Avro 533 Manchester

The Avro 533 Manchester was a First World War era twin-engine biplane photo-reconnaissance and bomber aircraft designed and manufactured by Avro.

Design and development

Designed as a twin-engine bomber and photo-reconnaissance aircraft, the Avro 533 was a development of the earlier Avro 523 and Avro 529A. Originally designated ass the Avro 529B, the new nine-cylinder ABC Dragonfly I engine of 320 hp (238 kW) was specified but with a redesign in July 1918, the type number was subsequently changed to Avro 533. When the original engines were not available, the 300 hp Siddeley Puma engine was substituted on the second protoype in November 1918, this acquiring a new designation, the Avro 533A Manchester Mk II, and first flying in December that year. A 400 hp Liberty engine was also proposed as an alternate engine.Harlan and Jenks 1973, p. 61.]

Operational history

The Avro 533A Manchester Mk II flew for the first time in December 1918 with flight testing continuing with No. 186 Development Squadron. By March 1919, Avro sent the first prototype to Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment at Martlesham Heath for official trials before its eventual return to the Avro factory at Hamble. The aircraft was a large, and mainly conventional design of wooden and fabric construction typical of the time. Open cockpits were retained, although later modifications were planned for passenger compartments in the interior. [Jackson 1965, p. 162.]

In December 1919, the second prototype received its Dragonfly I engines, becoming the Avro 533A Manchester Mk I. Other than the different engines, there were few differences between the two types, other than the Mk I having a slightly reduced lower wing surface, and enlarged tail fin and rudder to correct control problems indicated in testing. Flight testing also indicated a lower performance than anticipated which resulted in Avro reconsidering the type's further trials, and eventually led to the abandoning of the third prototype, which was never fitted with engines.

In March 1919, Avro proposed a passenger airliner, the Avro 537 that would be adapted from the earlier bomber version. The plans were ultimately abandoned and all the Type 533 prototypes were scrapped.Harlan and Jenks 1973, p. 62.]

Variants

* Avro 533A Mk I - original design (first designated Avro 529B and later as the Avro 533)
* Avro 533A Mk II - Siddeley Puma engine

pecifications (Mark I)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref="Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I" [ Taylor 1990, p. 52.] , "Avro Aircraft since 1908" [Jackson 1965, p. 164.]

crew=3, pilot and two gunners
capacity=
payload main=
payload alt=
length main=37 ft
length alt=11.2 m
span main=60 ft
span alt=18.29 m
height main=12 ft 6 in
height alt=3.81 m
area main= 813 sq ft
area alt= 75.6 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 4,887 lb
empty weight alt= 2,221 kg
loaded weight main= 7,390 lb
loaded weight alt= 3,359 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)=ABC Dragonfly
type of prop=nine-cylinder air cooled radial engine
number of props=2
power main= 320 hp
power alt=239 kW
power original=
power more=

propeller or rotor?=
propellers=
number of propellers per engine=
propeller diameter main=
propeller diameter alt=

max speed main= 128 mph
max speed alt= 206 km/h
max spped more=at ground level
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
cruise speed more
stall speed main= <45 mph
stall speed alt= 72 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ferry range main=
ferry range alt=
ferry range more=
ceiling main= 17,000 ft
ceiling alt= 5,200 m
climb rate main= 14 min 20 sec to 10,000 ft [ [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=276 British aircraft directory] ]
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=*Endurance: 5 hours 45 minutes

guns=Two .303 in Lewis guns at nose and midships positions Mason 1994, p. 119.]
bombs= 880 lb (400 kg)

aircontent
see also=
related=
similar aircraft=
lists=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Harlin, E.A. and G.A. Jenks. "Avro: An Aircraft Album". Shepperton, Middlesex, UK: Ian Allen, 1973. ISBN 0-7710-0342-4.
* Holmes, Harry. "Avro: The History of an Aircraft Company". Wiltshire, UK: The Crowood Press, 2004. ISBN 1-86126-651-0.
* Jackson, Aubrey J. "Avro Aircraft since 1908". London: Putnam, 1965. ISBN 0-85177-797-X.
* Mason, Francis K. "The British Bomber since 1914". London: Putnam, 1994. ISBN 0-85177-861-5.
* Sharpe, Michael. "Biplanes, Triplanes and Seaplanes: 300 of the World's Greatest Aircraft". London: Friedman/Fairfax Books, 2000. ISBN 1-58663-300-7.
* Taylor, Michael J.H., ed. "Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I". London: Studio Editions, 1990. ISBN 0-51703-376-3.

External links

* [http://www.edcoatescollection.com/ac6/Avro%20533%20Manchester%20F3493.html Avro 533 Manchester I F3493]
* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=276 Avro Manchester (533)]