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Avro 503/Type H

Страна: Великобритания

Год: 1913

Avro - 501 - 1913 - Великобритания<– –>Avro - 504/504A/B/C/J/R - 1913 - Великобритания


A.Jackson Avro Aircraft since 1908 (Putnam)


Avro 501 and Avro 503 (Type H)

   The choice of Shoreham as the Avro company's new flying ground when it moved from Brooklands in the autumn of 1912 was largely the result of Cdr. Schwann's successful waterborne experiments and Avro's awakening interest in seaplanes. It was an ideal site with Shoreham Harbour close at hand and it was from the adjacent River Adur that the Avro Type H seaplane made its first take-off. Construction of this machine followed tests on Windermere by H. Stanley-Adams in January 1913 with the Avro 501 which, apart from a considerable strut-braced top wing overhang, was similar to an enlarged float-equipped Avro 500. Built at Brownsfield Mills in November 1912 and powered by a 100 h.p. Gnome, the Avro 501 first flew as an amphibian with a sprung central float designed by O. T. Gnosspelius, 15 ft. long and 7 ft. wide from which projected three small wheels, two in the rear and one forward. With so narrow a float an aircraft with a wing span of 47 ft. 6 in. could be expected to heel over when steerage way was lost, and for this reason small wing tip floats were fitted and inclined to sit squarely in the water. This arrangement proved unsatisfactory and Gnosspelius replaced it with a twin float unit without wheels which made the aircraft sufficiently seaworthy to interest the Admiralty, to whom it was eventually delivered in the Isle of Grain. In the light of experience at Barrow, the airscrew leading edges were sheathed with brass to prevent damage from flying spray and the tail float was bolted directly to the old-style sprung rudder for steering on the water.
   Also powered by a 100 h.p. Gnome, the Type H (later known as the Avro 503), was a slightly larger version of the Avro 501 but with less mainplane overhang and no inclined struts. Following standard Avro practice, the new seaplane was built with an eye to quick dismantling and was constructed round a 9 ft. centre section to which were bolted fuselage, undercarriage and outer wing panels. The upper mainplane, 3 ft. greater in span than the lower, was fitted with large inversely tapered ailerons but none was fitted to the lower wing. Two-step, internally sprung floats, 14 ft. long and 2 ft. 6 in. wide, set at a track of 6 ft. 6 in., were covered with rubberised material and attached to the aircraft by 14 tubular steel struts bound with varnished fabric.
   Such was his confidence in the Type H that F. P. Raynham made the first take-off from the Adur in sea mist on May 28, 1913 carrying passenger John Alcock, two hours' fuel and an anchor. The aircraft became airborne after a run of only 60 yards and cleared the adjacent railway bridge by 100 ft. Next day, again carrying the future conqueror of the Atlantic, Raynham made a first landing on the open sea outside Volk's seaplane hangar opposite Paston Place, Brighton. A float was damaged on take-off so a landing was made in Shoreham Harbour where the aircraft was hastily beached. After some local strengthening of the nose of each float the machine was out again on June 12 and two days later Raynham made an hour's demonstration flight over Brighton carrying Lt. J. W. Seddon R.N., Inspector of Naval Aircraft. Despite the weight and drag of the floats, the Type H climbed to 1,300 ft. in 5 minutes.
   The Avro 503 was then flown by Capt. Schultz, a German naval officer who had made several visits to the works while it was under construction, and before the month was out the machine was purchased by the German Government, dismantled and packed for shipment. Flown by Lt. W. Langfeld it became on September 3, 1913 the first aircraft to cross the 40 miles of North Sea from Wilhelmshaven to the Island of Heligoland, a successful return trip to Cuxhaven being made on September 15. An Avro 503 seaplane was also ordered by the Peruvian Government but the outbreak of the First World War prevented delivery and it is believed to have been turned over to the British Admiralty.
   At least-three other 100 h.p. Gnome-powered Avro 503s were built - all to Admiralty order for use by the Royal Naval Air Service. The float undercarriage of the old Avro 501 having proved far too heavy, the Admiralty agreed to accept it as a landplane. A. V. Roe thereupon devised a two-wheel, twin skid undercarriage but the track was still too narrow to support the aircraft vertically at rest and stout wing tip skids were necessary. In landplane form, with large inversely tapered ailerons replacing the constant chord units, the Avro 501 was so quaint a structure that it soon earned the name "Rickety Ann". After delivery to Eastchurch it had to be lightened and several airscrews tried before F. P. Raynham could complete the acceptance tests. Bearing naval serial 16 it was flown to Shoreham on June 2, 1913 by Raynham with Lt. Seddon as passenger.
   In the course of R.N. A. S. trials by F. P. Raynham at Eastchurch on August 28, 1913 a second landplane climbed to 3,000 ft. in 19 minutes with 36 gallons of petrol, 10 gallons of oil and 182 lb. of ballast. In the speed test 65.1 m.p.h. was reached and this aircraft, last of those ordered from A. V. Roe before the firm became a limited company, was followed by a float-equipped example which arrived at Sheerness in crates on September 8, 1913. On October 15 it was handed over to the R.N.A.S. in the Isle of Grain where it was joined eventually by an improved version built in the following December. One of these machines was damaged in a hangar fire at Eastchurch and sent to Brooklands for repair in July 1914.

SPECIFICATION AND DATA
   Manufacturers: A. V. Roe and Company (reconstituted as A. V. Roe, and Co. Ltd. 11.1.13), Brownsfield Mills, Great Ancoats Street, Manchester (moved to Clifton Street, Miles Platting, Manchester 4.13); and Shoreham Aerodrome, Sussex
   Power Plant: One 100 h.p. Gnome
   Dimensions, Weights and Performances:
   Avro 503 seaplane
   Span (upper) 50ft. 6 in.
   Span (lower) 47ft. 0 in.
   Length 33ft. 6 in.
   Height 12ft. 9 in.
   Wing area 567 sq. ft.
   All-up weight 2,200 lb.
   Maximum speed 50 m.p.h.
   Initial climb 225 ft./min

   Production:
   Avro 503 prototype first flown at Shoreham 28.5.13, to the German Navy 6.13 with serial D12
   At least one other landplane to R.N.A.S. Eastchurch and two seaplanes to R.N.A.S. Isle of Grain


M.Goodall, A.Tagg British Aircraft before the Great War (Schiffer)


Deleted by request of (c)Schiffer Publishing


P.Lewis British Aircraft 1809-1914 (Putnam)


Avro H 503

   In May, 1913, the prototype of the first Avro production seaplane appeared at Shoreham for testing by Jack Alcock and F. P. Raynham. The new machine was based on the successful 500, but was fitted with greater power for water operations in the form of the 100 h.p. Gnome. Wings of 50 ft. span and 567 sq. ft. area were fitted to provide sufficient lift to overcome the drag of the water when taking-off; the stubs of the lower wings were built as an integral part of the fuselage for a distance of 9 ft. out, the outer panels being readily detachable. Inversely-tapered ailerons were hinged to the upper wings. The two main floats were of Avro design with a single step each and were 14 ft. long and 2 ft. 6 ins. wide, being set with a 6 ft. 6 ins. gap between them. The unstepped tail float was mounted on the underside of the rudder.
   The 503 was very successful in its trials on the South Coast, taking off in 180 ft. in a calm. Raynham was accompanied by an anonymous German officer, Capt "X", during the test flights, at the end of which the prototype was bought by Germany. The machine was dismantled in June, 1913, and sent to its new owners. Two months later, on 6th September, Leutnant Langfeld flew the 503 from the German coast to Heligoland. One machine was supplied to a British private owner and a few went to the R.N.A.S. One of these seaplanes was converted to a landplane for training at Eastchurch Naval Air Station, flying there as No. 16, and was given extra strut bracing to the upper wing-tip extensions.

SPECIFICATION

   Description: Two-seat tractor hydro-biplane. Wooden structure, fabric covered.
   Manufacturers: A. V. Roe & Co. Ltd., Brownsfield Mills, Manchester.
   Power Plant: 100 h.p. Gnome.
   Dimensions: Span, 50 ft. Length, 33 ft. 6 ins. Height, 12 ft. 6 ins. Wing area, 567 sq. ft.
   Weights: Loaded 2,200 lb.
   Performance: Cruising speed, 48 m.p.h.


J.Bruce British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 (Putnam)


Avro 503

  THE Avro company produced their first seaplane type in May, 1913. It was a large tractor biplane, powered by a 100 h.p. Gnome fourteen-cylinder engine, and was originally known as the Avro Type H. Later, the type number 503 was bestowed upon the aircraft.
  A. V. Roe & Co. were not without some experience in the construction of seaplanes, for an Avro tractor biplane had been used in 1911 by Commander Oliver Schwann m his experiments, aimed at producing a seaplane, which were conducted at Barrow-in-Furness. The company also built the airframe of the Waterbird Curtiss-type biplane for the Lakes Flying Co.
  The Avro 503 bore a certain resemblance to the Avro 500, particularly in the shape of its fuselage and tail unit. The upper wing was of slightly greater span than the lower, and was fitted with inversely-tapered ailerons. The main floats were single-step pontoon-type structures, covered with rubber-proofed cloth and sprung internally by rubber cord. The tail float was attached to the bottom of the rudder and moved bodily with it - an interesting analogy to the use of the base of the Avro 500’s rudder as a tail-skid.
  The test-flying of the Avro 503 was carried out at Shoreham by F. P. Raynham, assisted by John Alcock.
  A few examples of the type were built, and one was sold to Germany. Piloted by Leutnant Langfeld, this aircraft was the first to fly from the German mainland to Heligoland; the flight, with a passenger, was accomplished on September 6th, 1913.
  The Germans must have thought highly of the Avro 503, for the Gotha WD.1 seaplane which first appeared in February, 1914, was an unashamed copy of the Avro. In a German description published in June, 1919, the Gotha WD.1’s sprung floats and tail-high floating attitude were hailed as innovations, but no mention was made of their British origin. Whereas the Avro company built few other seaplanes, the Gotha concern developed a long series of successful floatplanes from the WD.1.
  The Avro 503 was also supplied in small numbers to the R.N.A.S. At least one was sent to the Isle of Grain for assembly; there it was test-flown and handed over to Commander J. W. Seddon. It is believed that this seaplane later participated in a bombing attack on Zeebrugge.
  The ultimate fate of that Avro 503 is unknown, and it is uncertain how many aeroplanes of the type were supplied to the R.N.A.S. At Eastchurch an Avro 503 was flown with a wheel undercarriage, and was used there for training purposes. This aircraft had bracing struts on the overhanging portions of the upper wings, and was fitted with enlarged ailerons.


SPECIFICATION
  Manufacturers: A. V. Roe & Co., Brownsfield Mills, Manchester.
  Power: 100 h.p. Gnome.
  Dimensions: Span: upper 50 ft, lower 47 ft. Length: 33 ft 6 in. Chord: 6 ft.
  Areas: Wings: 567 sq ft.
  Weights: Loaded: about 2,200 lb.
  Service Use: R.N.A.S., Eastchurch. Serial Numbers'. 16.


H.King Armament of British Aircraft (Putnam)


503 (Type H). There is reason to suppose that a seaplane of this type, which appeared in 1913, made a bombing attack on Zeebrugge early in the war, but the load is not known.


Журнал Flight


Flight, July 12, 1913.

THE AVRO WATERPLANE.

   THE new Avro 100 h.p. waterplane, which has been flying so well at Shoreham in the hands of Mr. Raynham, is the first machine to have floats designed by A. V. Roe and Co., their earlier hydroplanes having been built to customers' designs. The result appears to have justified the enterprise, for the machine gets off the water within 60 yards in calm weather, and requires but little more space in a moderate swell.
   In general, the Avro waterplane has a close resemblance to the usual Avro type, which is already so well known in the R.F.C. It is, of course, considerably larger throughout, as is rendered necessary by the larger engine power, and by the comparative difficulty of arising from water, as compared with getting off land. Furthermore, there are certain alterations in construction which have been rendered necessary by the altered conditions, as, for example, the substitution of flaps for warping.
   The main planes measure 50 ft. in span, as compared with the standard span of 36 ft., and contain five panels instead of three, as in the standard Army type. They have a chord of 6 ft., and the gap between planes is 6 ft. 9 ins. The upper plane only is provided with flaps of 12 ft. 9 ins. span each, increasing in chord towards the tips. These are balanced to pull up as well as down.
   The body is supported from the wings in the usual Avro style, with the exception that the planes, instead of detaching from the body itself, detach from a fixed inner cellule having a span of 9 ft., so that the struts at its extremities are immediately above the floats.
   These latter are of the pure hydroplane type with 2 steps, and are 14 ft. long x 2 ft. 6 ins. wide, with their inner edges 6 ft. 6 ins. apart. The total buoyancy when submerged is 4,400 lbs., or twice the weight of the machine. The chassis struts are all of steel bound with varnished fabric, and are 14 in number, 7 each side, of which 6 support the cellule from the float, whilst the 7th is carried direct to the engine bearers on the fuselage.
   The body itself is rectangular in cross-section with a horizontal top and curved bottom. It tapers at the rear to a vertical rudder post which carries the rudder, and with it a small tail float, which moves with the rudder for steering purposes. The elevators and empennage are of the standard Avro size. The pilot's seat is behind the passenger's, the latter being placed on the centre of gravity of the machine. The engine is enclosed in the usual housing, with a wind-shield for the pilot.
   The tractor-screw is an Avro with brass-capped leading edge at the tips, having a diameter of 8.9 ins. and a pitch of 6 ft. The control is by wheel and rudder bar, and is of the usual type.
   The weight of the whole machine with full allowance of fuel is just under one ton, and the surface of the main planes being 567 sq. ft. gives a loading of rather under 4 lbs. per sq. ft., and 22 lbs. per h.p. This means, of course, that the machine is not a very high speed one, its estimated velocity being about 48 to 50 miles per hour. This slow speed was adopted as being more likely to be successful, considering the experimental state of our present-day knowledge of hydroplane floats.
   It is interesting to know that this machine is already purchased by a private owner, and that several are already on order for the Admiralty.

P.Lewis - British Aircraft 1809-1914 /Putnam/
Avro Type 503 seaplane at Shoreham in 1913 (at Brighton after acceptance tests in June, 1913 ???).
Powered by a 100hp Gnome, the Avro Type H, or 503, derived from the Avro 501 floatplane and made its first flight on 28 May 1913. Ironically this particular machine was bought by the German Navy and is seen undergoing their acceptance trials at Worthing, Sussex in June 1913. An additional three examples were built, all for the British Admiralty. Top level speed of this two-seater floatplane was 64mph at sea level. Incidentally, many of the Type H's features were to find their way into the later Gotha WD-1.
A.Jackson - Avro Aircraft since 1908 /Putnam/
The original Avro 503 seaplane moored at Shoreham in June 1913.
Журнал - Flight за 1913 г.
The 100 h.p. Avro hydro-biplane on the sea, as seen from in front.
J.Bruce - British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 /Putnam/
The original Avro 503 float seaplane.
Журнал - Flight за 1913 г.
Side view of the 100 h.p. Avro hydro-biplane.
Журнал - Flight за 1913 г.
The 100 h.p. Avro hydro-biplane in flight.
A.Imrie - German Naval Air Service /Arms & Armour/
In order to evaluate current foreign marine aircraft techniques several machines were bought from other countries, including an Avro 503 seaplane from Britain. Following acceptance tests, the Avro was flown to Heligoland for the Autumn Fleet manoeuvres by Langfeld, carrying a passenger, in September 1913. This was the first flight by a seaplane from the German mainland to Heligoland. Four seaplanes were deployed in the manoeuvres, but three of them were considered unsuitable for operational use; the Avro, however, generally gave excellent results.
A.Imrie - German Naval Air Service /Arms & Armour/
Putzig, near Danzig, was selected as the site for the German naval Flugversuchstation (Flight Experimental Station) since it possessed a wide flat area of grassland, providing a natural land aerodrome, and a coastal area protected from rough wave conditions by the Hela peninsula, giving an excellent seaplane harbour - thus meeting both of the requirements for the operation of amphibious aircraft. The machines seen here in 1913 are the Albatros monoplane, designed by Ernst Heinkel and flown with success by Helmuth Hirth in the Bodensee Competition, and the Avro (D12) bought from Britain.
M.Goodall, A.Tagg - British Aircraft before the Great War /Schiffer/
Avro Type 503 landplane in service with the RNAS. No.52.
J.Bruce - British Aeroplanes 1914-1918 /Putnam/
The converted Avro 503 with wheel undercarriage, strut-braced extensions on the upper wings, and enlarged ailerons.
P.Lewis - British Aircraft 1809-1914 /Putnam/
Avro 503
Журнал - Flight за 1913 г.
THE 100 H.P. AVRO HYDRO-BIPLANE. - Plan, side and front elevations to scale.