Avro Bison Aircraft

Production Details

Design Company:

A.V.Roe and Co Ltd, Newton Heath, Manchester and Hamble Aerodrome, near Southampton, Hants

First Flight:

1921

555 Prototypes:

2 - A.V.Roe and Co Ltd

Bison I:

12 - A.V.Roe and Co Ltd

Bison II:

41 - A.V.Roe and Co Ltd

Type Specification

Applies to:

Avro 555 Bison I

Type:

Deck landing sea reconnaissance and fleet gunnery spotting

Wing:

Two bay biplane with unstaggered, unswept equal span wings of wooden construction with fabric covering. Ailerons on both wings

Fuselage:

Tubular steel construction, cabin area plywood covered, tail fabric covered, filling interplane gap

Tail Unit:

Braced tailplane with single rudder and twin fins mounted below tailplane

Landing Gear:

Crossaxle type fixed gear with tailskid

Power Plant:

One 480 hp Napier Lion II in nose

Accommodation:

Crew of four with pilot in open cockpit ahead of wing, gunner in open cockpit aft of wing and two crew in cabin

Armament:

Single Vickers gun firing forward from cockpit and single machine gun at gunners position

Span:

46 ft

Length:

36 ft

Height:

13 ft 6in

Wing Area:

620 sq ft

Tare:

4,160 lb

All-up:

5,800 lb

Max Speed:

110 mph

Initial Climb:

600 ft/min

Ceiling:

14,000 ft

Range:

340 miles

Preserved in British Museums

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