Avro Athena

infobox Aircraft
name = Athena
type = Trainer
manufacturer = Avro

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caption = Avro Athena T.1
designer =
first flight = 12 June 1948
introduced = 1950
introduction=
retired =
status =
primary user = Royal Air Force
more users =
produced =
number built = 22 (including prototypes)
unit cost =
developed from =
variants with their own articles = The Avro 701 Athena was a British advanced trainer aircraft built by Avro in the late 1940s. It was designed to replace the North American Harvard in the Royal Air Force, but was only brought in small numbers, the competing Boulton Paul Balliol being preferred.

Design and development

The Athena was designed to meet the requirements of Air Ministry specification T.7/45 for a three-seat advanced trainer powered by a turboprop engine for the RAF. The Athena was an all metal low winged monoplane, with a side by side cockpit. The Air Ministry rethought its requirements in 1947, and replaced the original specification with Specification T.14/47, which specified the use of a Rolls-Royce Merlin 35 engine, large stocks of which were held in store Jackson, A.J. "Avro Aircraft since 1908, 2nd edition". London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1990. ISBN 0-85177-834-8.] .

Despite the change in specification, the first three prototypes were of the turboprop powered Athena T.1, the first of which, powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Mamba engine flew on 12 June 1948. The Merlin powered Athena T.2 first flew on 1 August 1948 Thetford, Owen. Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918-57, 1st edition London: Putnam, 1957.] , and was evaluated against the similar Boulton Paul Balliol.

A small production run of 15 Athenas were ordered for the RAF, but the Balliol was preferred, and no further Athenas were ordered.

Operational history

The 15 production Athenas were used by the RAF from 1950 ["RAF Museum: Milestones of Flight, 1950". [http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/milestones-of-flight/aircraft/1950.html] , Access date: 27 May 2007.] for armament training at the RAF Flying College at RAF Manby [ Taylor, M.J.H., ed. "Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation". London: Jane's Publishing Company, 1989. ISBN 1-85170-324-1.] . A single aircraft was loaned back to Avro and given the civil registration "G-ALWA" for a demonstration tour of India. No sales resulted and it was returned to the RAF.

Variants

;Athena T.1:Turboprop powered prototype. One 1,010 hp Armstrong Siddeley Mamba 1 engine. Two built.;Athena T.1A:Single prototype powered by 1,400 hp Rolls-Royce Dart 1 engine. Second prototype to fly.;Athena T.2:Trainer to Spec. T.14/47 powered by 1,280 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 35. Four prototypes plus 15 production.

Operators

;UK
*Royal Air Force
** RAF Flying College at Manby

pecifications (Athena T.2)

aircraft specifications

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

ref= Avro Aircraft since 1908 .

crew=Two [ Although the original specification was for a three-seat aircraft, when delivered to the RAF, the third seat was deleted.]
capacity=
length main= 37 ft 3½ in
length alt= 11.37 m
span main= 40 ft 0 in
span alt= 12.20 m
height main= 12 ft 11 in
height alt= 3.94 m
area main= 270 ft²
area alt= 25.1 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 6,540 lb
empty weight alt= 2,973 kg
loaded weight main= 9,383 lb
loaded weight alt= 4,265 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)=Rolls-Royce Merlin 35
type of prop=V-12 liquid cooled piston engine
number of props=1
power main= 1,280 hp
power alt= 955 kW
power original=
max speed main= 255 kn
max speed alt= 293 mph, 472 km/h
max speed more= at 20,000 ft
cruise speed main= 194 kn
cruise speed alt= 223 mph, 359 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 478 NM
range alt= 550 mi, 886 km
ceiling main= 29,000 ft
ceiling alt= 8,840 m
climb rate main= 2,050 ft/min
climb rate alt= 10.4 m/s
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=

armament=
* One .303 in Browning machine gun
* Provision for two 60-lb rockets.
avionics=

ee also

aircontent

related=

similar aircraft=Boulton Paul Balliol

lists=
* List of aircraft of the Royal Air Force

see also=

References

External links

[http://avia.russian.ee/air/england/avro_athena.php Virtual Aircraft Museum]