AVRO 504

History

A pre-WWI era fighter, the Avro 504 would be produced in enormous numbers up until 1932. Twelve 504K two-seat trainer variants of the aircraft were donated by the British to be used for the training of the newly founded Hellenic Naval Air Service. Six of the aircraft were delivered with the 130 hp Clerget 9B engine, and the other six with the 100 hp Gnome Monosoupape.

Based out of Tatoi airfield, the 504s were considered excellent training aircraft, and at least one (No.54) would service in the Greco-Turkish war. Having become obsolete as a frontline fighter early in the war, it was used as a trainer or liaison aircraft, and occasionally for reconnaissance duties.

Later, during the 1920s KEA ( Κρατικό Εργοστάσιο Αεροπλάνων / State Aircraft Factory) would undertake license production of the 504N, and become a self-sufficient repair workshop to produce spare parts and service the aircraft. The N variant featured a 160 hp Armstrong Siddeley Lynx engine, during 1934-1935 KEA would produce a further ten 504Ns, and one 504O (hydroplane variant). 

The 504O differed mainly in the addition of two pontoons and a redesigned vertical stabiliser.

One Avro 504 would be amongst the last remaining aircraft during the German invasion, and had intended to make an escape to Egypt, but was strafed and destroyed on Crete in May 1941, bringing an end to the type in Greek service.

The original 504Ks featured a mainly silver/grey paint scheme with roundels on the upper and lower wing surfaces, fuselage, and a fin flash painted over the entire vertical stabiliser. Later 504N/Os during the 1930s featured the earth tone olive/earth style livery, occasionally with the fuselage roundel omitted.

Design

The Avro 504 featured a fairly simple construction method, with a square off central fuselage section, wire and strut braced wing, and an all-wooden construction. On fighter versions, the aircraft would have a single Lewis machine gun that fired over the top of the upper wing, due to synchronisation gear not being available at the time of the aircrafts design.