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Avro 566 Avenger

1926 GOLDEN AGE X-PLANE

History of Avro 566 Avenger

The Avro 566 Avenger is modeled after a private fighter jet that could be sold to the Royal Air Force (RAF) and promises exceptional performance through a powerful engine and a sleek, streamlined profile. This type existed as a biplane and made its first flight on June 26, 1926.

Its design is attributed to Roy Chadwick, an aeronautical engineer who put his talents to use in creating the World War Manchester and Lancaster Heavy Bomber II fame and the Cold War-era jet Avro Vulcan bomber.

The Avenger has a total length of 7.7 meters, a wingspan of 9.75 meters and a height of 3 meters. A crew member sat under the upper wing assembly and in the open-air cockpit at the stern. The main aircraft spans unequally - the upper half is wider than the lower half - and uses N struts to form a single-panel wing assembly.

The wheeled landing gear was fixed in flight, and the overall design of the aircraft was very much in line with the post-World War I period (known as the "interwar period"). The structure is mostly wood with fabric covering, and the aircraft is powered by a 525 hp Napier Lion VIII engine driving a twin-bladed propeller in the nose.

The prototype was unarmed, but it can be assumed that it was fitted with 2 x .303 machine guns that fired synchronously through rotating propeller blades.

When done, the Avenger maintains a top speed of 180 mph and can cruise at 130 mph.

Despite the promises, the Avengers failed to market themselves to the RAF authorities (mainly due to the game's unpopular Lion engine), so it was decided to convert the high-performance platform to airracer. The wing main aircraft was modified into isometric assemblies and I-pillars were installed for support.

Ailerons are added to the upper and lower wing structures. The original engine installation has now been replaced by a 553 hp Napier Lion IX series engine, changes enough to justify the new name Avro 567 "Avenger II".

Aside from this modification, the plane was never destined to be anything major - the plane was eventually dismantled and used as a technical training tool in 1931.