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The second prototype Avro 748 G-ARAY in rough field trials in January 1962.
The Avro 748 is a twin turboprop airliner powered by two Rolls-Royce Dart engines that was sold successfully world-wide, both for airline and military transport service.
The first prototype (G-APZV) first flew on 24th June 1960.
Designed by AV Roe & Co Ltd, the type was later built by Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd, British Aerospace and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and is most widely known as the HS748, the majority having been built under the aegis of Hawker Siddeley Aviation.
The 748 continued in production until 1988 and is still in limited service today, more than fifty years after its first flight.
Avro 748 Srs 2B G-BKLD of Bouraq Indonesian Airlines photographed in May 1983.
Never glamorous, the 748 was remarkably successful and has been an effective DC-3 replacement in many inhospitable parts of the world. A total of 381 were built which included 89 aircraft manufactured by HAL with the first Indian-built aircraft flew on 1st November 1961.
The type was designed from the outset for operation from short, unimproved airstrips and was aided by the fitment of large Fowler flaps and reverse thrust propellers with and effective braking system. The use of the Rolls-Royce Dart engine ensured excellent reliability.
In 1983, British Aerospace was advertising that the type was 'In-service with seventy-nine operators in fifty countries around the world' with more than 300 aircraft having been exported.
Avro 748 C-91-2507 of the Brazillian Air Force in February 1975, showing the large cargo door.
Significant users included Indian Airlines (Hindustan Aeronautics-built); Aerolineas Argentinas; VARIG; Phillipine Airlines; Thai Airways; LAN-Chile; Bouraq Airlines; the Indian Air Force (Hindustan Aeronautics-built); Brazilian Air Force; and the Royal Australian Air Force. The last British Avro 748 to be built made its maiden flight at Woodford on 1st December 1988.
XT-MAL is an HS748 of the Upper Volta AF photographed in August 1977.
Two aircraft were used by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in the UK for radio navigation and landing aid calibration, with a further six being used for the same duties in West Germany.
24 Avro 748 Srs 1 were built before production switched to the 52-seat Avro 748 Srs 2 with its more powerful Rolls-Royce Dart RDa7 Mk 531 engines. This was then followed by the Srs 2A and 2B with further increases in power and maximum weight.
The prototype HS.748 Srs 2 (G-ARAY) flew at Woodford on 6th November 1961.
In India, two of the locally-built 748 Srs 2M aircraft were modified with a large, circular, pylon-mounted surveillance antenna carried above the fuselage as the HAL 748 ASP (Airborne Surveillance Platform).
The British Aerospace 748 Coastguarder demonstrator G-BCDZ photographed in April 1978.
One 748 Srs 2A (G-BCDZ) was modified to carry a maritime search radar mounted under the forward fuselage. This aircraft was marketed as the 'Coastguarder' and was designed around a crew of five (two pilots, a navigator and two observers). A flight endurance of up to 11 hours was available, taking advantage of an increased fuel capacity. However, no sales were achieved and the aircraft subsequently reverted to a standard configuration.
The military freighter derivative, the 748MF Andover flew on 21st December 1963. The type could be distinguished by its upswept rear fuselage with integral loading doors and ramp. The 748MF take-off weight was increased to 50,000 lb with the power being provided by two 2,970 eshp Dart R.Da.12 engines.
The development prototype of the Avro 748MF Andover G-ARRV seen at Farnborough.
The original Avro 748 prototype (G-APZV) was modified to become the aerodynamic prototype for the Andover (re-registered as G-ARRV).
Thirty-one Andover C. 1 were built, the first production aircraft (XS594) flying on 9th July 1965. This type is also referred to as the HS780.
The Andover C.1 could typically carry 48 troops or 40 paratroops whilst for casualty evacuation it carried 15 sitting and 18 stretcher cases. After the Andover C.1 was withdrawn from RAF service from 1975 (whilst being operated in the tactical transport role), ten were sold to the RNZAF and others were disposed of to civil operators, mainly in Africa.
XS596 is an Avro 780 Andover C.1 (PR) allocated to the UK Open Skies activity.
One Andover C.1 - PR (XS596) remained in use with the RAF at least until 2008, being used as the nominated UK aircraft under the international Open Skies treaty. This treaty allowed the mutual inspection of sites in NATO and ex-Warsaw Pact nations as a confidence building measure.
A small number of aircraft were also converted for electronic calibration duties, these being designated as Andover E.3 or Andover E.3A.
The BAe ATP was a stretched re-engined development of the HS748 for commuter airline and freight use.
3C-JJX is an ex-RAF Avro 780 Andover C.1 of JAM Air, seen at Lanseria South Africa
Avro 748 Specification
| HS 748 Series 2A | |
| Powerplant | Two 2,280 eshp Rolls-Royce R.Da.7 Dart Mk 534-2 or Mk 532-2L |
| Span | 98 ft 6 in |
| Maximum Weight | 46,500 lb |
| Capacity | Two flight crew, 40 – 48 passengers, or mixed passenger / freight layout |
| Cruise Speed | 280 mph (244 kt) |
| Range | 1,066 miles with full payload and reserves; 1,796 miles with full fuel, 7,800 lb payload and reserves |
Variants & Numbers
| 748 Srs 1 | Initial 44 passenger production version with two 1600 shp Rolls-Royce R.Da.6 Dart Mk 514 engines. 24 built, 4 by HAL |
| 748 Srs 1A | Srs 1 modified with engines and undercarriage as the Srs 2A aircraft. (Four conversions from Srs 1) |
| 748 Srs 2 | Increased gross weight. Two 1910 shp Rolls-Royce R.Da.7 Dart Mk 531 engines. 148 built, 54 by HAL. |
| 748 Srs 2A | Further increase in gross weight. As Srs 2 with two 2,290 eshp Rolls-Royce R.Da.7 Dart Mk 534-2 or Mk 535-2 engines. 107 built plus 43 converted to this standard. |
| 748 Srs 2B | Main production model under British Aerospace, the 2B featured a 4-foot increase in wingspan, a further increase in weights, Mk 536 engines, and a modernised cabin. Rolls-Royce Dart R.Da.7 Mk 536-2 engines. 26 built plus two conversions to this standard. |
| 748 Srs 2B Super | As Srs 2B featuring a modernised flightdeck, improved efficiency and Rolls-Royce Dart R.Da.7 Mk 552-2 engines fitted with hush-kits. Eight built. |
| 748 Srs 2M | Srs 2 with fuselage freight door and reinforced floor produced by HAL. Rolls-Royce Dart R.Da.7 Mk 536-2T engines. 31 built by HAL. |
| 748 Andover CC.Mk.2 | VIP transport version of the Srs 2 for RAF service. 6 built. |
| 748MF | Initial designation of Type 780 Andover C.1. Prototype only G-ARRV, converted from 748 Srs 1 G-APZV. |
| 748 Coastguarder | Maritime patrol variant of the Srs 2B. One conversion only G-BCDZ. |
| 748 Multi Role | Multi role development of the Coastguarder. Two conversions only. |
| 748 ASP | HAL produced aircraft fitted with rotodomes as prototype Airborne Surveillance Platforms. First flew in November 1990, Two Rolls-Royce Dart RDa.7 Mk 536-2 engines. Two conversions from 748 Srs 2M. |
| 780 Andover C.1 | Military variant with a rear loading ramp and a "kneeling" undercarriage. Two 2,970 eshp Rolls-Royce R.Da.12 Dart Mk.201C engines. 31 built |
| 780 Andover C.1(PR) | Andover C.1 converted for Photographic Reconnaissance duties. Two conversions. |
| 780 Andover E.3 | Andover C.1 converted for radio and airport aids calibration. Four conversions. |
| 780 Andover E.3A | Modified Andover E.3. Three conversions. |
| Total Built | 381 aircraft: 262 UK-built Avro 748; 31 UK-built Avro 780 Andover C.1; 89 Avro 748 built by HAL in India. |
Survivors
The HAL-built Avro 748 remains in service in India. Small numbers are thought to remain in airline service, for example with Air North in Canada. The following examples are preserved elsewhere.
| Avro 748 Srs 1 G-BEJD | Speke Aerodrome Heritage Group at Liverpool Airport, United Kingdom |
| HS748 Srs 2 A10-601 | RAAF Museum at Point Cook, VIC. |
| HS748 Srs 2 N15-709 | Australian Aviation Museum at Bankstown. |
| HS748 Srs 2A 2504 | Museu Aeroespacial, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil |
| HS748 Srs 2A FAE738 | Museo Aeronáutico de la FAE, Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Quito |
| Avro 748 Srs 1 CR-831 | Sri Lanka Air Force Museum, Ratmalana Airport, Colombo www.airforcemuseum.lk |
| HS748 Srs 2A SCM-3101 | Sri Lankan Air Force, Koggala, Galle |
| HS748 Srs 2A CR-833 | Sri Lankan Air Force Weerawilla |
| HS748 rs 2A HS-THI | Siam Country Club, Pattaya, Thailand |
| Andover C.1 NZ7621 | RNZAF Museum in Christchurch, New Zealand |
| Andover E.3 XS639 | RAF Museum, Cosford www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford |
Other information
Avro Heritage Museum (www.avroheritagemuseum.co.uk)