On 1 May 1912, the Avro Type F, a pioneering British aircraft, successfully performed its maiden flight.
The Type F was a light, mid-wing monoplane powered by a single 35 hp Viale radial engine. The aircraft was equipped with a tailskid undercarriage and a two-bladed propeller.
The most interesting feature of the Avro Type F was undoubtedly its fuselage. It was not only teardrop-shaped but also featured an enclosed cockpit for the pilot. This made the Type F the world’s first airworthy aircraft to be equipped with the enclosed cockpit as an integral part of its design.
Although it was a pioneering and advanced design, it was still considered that the pilot’s view could be obstructed during flight, for example by oil leaking from the engine. Therefore, it was possible for the pilot to open two of the windows and stick his head out for better visibility.
A.V. Roe and Company considered the Type F to be an experimental aircraft only. The aeroplane performed a few evaluation flights and, in September 1912, was damaged during landing. The company decided that the damage was significant, and the sole example of the Type F was not repaired.
Only the rudder and the Viale engine of the Type F have survived to the present day. A replica of the aircraft is on display at the Avro Heritage Museum in Woodford, United Kingdom.
Cover photo: Avro Type F, San Diego Air and Space Museum Archives via Flickr Commons
