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Avro 19 Anson VM325 on 25th August 1953
It was a twin-engine British-built multi-role aircraft which saw distinctive service with both the Royal Air Force and The Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm as well as The Royal Canadian Air Force during and after the Second World War.
The prototype 652A first flew at Woodford on 7th January 1935 and was developed from an initial airliner design and named after Admiral George Anson. The adaptation for a coastal reconnaissance role resulted in the production variant, the Avro 652a, which flew at Woodford on New Years Eve 1935 with the type entering service in March 1936 as the 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, Ansons provided support for the Air Transport Auxiliary, thereby having an important role in ensuring the rapid delivery of new production aircraft of all types from the factory and into operational service.
Avro Anson Nineteen now currently owned and operated by BAE Systems
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 Anson C.Mk.19 introduced an all-metal wing in place of the wooden original whilst the Anson T.Mk.20 and Mk21 served as navigation trainers (with the T.Mk.22 being used for radio communications training).
The last of nearly 11,000 Anson to be built (WJ561) was delivered to the RAF on 27th May 1952 and at the peak of production some 135 Ansons were being built every month at Yeadon.
A fleet of five Ansons continued in operation with Kemp’s Aerial Surveys at Thruxton into the 1970’s and today BAE Systems owns and operates a splendid Avro Anson C MK.19 which appears at air shows and events throughout the UK.
The 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 652 Anson - The final aircraft handed over to the RAF (with Roy Dobson looking on)
of
Avro 652a Anson 1
Avro Anson - Ground view
Avro Anson XI RAF Air Support Command (VM329) 1944
Avro Anson 1 (VH-AGA Adastra Aerial Surveys) 1961
Avro Anson T21 (WJ561) - The last production aircraft
Avro Anson T Mk21 now designated G-VROE with Air Atlantique
Avro Anson M1 RAF (K6152) 1st Production aircraft
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
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Anso 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. |
| Anson Mk.X 104 built |
The Mk X was a transport version of the 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. |
|
Anson Mk.XI & Anson Mk.XII
Anson Mk.XI 91 built
Anson Mk.XII 254 built
|
First British versions to feature hydraulically operated flaps and landing gear, plus a raised roofline, 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 XIIs were given an all-metal wing under the designation Mk XII Series 2 |
| Anson Mk.18 25 built |
The 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. |
| 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 Anson Mk C.19. 20 aircraft were originally Mk XIIs but were converted to C19s during production. |
| Anson Mk.T20 60 built |
The T.20 was a post war development of the Anson, built as a training aircraft for Southern Rhodesia. |
| Anson Mk.T21 252 built |
A navigation trainer produced for Flying Training Command. T.21 was the last Anson to be completed. |
|
Anson Mk.T22
54 built
|
The final variant - a radio trainer. |
| Anson 18 12 built |
Developed from the Avro Nineteen for the Royal Afghan Air Force as a communications, police patrol and survey aircraft. |
| 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 Anson XIX. |
| Anson AT-20 50 built |
Canadian built Anson II's with US military designation. |
Survivors
Several aircraft survive around the world including the aforementioned BAE Systems aircraft (G-AHKX) which can be seen operating from The Shuttleworth Collection, Old Warden and at selected events.
|
Anson MK.1
(K6183)
|
Camden Aviation Museum, Camden, NSW, Australia www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum |
|
Anson Mk.1 x 2
(VH-WAC & W2121)
|
RAAFA Aviation Heritage Museum, Bull Creek, W Australia www.raafwa.org.au/museum |
|
Anson MK.1
(W2364)
|
Nhill Aviation Heritage Centre, Nhill, Victoria, Australia nhillaviationheritagecentre.com.au |
|
Anson Mk.II
(RCAF2518)
|
Aero Space Museum of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada www.airforcemuseum.ca |
|
Anson Mk.II
(RCAF7401)
|
Alberta Aviation Museum, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
|
|
Anson MK.II
(FP846)
|
British Columbia Aviation Museum, Sydney, British Columbia, Canada www.bcan.net |
|
Anson Mk.V
(RCAF12518)
|
Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada www.casmuseum.techno-science.ca |
|
Anson Mk.V
(RCAF12417 / C-FHOT)
|
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada www.warplane.com |
|
Anson Mk.II
(RCAF7035)
|
Greenwood Military Aviation Museum, Greenwood, Nova Scotia, Canada www.gmam.ca |
|
Anson Mk.I
(R9725)
|
Saskatchewan Western Dev Museum, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada www.wdm.ca |
|
Anson Mk.II
(RCAF7481)
|
Bomber Command Museum, Nanton, Alberta, Canada www.bombercommandmuseum.ca |
|
Anson Mk.II
(141)
|
Irish Air Corps Museum, Casement Aerodrome, Blandonnel, Dublin 22, www.militaryheritage.ie |
|
Anson Mk.1
(NZ203 & NZ206)
|
Air Force Museum of New Zealand, Christchurch, New Zealand www.cambridgeairforce.org.nz |
|
Anson Mk.1
(NZ415 marked NZ406)
|
Reid Family, Nelson, New Zealand
|
|
Anson MK.19
(G-AKVW / G-BSMF / TX183)
|
Al Mahatah Museum, Sharjah, Bahrain, United Arab Emirates www.sharjahmuseums.ae |
|
Anson Mk.XI
(N4877)
|
Imperial War Museum, Duxford, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom
|
|
Anson C.19
(G-AHKX)
|
Shuttleworth Collection, Bedfordshire, United Kingdom www.shuttleworth.org |
|
Anson T.21
(G-VROE)
|
Classic Air Force, Newquay, United Kingdon
|
|
Anson C.19
(VM352 / K6285V)
|
St Museum Canadian Allied Forces 1940-45 Museum, Groningen, N'lands www.canadianalliedforces.com |
|
Anson C.19
(VL349)
|
Norfolk & Suffolk Air Mueum, Flixton, Suffolk, United Kingdom. www.aviationmuseum.net |
|
Anson C.19
(VL348)
|
Newark Air Museum, Newark, Nottingham, United Kingdom www.newarkairmuseum.org.uk |
|
Anson C.19
(TX214)
|
RAF Museum, Cosford, Shifnal, Shropshire, United Kingdom www.rafmuseum.org.uk |
|
Anson Mk.1
(2068)
|
RAF Musem, Grahame Park Way, London, United Kingdom www.rafmuseum.org.uk |