Avro Spider Aircraft

Production Details

Design Company:

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

First Flight:

April 1918

531:

1 - A.V.Roe and Co Ltd

538:

1 - A.V.Roe and Co Ltd

Type Specification

Applies to:

Avro 531 Spider

Type:

Private venture single seat fighter

Wing:

Biplane of unequal span, with lower wing of narrow chord. Wings connected with steel tubes arranged in triangles, 3 each side. Ailerons on upper wing only

Fuselage:

Fabric covered wooden structure mounted on lower wing

Tail Unit:

Braced tailplane with elevator and single rudder with no fin

Landing Gear:

Crossaxle type gear with fixed tailskid

Power Plant:

One 130 hp Clerget engine in nose

Accommodation:

Single seat for pilot in open cockpit beneath cut out in upper wing

Armament:

Single forward firing Vickers gun

Span:

28 ft 6 in

Length:

20 ft 6 in

Height:

7 ft 10 in

Wing Area:

189 sq ft

Tare:

963 lb

All-up:

1,517 lb

Max Speed:

120 mph

Climb:

4 min to 5,000 ft

Ceiling:

19,000 ft

Preserved in British Museums

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