On 3rd March 1912, Avro 500 military utility biplane designed by A.V. Roe, performed its maiden flight.
The aircraft was assessed as perfectly designed and having exceptional flight characteristics, apart from its top speed and climb rate. In order to improve it, Roe changed the engine for a much lighter Gnome rotary engine, generating 50 hp. The redesigned aircraft made its first flight on 8th May 1912.
The British military authorities were so impressed with the aeroplane that order for two more examples, officially designated Avro 500, was placed immediately. The initial purchase was shortly followed by another one, this time for four Type E aircraft and five of its single-seat variant, named Avro 502.
The Avro 500, together with parallelly developed B.E. 1, were the first examples of early biplane design that dominated the aviation industry for more than a decade. A total number of eighteen Type E aircraft was manufactured.
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Cover photo: Avro 500 biplane © IWM RAE-O 573B, used under Non-Commercial licence.
