The Avro Anson 652A derivative was however, a a twin-engine British-built multi-role aircraft which saw distinctive service with both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (RN FAA), as well as The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) during and after the Second World War.
The prototype 652A first flew at Woodford on 24th March 1935 and was developed from the initial airliner design and was later named after Admiral George Anson.
The adaptation for a coastal reconnaissance role resulted in a production variant which flew at Woodford on New Years Eve, 1935 with the type entering RAF service in March 1936, named Avro Anson Mk1. Initially, it was flown with a 3-man crew but later developments in its reconnaissance role required a 4th crew member.
In addition to coastal patrol and training roles, the Avro Anson provided support for the Air Transport Auxiliary (ATA), thereby having an important role in ensuring the rapid delivery of new production aircraft of all types both from the factory, and into operational service.
The various marks of Anson were built at Yeadon (now Leeds Bradford Airport) with the Civil Transport Anson XIX prototype (G-AGNI) making its first flight on 30th December 1945.
The Series 2 version of the Avro Anson C.Mk.19 introduced an all-metal wing in place of the wooden original whilst the Avro Anson T.Mk.20 and Mk21 served as navigational trainers (with the T.Mk.22 being used for radio communications training).
The last of nearly 11,000 Avro Anson types to be built (WJ561) was delivered to the RAF on 27th May 1952 and at the peak of production some 135 Avro Anson aircraft were being built every month at Yeadon.
A fleet of five Avro Anson continued in operation with Kemp’s Aerial Surveys out of Thruxton, Hampshire well into the 1970’s whilst BAE Systems has recently donated its splendid Avro Anson C MK.19 to the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden in order to preserve its airworthiness and it will appear at air shows and events throughout the UK.
The Avro Anson was one of the most successful aircraft built by Avro and 11,020 were manufactured by the end of 1952 (including those built in Canada).
Avro Anson Image Gallery
Specifications
| Mk.1 | Mk.19 | |
| Powerplant | Two 335 hp Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX | Two 420 hp Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah |
| Span | 56 ft 6 in (Mk 19 Series 2 57 ft 6 in) | 56 ft 6 in |
| Weight | 7,665 lb | 10,500 lb |
| Range | 660 miles (typically) | 660 miles (typically) |
| Speed | 188 mph | 190 mph (Series 2 171 mph) |
Number Built
| 10,996 | All variants |
Variants
| Avro Anson Mk.I 6,688 built |
The most numerous version of the aircraft. 3,935 were built at Woodford and the rest at Yeadon. The Mk I was powered by two Armstrong Siddeley IX radial engines. It carried two machine guns – one fixed forward firing Vickers gun in the nose and one Lewis gun in a dorsal turret. It could carry two 100lb bombs under the wing centre section and eight 20lb bombs under the wings.
|
| Avro Anson Mk.II 1,822 |
The first type to be produced entirely in Canada. It was powered by the Jacobs L-6MB engine and featured hydraulically operated flaps and landing gear. Mostly the same as in the Mk I, other than the nose, which was made of moulded plywood.
|
| Avro Anson Mk.III & Mk.IV 233 built |
The Mk III and Mk IV both appeared before the Mk II. Produced for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, combining fuselages from Britain with engines installed in Canada. Powered by the Jacobs L-6MB engine. The Mk IV combined British-made fuselages with two Wright Whirlwind R-975-E3 engines.
|
| Avro Anson Mk.V 1,050 built |
A development of the Canadian Mk II with a monocoque fuselage produced from local wood. Square windows of the earlier models were replaced by circular portholes. Powered by two 450hp Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-12B engines.
Accommodation for five trainees.
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| Avro Anson Mk.X 104 built |
The Mk X was a transport version of the Avro Anson, produced in Britain. It was given a reinforced cabin floor. Unlike the Canadian produced models it retained the manually operated landing gear of the Mk I. 103 Mk Xs were produced at Yeadon.
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Avro Anson Mk.XI & Avro Anson Mk.XII
Avro Anson Mk.XI 91 built
Avro Anson Mk.XII 254 built
|
First British versions to feature hydraulically operated flaps and landing gear, plus a raised roof line, designed to increase the headroom for passengers. Mk XI was powered by the 395hp Cheetah XIX engine while the Mk XII used the 420hp Cheetah XV. Late production Mk XII's were given an all-metal wing under the designation Mk XII Series 2
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| Avro Anson Mk.18 25 built |
The Avro Anson Mk 18 was a version of the C.19 ordered for the Royal Afghan Air Force, equipped for police duty. 12 aircraft were built for Afghanistan and the rest for India.
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| Avro Anson Mk.C19 264 built |
Developed for civil service as the Avro 19, based on the Mk XI but with five oval windows on each side of the fuselage and a properly furnished interior.
It entered RAF service as the Avro Anson Mk C.19. 20 aircraft were originally Mk XII's but were converted to C19s during production.
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| Avro Anson Mk.T20 60 built |
The T.20 was a post war development of the Avro Anson, built as a training aircraft for Southern Rhodesia.
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| Avro Anson Mk.T21 252 built |
A navigation trainer produced for Flying Training Command. T.21 was the last Avro Anson to be completed.
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Avro Anson Mk.T22
54 built
|
The final variant - a radio trainer. |
| Avro Anson 18 12 built |
Developed from the Avro Nineteen for the Royal Afghan Air Force as a communications, police patrol and survey aircraft.
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| Avro Anson 18C 13 built |
Built for the Indian Government as a Civil Air Crew Trainer. |
| Avro Nineteen 56 built |
Civil Transport variant, also known as Avro Anson XIX. |
| Avro Anson AT-20 50 built |
Canadian built Avro Anson II's with US military designation. |
Survivors
Several aircraft survive around the world including the aforementioned BAE Systems restored aircraft (G-AHKX) which has now been donated to The Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden in order to preserve its airworthiness and it will appear at selected events.
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Avro Anson MK.1
(K6183)
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Camden Aviation Museum, Camden, NSW, Australia www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum |
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Avro Anson Mk.1 x 2
(VH-WAC & W2121)
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RAAFA Aviation Heritage Museum, Bull Creek, W Australia www.raafwa.org.au/museum |
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Avro Anson MK.1
(W2364)
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Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre, Nhill, Victoria, Australia nhillaviationheritagecentre.com.au |
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Avro Anson Mk.II
(RCAF2518)
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Aero Space Museum of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada www.airforcemuseum.ca |
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Avro Anson Mk.II
(RCAF7401)
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Alberta Aviation Museum, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Avro Anson MK.II
(FP846)
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British Columbia Aviation Museum, Sydney, British Columbia, Canada www.bcan.net |
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Avro Anson Mk.V
(RCAF12518)
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Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada www.casmuseum.techno-science.ca |
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Avro Anson Mk.V
(RCAF12417 / C-FHOT)
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Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada www.warplane.com |
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Avro Anson Mk.II
(RCAF7035)
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Greenwood Military Aviation Museum, Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Canada www.gmam.ca |
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Avro Anson Mk.I
(R9725)
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Saskatchewan Western Dev Museum, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada www.wdm.ca |
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Avro Anson Mk.II
(RCAF7481)
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Bomber Command Museum, Nanton, Alberta, Canada www.bombercommandmuseum.ca |
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Avro Anson Mk.II
(141)
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Irish Air Corps Museum, Casement Aerodrome, Blandonnel, Dublin 22, www.militaryheritage.ie |
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Avro Anson Mk.1
(NZ203 & NZ206)
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Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Christchurch, New Zealand www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz |
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Avro Anson Mk.1
(NZ415 marked NZ406)
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Reid Family, Nelson, New Zealand
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Avro Anson MK.19
(G-AKVW / G-BSMF / TX183)
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Al Mahatah Museum, Sharjah, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates www.sharjahmuseums.ae |
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Avro Anson Mk.XI
(N4877)
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Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
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Avro Anson C.19
(G-AHKX)
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Shuttleworth Collection, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom www.shuttleworth.org |
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Avro Anson T.21
(G-VROE)
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Classic Air Force, Newquay, United Kingdom
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Avro Anson C.19
(VM352 / K6285V)
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St Museum Canadian Allied Forces 1940-45 Museum, Groningen, Netherands www.canadianalliedforces.com |
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Avro Anson C.19
(VL349)
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Norfolk & Suffolk Air Museum, Flixton, Suffolk, United Kingdom. www.aviationmuseum.net |
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Avro Anson C.19
(VL348)
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Newark Air Museum, Newark, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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Avro Anson C.19
(TX214)
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RAF Museum, Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, United Kingdom www.rafmuseum.org.uk |
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Avro Anson Mk.1
(2068)
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RAF Museum, Grahame Park Way, London, United Kingdom www.rafmuseum.org.uk |
