| Avro 618 Ten | |
|---|---|
 VH-UMH as New England Airways'City of Grafton | |
| General information | |
| Type | Passenger & military transport |
| Manufacturer | Avro |
| Designer | |
| Primary user | Australian National Airways,Imperial Airways |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1930 |
| Developed from | F.VIIB/3m |
TheAvro 618 Ten orX was a passenger transport aircraft of the 1930s. It was a licensed version byAvro of theFokkerF.VIIB/3m.
In 1928Avro came to an arrangement withFokker to license production of its successfulF.VIIB/3m for sale in theBritish Empire (except Canada). The Avro designation618 Ten was adopted as the aircraft was capable of carrying two crew and eight passengers.[1] After a modification of the centre motor mounting to accommodate British airworthiness requirements, the aircraft was first displayed at the 1929Olympia Aero Show. TheAvro 642 Eighteen used the same wing as the Ten but had a new fuselage for 16 passengers.
The first five aircraft were sold to the newAustralian National Airways. The type entered service on 1 January 1930 on theBrisbane-Sydney route, and laterMelbourne-Sydney.[1] They were:
Two of this fleet were lost in accidents:Southern Cloud in the Toolong range of theAustralian Alps on 21 March 1931 (the wreckage was not found until 1958) andSouthern Sun inMalaya in November 1931, while attempting the firstairmail flight to the United Kingdom. The airline folded and the remaining aircraft were sold.
Southern Moon was rebuilt in 1933 for long-range flights, fitted with 330 hp (250 kW)Wright Whirlwind radial engines and restyled asVH-UXX Faith in Australia. The last surviving 618 Ten in Australia, it evacuated many people fromNew Guinea in 1941.[2] Another two 618 Ten aircraft were also sold to Australian companies.[3] Three of the 619 Five aircraft went to two Australian airlines, as did (after commercial service in Britain) the sole 642/2m.
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Four 618 Tens were delivered directly to British customers. Two went toImperial Airways (April and June 1931) and were chartered to theIraq Petroleum Transport Company before returning to Britain in 1933. One went toMidland & Scottish Air Ferries (May 1933) and at the end of 1931 one went to Indian State Airways for the use of theViceroy of India. Two Tens went to theEgyptian Army air force in January 1932, one of them surviving to joinIndian National Airways in September 1934. The last production Ten was delivered to theRoyal Aircraft Establishment's Wireless and Equipment Flight in July 1936 with the RAF serialK2682. One of the 624 Sixes was used by A.S.T Ltd; the other two were eventually sold to the Chinese government.
Data from Avro Aircraft since 1908[1]
General characteristics
Performance
Notable pilots
Related development
Related lists
