Avro Anson

Avro Anson
Name	Avro Anson
Caption	An Avro Anson Mk I in flight, circa 1940.
Type	Multirole military aircraft
National origin	United Kingdom
Manufacturer	Avro
Designer	Roy Chadwick
First flight	24 March 1935
Introduction	1936
Retired	28 June 1968 (Royal Air Force)
Primary user	Royal Air Force
Number built	11,020
Developed from	Avro 652
Variants with their own articles	Avro Nineteen

Avro Anson. The Avro Anson was a British twin-engined, multi-role aircraft that became a ubiquitous and vital asset for the Royal Air Force and its allies, particularly during the Second World War. Originally conceived as a maritime reconnaissance aircraft, its adaptable airframe saw extensive service as a trainer, light transport, and communications aircraft. Known affectionately as "Faithful Annie" for its rugged reliability, over 11,000 were built, making it one of the most produced British aircraft of the era.

Development and design

The aircraft originated from the civilian Avro 652 airliner, designed by Roy Chadwick to meet an Air Ministry requirement for a coastal reconnaissance aircraft. Key modifications included the addition of a Boulton Paul-designed gun turret, a lengthened nose for a bomb-aimer's position, and bomb bays within the fuselage. Powered by two Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah radial engines, the prototype first flew from Woodford Aerodrome in Greater Manchester. Its initial design featured a retractable landing gear system, though this was often kept fixed in later service due to maintenance issues. The airframe's geodetic construction, a technique also used on the Vickers Wellington, contributed to its notable durability and survivability.

Operational history

Entering service with Coastal Command in 1936, the Anson was the first RAF monoplane with a retractable undercarriage. At the outbreak of the Second World War, it formed the backbone of coastal patrol squadrons, engaging in missions over the North Sea and the English Channel. Its most famous early combat occurred when an Anson of No. 500 Squadron RAF damaged the German U-boat U-36. As the war progressed, it was outclassed in frontline reconnaissance by aircraft like the Lockheed Hudson and was reassigned to training duties within the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. It served extensively in this role in Canada, Australia, and Southern Rhodesia, training countless navigators, wireless operators, and air gunners for the RAF Bomber Command and other commands.

Variants

The primary variant was the Anson Mk I, the initial production model for reconnaissance and training. The Anson Mk II, built in Canada by Federal Aircraft Ltd, featured Jacobs L-6MB engines and a redesigned wooden wing. The Anson Mk III was a Canadian-built version with Wright Whirlwind engines, while the Anson Mk IV was essentially the Mk II with British Cheetah engines. The Anson Mk V, also Canadian, introduced a molded plywood fuselage and was used primarily as a navigational trainer. The Anson Mk X through Mk XII were transport and communications conversions of the Mk I, with increased load capacity. The post-war Avro Nineteen, or Anson C.19, was a civil version used for light transport and executive travel.

Operators

The primary military operator was the Royal Air Force, which used the type across dozens of commands and training schools. Within the British Empire, significant fleets were operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. Post-war, many were exported to air forces including those of Afghanistan, Belgium, Egypt, Israel, and the Netherlands. Civilian operators included British European Airways and numerous small charter companies, while the aircraft was also used by the Royal Navy and the Fleet Air Arm.

Specifications (Mk I)

* **Crew:** 3–4 * **Length:** 42 ft 3 in (12.88 m) * **Wingspan:** 56 ft 6 in (17.22 m) * **Height:** 13 ft 1 in (3.99 m) * **Empty weight:** 5,512 lb (2,500 kg) * **Max takeoff weight:** 8,000 lb (3,629 kg) * **Powerplant:** 2 × Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX radial engines, 350 hp (260 kW) each * **Maximum speed:** 188 mph (303 km/h, 163 kn) at 7,000 ft (2,100 m) * **Range:** 660 mi (1,060 km, 570 nmi) * **Service ceiling:** 19,000 ft (5,800 m) * **Armament:** 1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Vickers K in turret + 1 × fixed forward-firing Browning; up to 360 lb (160 kg) of bombs

Survivors

A number of Ansons survive in museums and in airworthy condition, a testament to the type's robust construction. Airworthy examples are operated in New Zealand and the United Kingdom, including one based at RAF Duxford. Significant static displays include aircraft at the Royal Air Force Museum London, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa, and the Australian National Aviation Museum in Melbourne. Several are also preserved in South Africa, including at the South African Air Force Museum in Port Elizabeth.

Category:Avro aircraft Category:British military trainer aircraft 1930–1939 Category:Twin-engined tractor aircraft