Avro Anson

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avro_Anson

The Avro Anson is a British twin-engined, multi-role aircraft built by the
aircraft manufacturer Avro. Large numbers of the type served in a variety of
roles for the Royal Air Force (RAF), Fleet Air Arm (FAA), Royal Canadian Air
Force (RCAF) and numerous other air forces before, during, and after the Second
World War.

Initially known as the Avro 652A, the Anson was developed during the mid-1930s
from the earlier Avro 652 airliner in response to a request for tenders issued
by the British Air Ministry for a maritime reconnaissance aircraft. Having
suitably impressed the Ministry, a single prototype was ordered, which conducted
its maiden flight on 24 March 1935. Following an evaluation in which the Type
652A bettered the competing de Havilland DH.89, it was selected as the winner,
leading to Air Ministry Specification 18/35 being written around the type and an
initial order for 174 aircraft being ordered in July 1935. The Type 652A was
promptly named after British Admiral George Anson.

The type was placed into service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and was
initially used in the envisioned maritime reconnaissance operation alongside the
larger flying boats. However, by the outbreak of the Second World War, the Anson
was soon found to have become obsolete in front line combat roles. However,
large numbers of the type were put to use as a multi-engined aircrew trainer,
having been found to be suitable for the role, and became the mainstay of the
British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. The type continued to be used in this
role throughout and after the conflict, remaining in RAF service as a trainer
and communications aircraft until 28 June 1968.

During the post-war climate, the Anson was increasingly produced for the civil
market, being used as a light transport and executive aircraft. By the end of
production in 1952, a total of 8,138 Ansons had been constructed by Avro in nine
variants; in addition, a further 2,882 aircraft were manufactured by Federal
Aircraft Ltd in Canada from 1941. By the 21st century, the vast majority of
Ansons had been retired from flying. However, a single Anson Mk.I, which had
been originally manufactured during 1943, had been restored to airworthiness,
having been refitted with later metal wings. On 18 July 2012, this restored
aircraft performed its first flight.

Initially, the Anson was flown with a three-man crew, which comprised a pilot, a
navigator/bomb-aimer and a radio operator/gunner, when it was used in the
maritime reconnaissance role; from 1938 onwards, it was typically operated by a
four-man crew. The bomb-aimer would perform his function from a prone position
in the forward section of the nose, which was provisioned with a bombsight,
driftsight, and other appropriate instrumentation, including a landing light.
The pilot was located in a cockpit behind the bomb-aimer's position and was
provided with a variety of contemporary instrumentation, including those to
enable flight under instrument flight rules (IFR) and indirect instrument
lighting for night flying purposes.


Role
Multirole aircraft, primarily a trainer

National origin
United Kingdom

Manufacturer
Avro

First flight
24 March 1935

Introduction
1936

Retired
28 June 1968 (RAF)

Status
One flying, otherwise retired.

Primary users
Royal Air Force
Fleet Air Arm
Royal Canadian Air Force
Royal Australian Air Force

Produced
1930s–1952

Number built
11,020

Developed from
Avro 652

The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), employed 50 Canadian-built Ansons,
which were designated the AT-20.

On 6 March 1936, the Anson entered RAF service, No. 48 Squadron was the first
RAF unit to be equipped with the type. Upon the type's introduction, it
represented a new level of capability for the service, serving not only in a
general reconnaissance capacity but also being an effective general-purpose
aircraft By the outbreak of the Second World War, the RAF had received a total
of 824 Ansons while there were 26 RAF squadrons that were then operating the
Anson I: 10 of these were assigned to Coastal Command and the other 16 were with
Bomber Command.

After the war, Ansons continued in production with Avro at Woodford. At this
time, large amounts of the type were being produced for civilian use, where they
were operated as light transports by a range of small charter airlines and as
executive aircraft by large corporations. Countries which saw civilian
operations with Ansons included the United Kingdom, Canada (Mk. V aircraft
only), Australia and Denmark.

Specifications (Mk I)

General characteristics
Crew: Three-four
Length: 42 ft 3 in (12.88 m)
Wingspan: 56 ft 6 in (17.22 m)
Height: 13 ft 1 in (3.99 m)
Wing area: 463 ft² (43.01 m²)
Empty weight: 5,512 lb (2,500 kg)
Loaded weight: 7,955 lb (3,608 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 8,500 lb (3,900 kg)
Powerplant: Two × Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX radial engines, 350 hp (261 kW)
each

Performance
Maximum speed: 188 mph (163 kn, 302 km/h) at 7,000 ft (2,100 m)
Range: 790 mi (690 nmi, 1,271 km)
Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,791 m)
Rate of climb: 750 ft/min (3.8 m/s)
Wing loading: 17.2 lb/ft² (83.9 kg/m²)
Power/mass: 0.088 hp/lb (140 W/kg)

Armament

Guns:
1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) machine gun in front fuselage
1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K machine gun in dorsal turret

Bombs: 360 lb (163 kg)




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