Avro Bison

infobox Aircraft
name = Bison
type = Fleet Spotter/Reconnaissance
manufacturer = Avro



caption =
designer =
first flight = 1921
introduced = 1922
retired = 1929
produced =
number built = 55
status = Retired
unit cost =
primary user = Fleet Air Arm
more users = Royal Air Force
developed from =
variants with their own articles = The Avro 555 Bison was a British single-engined fleet spotter/reconnaissance aircraft built by Avro.

History

The Bison was designed to meet the British Air Ministry Specification 3/21 for a carrier based fleet spotter and reconnaissance aircraft. The first Bison I prototype flew in 1921, the second and third prototypes were of a modified design (mainly moving the upper wing higher). A production batch of 12 aircraft, based on the second prototype were built as the Bison IA. There followed more orders which were built as the Bison II. An early Bison was fitted with floats and retractable wheels but tests proved the design was not suitable for seaborne use.

Although designed for a naval requirement the first deliveries were to the Royal Air Force in 1922 to replace the Westland Walrus for coastal reconnaissance work. Naval aircraft served on HMS "Eagle" and HMS "Furious" and on-shore at Gosport, England and Hal Far, Malta. The aircraft were retired in 1929 when they were replaced by the Fairey IIIF.

Operators

;flag|United Kingdom
*Royal Navy
*Royal Air Force
**No. 3 Squadron RAF

pecifications (Bison IA)

aircraft specification

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop

ref=

crew=4
length main=36 ft
length alt= 10.97 m
span main=46 ft
span alt= 14.02 m
height main=13 ft 10 in
height alt= 4.22 m
area main=620 ft²
area alt= 57.60 m²
empty weight main=4,160 lb
empty weight alt= 1,887 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
max takeoff weight main=5,800 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 2,631 kg
engine (prop)=Napier Lion II
type of prop=
number of props=1
power main=450 hp
power alt=336 kW
max speed main=110 mph
max speed alt=177 km/h
range main= 340 mi
range alt= 547 km
ceiling main= 14,000 ft
ceiling alt= 4,265 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
armament= *1 Lewis gun

ee also

aircontent

related=

similar aircraft=
*Blackburn R.1 Blackburn

lists=
*List of aircraft of the RAF

see also=

References

*cite book |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title= The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)|year= |publisher= Orbis Publishing|location= |issn=

External links

* [http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=268 British Aircraft Directory]