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. After the outbreak of the Second World War the Anson was
soon found to have become obsolete in front line combat roles. Large numbers of
the type were instead 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.

Design

The Avro Anson was a twin-engine, low-wing cantilever monoplane. Developed as a
general reconnaissance aircraft, it possessed many features that lent itself to
the role, including considerable load-carrying ability, and long range. The
structure of the Anson was relatively straightforward and uncomplicated, relying
on proven methods and robust construction to produce an airframe that minimised
maintenance requirements. Much of the internal structure had retained similar to
the earlier Avro 652 airliner from which it had been developed. The Anson Mk I
was furnished with a low-mounted one-piece wooden wing, composed of a
combination of plywood and spruce throughout the wingbox and ribs. The fuselage
was composed of a welded steel tubing framework which was principally clad in
fabric; the exterior of the nose was clad in magnesium alloy.

The Anson was powered by a pair of Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX seven-cylinder
air-cooled radial engines, which were each rated at 350 horsepower (260 kW).
Each engine was provided with its own duplicated fuel pumps and separate fuel
and oil tanks; the tanks were composed of welded aluminium and mounted in
cradles housed within the wing. The engine cowling were intentionally designed
to have a reduced diameter in order to reduce their negative impact upon
external visibility, which was considered to be valuable to the type's
reconnaissance function. These engines each drove a set of two-bladed
Fairey-built metal propellers.

The Anson was equipped with a retractable undercarriage arrangement, which was
uncommon upon its introduction; it holds the distinction of being the first
aircraft to feature such an innovation to enter service with the RAF. While the
main undercarriage was retracted into recesses set into the bottom of the engine
nacelles, the tail wheel was fixed in position. Commonly, the undercarriage was
fitted with Dunlop-built wheels, tyres and pneumatic brakes and Turner legs. The
retractable undercarriage was mechanically operated by hand; 144 turns of a
crank handle, situated besides the pilot's seat, were needed. To avoid this
laborious process, early aircraft would often perform short flights with the
landing gear remaining extended throughout, which would reduce the aircraft's
cruising speed by 30 mph (50 km/h).


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

Operational history

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.

By 1939, all of the squadrons assigned to Bomber Command that had been equipped
with the Anson I served as operational training squadrons which were used to
prepare crews for frontline service. 12 of the squadrons were in No. 6
(Operational Training) Group. Newly formed crews, having previously completed
individual flying and technical training courses, were first trained as bomber
crews in Ansons before they would advance to the various frontline aircraft
types, which were also in the same squadrons with the Ansons. After training in
the frontline aircraft type, crews would advance to the frontline bomber
squadrons with those aircraft types (Fairey Battle, Bristol Blenheim, Vickers
Wellington, Armstrong Whitworth Whitley, and Handley-Page Hampden). At the start
of the war, the Lockheed Hudson was beginning to replace the Ansons in Coastal
Command, one squadron having been fully equipped with Hudsons and another with
both Ansons and Hudsons.

The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) operated 4,413
Anson aircraft, 1,962 British built and 2,451 Canadian built aircraft. The RCN
operated the aircraft until 1952. Although the Canadian Ansons were used
throughout the training schools of the British Commonwealth Air Training plan
for training aircrew, some aircraft were pressed into operational service with
the RCAF's Eastern Air Command. A good example of the training schools
involvement in combat operations with the EAC during the emergency of the battle
is illustrated in an article dated 1 March 2006 of the Royal Canadian Legion
magazine entitled Eastern Air Command: Air Force, Part 14; the author Hugh A.
Haliday wrote: "The need for Atlantic patrols was undiminished, yet the Battle
of the St. Lawrence stretched EAC resources. Based at Charlottetown, 31 General
Reconnaissance School was mobilized to fly patrols using Avro Ansons, each
carrying two, 250-pound bombs. At the very outset of the war the Anson and its
ordnance had failed in RAF anti-submarine work. Now in Canada it was remobilized
as an aerial scarecrow. German views varied as to Canadian countermeasures. The
captain of U-517 found his operations increasingly restricted by strengthened
air patrols. In October 1942, U-69 reported "strong sea patrol and constant
patrol by aircraft with radar."

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

Ansons continued to be manufactured by Avro at Woodford for the RAF until March
1952; the type was used as trainers and served in the role of Station
communications aircraft until 1968.

The wooden wings of Ansons flying in Australia were found to fail at a high
rate. The phenolic glue bonds would part, and it was speculated that the problem
was due to the high humidity. In 1962, the Commonwealth Government decided to
ground the majority of wooden-winged aircraft then in operation; amongst those
aircraft affected, the Anson and De Havilland Mosquito were included. Of the
Ansons, no such aircraft were re-registered as the government had mandated a
test that essentially destroyed the wings, thus requiring the fitting of new
wings. Most owners decided to voluntarily scrap their aircraft well before this
time.

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 returned to the air in Nelson,
New Zealand.

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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