The Avro Avian was a series of British light aircraft designed and built in the 1920s and 1930s.
While the various versions of the Avian were sound aircraft, they were comprehensively outsold by the de Havilland Moth and its descendants.
Variants
Avro 581 Avian
First prototype, one 70 hp (52 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Genet.
Avro 581A
Modified first prototype, one 85 hp (63 kW) ADC Cirrus and reduced span wings.
Avro 581E
Further modified Avro 581A for long distance flights, with new wings and modified fuselage.
Avro 594 Avian I
Preproduction aircraft, two built.
Avro 594 Avian II
Initial production, 85 hp (63 kW) Cirrus II engine, nine built.
Avro 594 Avian III
Modified engine mount and tubular steel struts, 33 built.
Avro 594 Avian IIIA
95 hp (71 kW) Cirrus III engine, 58 built.
Avro 594 Avian IV
Revised undercarriage and ailerons, 90 built.
Avro 605 Avian
Two Avro 594 Avian IIIs were converted into floatplanes.
Avro 616 Avian IVM
Steel tube fuselage, Powered by 105 hp (78 kW) Cirrus Hermes I or 100 hp (75 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major, approximately 190 built.
Avro 616 Sports Avian
Version for racing with reduced drag, 16 built.
Avro 616 Avian IVA
modified one-off long range version for Charles Kingsford Smith, Southern Cross Junior, 120 hp (90 kW) de Havilland Gipsy II engine, with additional fuel tank and revised 30 ft span wings.
Avro 616 Avian V
Long range single-seater again built for Charles Kingsford Smith, Southern Cross Minor.
Bill Lancaster would later attempt to fly solo from England to South Africa in this aircraft, and die in the attempt.
Avro 625 Avian Monoplane
Low wing monoplane development, two built.
Specifications
Crew
2
Length
24 ft 3 in (7.39 m)
Wingspan
28 ft 0 in (8.53 m)
Height
8 ft 6 in (2.59 m)
Wing area
245 sq ft (22.8 m2)
Empty weight
1,005 lb (456 kg)
Gross weight
1,523 lb (691 kg)
Powerplant
1 × Cirrus Hermes I, 4 cylinder air cooled inline piston engine,
