Avro Antelope

infobox Aircraft
name = Antelope
type = Light Bomber
manufacturer = Avro


caption =
designer =
first flight = July 1928
introduced =
introduction=
retired = September 1933
status = Prototype
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 1
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles =

The Avro 604 Antelope was a British light bomber which was designed and built in the late 1920's to meet a requirement for a light bomber to equip the Royal Air Force, competing against the Hawker Hart and the Fairey Fox II. It was unsuccessful, the Hart being preferred.

Design and development

The Avro 604 Antelope was designed to meet the requirements of Air Ministry Specification 12/26, for a single engined light, high speed, day bomber cite book |last= Jackson|first= A J |title=Avro Aircraft since 1908 |edition= 2nd edition|year= 1990 |publisher= Putnam Aeronautical Books|location= London |isbn= 0-85177-834-8 ] . One prototype was ordered by the Air Ministry, which first flew in July 1928 Cite book |author=Mason, Francis K |title=The British Bomber since 1914 |publisher=Putnam Aeronautical Books |year=1994 |isbn = 0 85177 861 5, powered by a 480 hp Rolls-Royce F.XIB (later known as the "Kestrel") engine.

The prototype Antelope, which was a single bay biplane with all metal construction, was evaluated at the Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment (A & AEE) at Martlesham Heath against the Hawker Hart and Fairey Fox II. While it easily met the performance requirements of the specification, it showed poor low speed handling and spinning characteristics, and was rejected in favour of the Hart owing to the ease of maintenance of the Hart .

Operational history

After rejection for operational service, the prototype Antelope was fitted with dual controls and used by the Royal Aircraft Establishment as an engine and propeller test bed, remaining in use until September 1933 .

Operators

;UK
*Royal Air Force
**Royal Aircraft Establishment

pecifications (Antelope)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=Avro Aircraft since 1908

crew=Two
capacity=
length main= 31 ft 2 in
length alt= 9.50 m
span main= 36 ft 0 in
span alt= 10.98 m
height main= 10 ft 9 in
height alt= 3.28 m
area main= 377 ft²
area alt= 35.0 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 2,859 lb
empty weight alt= 1,300 kg
loaded weight main= 4,538 lb
loaded weight alt= 2,063 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)=Rolls-Royce F.XI.B
type of prop=V-12 water cooled piston
number of props=1
power main= 480 hp
power alt= 358 kW
power original=
max speed main= 150 knots
max speed alt= 173 mph, 279 km/h
cruise speed main= 126 knots
cruise speed alt= 145 mph, 233 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 504 nm
range alt= 580 mi, 934 km
ceiling main= 22,000 ft
ceiling alt= 6,700 m
climb rate main= 1,470 ft/min
climb rate alt= 7.5 m/s
loading main= 12.0 lb/ft²
loading alt= 58.9 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.106 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.174 kW/kg
more performance=

armament=*One synchronised forward firing .303 in Vickers gun

*One Lewis gun in rear cockpit
*Up to two 250 lb bombs

avionics=

ee also

aircontent

related=
*Avro 627 Mailplane

similar aircraft=
*Hawker Hart
*Fairey Fox

lists=

see also=

References

External links

* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=259 British Aircraft Directory]