Avro 548

548

Manufacturer: Avro
First flight: October 1919
Produced: 1920-25
Number built: 35

The Avro 548 was a civil trainer aircraft built in Britain after World War I. It was based extensively on Avro's 504 military aircraft, but had an inline engine and a third seat. The prototype, designated 545, first flew with a Curtiss OX-5 Vee-8, but this proved impractical for the civil market on account of the engine's weight and the complexity of its cooling system. An air-cooled Renault engine was used instead, and the designation 548 applied to this configuration. In practice, these aircraft were usually customised for their buyers and most differed from each other in equipment and detail; some were actually retrofitted war-surplus 504s. Many were used as civil trainers, others for joyriding, personal transport, or racing.

A revised version, the 548A resulted when fitted with an ADC Airdisco engine, a development of the Renault which gave 120 hp (90 kW). This engine greatly improved performance.

Plans for a version with an enclosed cabin, designated 553 were never brought to fruition.

Operators

Portugal

Portuguese Air Force

Specifications (548)

Data from Avro Aircraft since 1908

General characteristics

Crew: one pilot
Capacity: 2 passengers
Length: 29 ft 5 in (8.97 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (10.98 m)
Height: 10 ft 5 in (3.18 m)
Wing area: 330 ft² (30.7 m²)
Empty weight: 1,338 lb (607 kg)
Gross weight: 1,943 lb (881 kg)
Powerplant: 1 x— Renault 80 hp air-cooled V-8 engine, 80 hp (60 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 80 mph (130 km/h)
Cruise speed: 65 mph (105 km/h)
Range: 175 miles (282 km)
Rate of climb: 350 ft/min (1.8 m/s)

Jackson, A.J. (1990). Avro Aircraft since 1908. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0-85177-834-8.
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 93.

Avro 548 Pictures and Avro 548 for Sale.

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Source: WikiPedia