Avro 555 Bison

The Avro 555 Bison was a British single engine Fleet Spotter/Reconnaissance aircraft.

Variants

Avro 555 Bison 

Three prototypes to Air Ministry specification 3/21.

Avro 555 Bison I 

Twelve Lion II powered production aircraft, survivors rebuilt as IAs

Avro 555 Bison IA 

Bison Is modified with a biplane gap and additional dorsal fin.

Avro 555A Bison II 

Improved variant with biplane gap modification, 23 built.

Avro 555B Bison I 

One Bison I converted to an amphibian to meet Air Ministry Specification 8/23, not ordered into production.

Specifications

Crew

4

Length

36 ft 0 in (10.97 m)

Wingspan

46 ft 0 in (14.02 m)

Height

14 ft 2 in (4.32 m)

Wing area

630 sq ft (59 m2)

Empty weight

4,116 lb (1,867 kg)

Max take-off weight

6,132 lb (2,781 kg)

Powerplant

1 × Napier Lion II W-12 liquid-cooled piston engine,

480 hp (360 kW) at 2,200 rpm

Normal 450 hp (336 kW) at 2,000 rpm

Propellers

2 bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

Maximum speed

108 mph (174 km/h, 94 kn)

Cruise speed

90 mph (140 km/h, 78 kn)

Range

360 mi (580 km, 310 nmi)

Service ceiling

12,000 ft (3,700 m)

Rate of climb

450 ft/min (2.3 m/s)

Armament

Guns

1 × fixed forward firing .303 in Vickers machine gun

&

1 × .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis Gun on Scarff ring

Bombs

Provision for underwing bomb racks.