, avro, meet, requirement, heavy, torpedo, bomber, royal, force, unsuccessful, only, prototypes, being, built, avarole, torpedo, bombermanufacturer, avrodesigner, chadwickfirst. The Avro Type 557 Ava was a British twin engined biplane torpedo bomber of the 1920s It was developed by Avro to meet a requirement for a heavy torpedo bomber for the Royal Air Force but was unsuccessful only two prototypes being built AvaRole Torpedo BomberManufacturer AvroDesigner Roy ChadwickFirst flight 1924Status PrototypeNumber built 2 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Variants 3 Specifications Ava Mk I 4 See also 5 References 6 External linksDesign and development editThe British Air Ministry produced Specification 16 22 in 1922 for a long range land based torpedo bomber The specification required that the aircraft be capable of carrying a 21 in 533 mm torpedo or an equivalent weight of bombs and produced responses both from Blackburn Aircraft the Cubaroo and Avro 1 Roy Chadwick chief designer of Avro initially produced a single engined design the Avro 556 powered by a Napier Cub engine similar to the Cubaroo This was rejected in favour of a twin engined aircraft using two Rolls Royce Condor engines the Avro Type 557 Ava and winning an order for two prototypes from the Air Ministry 1 Completed in secret owing to its armament of a 21 in 533 mm torpedo thought to be able to sink the largest warships the first prototype Ava serial number N171 flew in mid 1924 1 The Ava was a three bay biplane of wooden construction with the un cowled engines between the wings It had a biplane tail initially fitted with triple rudders of which the centre rudder was soon removed 2 The fuselage accommodated two pilots in an open cockpit with nose and dorsal gun positions and a retractable ventral dustbin gun position that could be manned by the navigator bomb aimer who otherwise occupied a large enclosed cabin The 2 000 lb 910 kg torpedo or equivalent bomb load were carried on external racks under the fuselage 1 The Air Ministry dropped its plans to use the 21 in 533 mm torpedo but Avro continued with construction of the second prototype which was of all metal construction but was otherwise similar to the first prototype flying on 22 April 1927 2 While a modified version of the Ava was proposed to meet Specification B19 27 for a heavy bomber it was unsuccessful no further aircraft being built 1 Variants editAva Mk I First prototype Wooden construction Ava Mk II Second prototype Metal construction Specifications Ava Mk I editData from The British Bomber since 1914 1 General characteristicsCrew 5 Length 58 ft 3 in 17 75 m Wingspan 96 ft 10 in 29 51 m Height 19 ft 7 75 in 5 9881 m Wing area 2 163 sq ft 200 9 m2 Empty weight 12 760 lb 5 788 kg Max takeoff weight 19 920 lb 9 036 kg Powerplant 2 Rolls Royce Condor III V 12 water cooled piston engines 650 hp 480 kW each Propellers 2 bladed fixed pitch propellersPerformance Maximum speed 115 mph 185 km h 100 kn 3 Armament Guns 3 0 303 in 7 7 mm Lewis Guns Nose dorsal and retractable ventral positions Bombs 1 21 in 553 mm torpedo or 4 550 lb 250 kg bombsSee also editAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Blackburn CubarooReferences edit a b c d e f Mason Francis K 1994 The British Bomber since 1914 London Putnam Aeronautical Books pp 156 157 ISBN 0 85177 861 5 a b Jackson A J 1990 Avro Aircraft since 1908 2nd ed London Putnam Aeronautical Books pp 209 211 ISBN 0 85177 834 8 Lewis Peter 1980 The British Bomber since 1914 Third ed London Putnam pp 416 417 ISBN 0 370 30265 6 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Avro 557 Ava Avro Ava British Aircraft Directory Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Avro 557 Ava amp oldid 1065829473, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
