| Avro 652 | |
|---|---|
 Avro 652 "Avatar" of Imperial Airways, 1935 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Light airliner and mailplane |
| Manufacturer | Avro |
| Designer | |
| Primary users | Imperial Airways Air Service Training Ltd Fleet Air Arm |
| Number built | 2 |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1935 |
| Introduction date | 11 March 1935 (Imperial Airways) |
| First flight | 7 January 1935 |
| Retired | March1942 |
| Developed into | Avro Anson |
TheAvro 652 was a 1930s British light airliner, built byA.V. Roe and Company. It was a twin-engine, low-wing monoplane with a retractable undercarriage, and a tailwheel. Although only two were produced, it formed the basis for the successfulAvro Anson.
In 1933,Imperial Airways issued a specification to Avro, for a light airliner to transport four passengers for up to 420 mi (676 km) at a cruising speed of 130 mph (210 km/h). By August 1933,Roy Chadwick's team had produced a design study. This had to be revised when Imperial Airways changed the specification, to enable the machine to fly the Karachi-Bombay-Colombo night mail service. The amended design was accepted, and in April 1934 an order for two aircraft was issued. The first aircraft flew on 7 January 1935, and the type was certificated in March 1935.[1]
On 11 March 1935, the two Avro 652s were delivered to Imperial Airways atCroydon Airport. They served with Imperial Airways, mostly operating the route fromCroydon toBrindisi. In 1938, they were sold to Air Service Training Ltd, a civilian company operating under Air Ministry contracts. They served with No.3 E&RFTS (Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School) as navigational trainers, atHamble airfield. In November 1939, both aircraft were transferred to No. 11 AONS (Air Observers' Navigation School), remaining at Hamble. In March 1941, they were impressed by theAir Ministry into RAF service with No. 1 School of Photography. In July 1941, both were transferred to theFleet Air Arm, and served with811 Squadron atRNAS Lee-on-Solent (HMS Daedalus), until struck off charge in March 1942.[2][3][4]
Data fromFlight 7 March 1935[5]
General characteristics
Performance
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
Related lists
