Avro Mailplane

infobox Aircraft
name = Type 627 Mailplane
type = Light transport
manufacturer = Avro
national origin=United Kingdom


caption =
designer =
first flight = 1931
introduced =
introduction=
retired =
status = Prototype
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 1
unit cost =
developed from = Avro Antelope
variants with their own articles = The Avro 627 Mailplane was a British biplane developed in 1931 by Avro from the Avro Antelope bomber as a mail plane for use in Canada. Only one was built which ended up being used as a test bed.

Development

The Avro 608 Hawk was a proposed two seater fighter variant of the Avro Antelope, which was planned to be powered by a Bristol Jupiter radial engine. Although construction of a prototype prototype began, it was incomplete when it was redesigned with a 540 hp Armstrong Siddeley Panther engine as the Avro 622 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 ] .

Following interest by Canadian Airways, who had a possible requirement for a mail plane, Roy Chadwick again redesigned the incomplete prototype to the Avro 627 Mailplane . This was a single engined, single bay biplane, powered by a 525 hp Panther engine and fitted for wheel or float operation. The sole prototype ("G-ABJM") was certificated on 2 August 1931, and was shipped to Canada for operational trials. While these trials were successful, the Canadian government cut the subsidy for civil aviation and so Canadian Airways was unable to afford new aircraft, so the mailplane was returned to England .

The Mailplane was converted in 1933 to a high speed test bed for the Armstrong Siddeley Tiger engine, the revised aircraft being known as the Avro 654 .

Operational history

On return from Canada, the Mailplane was entered in the 1932 King's Cup Race, where it recorded the fastest speed of 176 mph cite book |last= Jackson|first= A.J.|authorlink= |coauthors= |title= British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1|year= 1974|publisher= Putnam|location= London|isbn=0 370 10006 9 ] , although owing to the handicap system, it came 29th .

After conversion to the Avro 654, the aircraft operational life was short, it being dismanted at Woodford Aerodrome in 1934 .

Variants

;Avro 608 Hawk: Proposed two seat fighter, powered by 425 hp Bristol Jupiter engine. Prototype incomplete.;Avro 622: Redesigned Avro 608, powered by 540 hp Armstrong Siddeley Panther II engine. Incomplete prototype converted to Avro 627.;Avro 627 Mailplane: Single seat mailplane, powered by 525 hp Armstrong Siddeley Panther IIA engine. One prototype built.;Avro 654: Conversion of Avro 627 as high speed test bed.

pecifications (Avro 627 Mailplane)

aircraft specifications

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

ref=Avro Aircraft since 1908

crew=One
capacity=40 ft³ mail compartment
length main= 30 ft 10 in
length alt= 9.40 m
span main= 36 ft 0 in
span alt= 10.98 m
height main= 10 ft 10 in
height alt= 3.30 m
area main= 381 ft²
area alt= 35.4 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 3,077 lb
empty weight alt= 1,399 kg
loaded weight main= 5,150 lb
loaded weight alt= 2,341 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)=Armstrong Siddeley Panther IIA
type of prop=14 cylinder two row radial engine
number of props=1
power main= 525 hp
power alt= 392 kW
power original=
max speed main= 148 knots
max speed alt= 170 mph, 274 km/h
cruise speed main= 128 knots
cruise speed alt= 147 mph, 237 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 487 nm
range alt= 560 mi, 902 km
ceiling main= 19,000 ft
ceiling alt= 5,800 m
climb rate main= 1,200 ft/min
climb rate alt= 6.1 m/s
loading main= 13.5 lb/ft²
loading alt= 66.1 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.102 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.167 kW/kg
more performance=

armament=

avionics=

ee also

aircontent

related=
* Avro Antelope

similar aircraft=

sequence=

lists=

see also=

References