AVRO 616 Avian

The Avian's robustness and reliability resulted in further similar flights being undertaken and orders started coming in. Continued improvements resulted in several different marks being produced, the Mk.IV being the final wooden model before the introduction of metal structure on the Mk.IVM in 1929.

Almost 200 of the wooden versions had been made before the
change, many being exported. The metal Avian proved more suitable for more extreme climates, and most of the170 produced were exported and a few were license-built in USA before the recession there halted production.

At the close of the 1920s the most widely-used material for aircraft structures was wood. Many manufacturers were starting to investigate the use of metal, and one of these was the Dutch company Fokker at Amsterdam.

They were producing very robust and reliable aircraft using welded steel tube for the fuselage structure mated to a wooden wing. This system attracted the interest of Roy Chadwick, Avro's Chief Designer. He arranged to visit Amsterdam, together with senior members of Avro to study Fokker's design and production methods.

(Monochrome Photograph showing - Avian production at Newton Heath in the late 1920s.)

The outcome was the purchase of a license to build the F.VII/3m at Newton Heath under the designation Type 610 Ten (8 passengers plus 2 crew). The deal allowed sales to UK and British Empire (less Canada) only. The first Avro Ten was exhibited at the Olympia Aero Show in London during July 1929, before being shipped to Australia as part of an order for five aircraft for Australian National Airways. A total of 14 were built, customers including Imperial Airways, Egyptian Army Air Force and Indian State Airways. The last one was delivered to the RAF in 1936. The Company was considering a design to replace the Avro 504N as standard basic trainer for the RAF, and this resulted in the Type 621, using the Fokker-type steel tube structure. The prototype was first flown in late 1929 and tested for the RAF in December. After modifications to suit the Air Ministry the aircraft was ordered in large numbers for the RAF with the name Tutor.

(Monochrome Photograph showing - Avro Ten of Australian National Airways.)