Avro 504K

The Avro 504 series of aircraft is by any standards worthy of recognition alongside aircraft such as the Dakota, Spitfire and Mosquito for the multitude of roles they performed during their 28 years of service.

The prototype first flew in 1913 and proved such a success that examples soon began to appear in civil flying, taking part with their contemporaries in flying displays, air races and joyriding. However, it was during service use that Avro 504s gained their greatest recognition, mainly in the training role but also early in WWI in the front line in observation and even bombing roles.

At the close of hostilities in 1918, over 8,000 504s had been produced for operations with the Royal Flying Corps and RAF, the Admiralty and the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough.

About this aircraft

Built in 1918 as a K variant, this aircraft was one of those converted to a radial engine 504N while in RAF service. Later it passed into civilian ownership and was registered as G-ADEV. In 1940 it was impressed into military service and took part in glider towing experiments. After WWII it was returned to civilian use and converted back to K specification by Avro apprentices for the film ‘Reach for the Sky’ - and then donated to Shuttleworth.

As part of the continuing maintenance programme at Old Warden the aircraft was completely overhauled during 2010 and since March 2011 has been presented in the night fighter configuration of a 77 Squadron machine based at East Lothian in late 1918.

Specification