Avro 501 Explained
The
Avro Type H,
Type 501, and
Type 503 were a family of early British military
seaplanes. They were a development of the
Avro 500 design and were originally conceived of as amphibious, the prototype being fitted with a single large main float (equipped with wheels) under the fuselage, and two outrigger floats under the wings.
Design and development
Tests were conducted on Windermere in January 1913. It was later converted to a twin-float configuration and bought by the British Admiralty. It now, however, proved too heavy and was converted again – this time to a landplane.[1]
An improved version, designated the 503, was demonstrated to the Inspector of Naval Aircraft, who placed an order for three machines. The prototype itself was demonstrated for the Imperial German Navy in its seaplane trials in June 1913 and was purchased by the government of the German Empire for evaluation purposes. This machine subsequently became the first aircraft to fly across the North Sea, from Wilhelmshaven to Heligoland, in September 1913. Gotha purchased a licence from Avro and produced the type as the WD.1 (Wasser Doppeldecker – "Water Biplane").[1]
Operators
Further reading
- Book: Metzmacher . Andreas . Gotha Aircraft 1913-1954: From the London Bomber to the Flying Wing Jet Fighter . 2021 . Fonthill . Brimscombe, Stroud . 978-1-78155-706-8.
- Book: Taylor, Michael J. H. . Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation . 1989 . Studio Editions . London . 91 .
- Book: World Aircraft Information Files . Bright Star Publishing. London . File 889 Sheet 93 .
External links
Notes and References
- Book: Jackson, A.J.. Avro Aircraft since 1908 . 1990. Second . Putnam. London. 0-85177-834-8 .
