Avro Tutor: British Basic Trainer

Avro Tutor, RCAF, s/n 185, circa 1934. (SDASM Archives)

The Avro Type 621 Tutor is a two-seat British radial-engined biplane from the interwar period. It was a simple but rugged basic trainer that was used by the Royal Air Force as well as many other air arms worldwide.

Design and Development

The Avro Model 621 was designed by Roy Chadwick as an Avro private venture metal replacement for the Avro 504. Conceived as a light initial pilot trainer, the biplane design featured heavily staggered equal-span, single-bay wings; the construction was based on steel tubing (with some wooden components in the wing ribs) with doped linen covering. A conventional, fixed divided main undercarriage with tailskid was used in all but the latest aircraft, which had a tailwheel.

The Model 621 was powered either by a 155 hp (116 kW) Armstrong Siddeley Mongoose or Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IV (180 hp/130 kW) or IVC (240 hp/179 kW) engine; later Lynx-powered models had the engine enclosed in a Townend ring cowling. The Mongoose-powered version was called the 621 Trainer and the more numerous Lynx-engined aircraft the Tutor. The Tutor also differed by having a more rounded rudder.

The first flight of the prototype G-AAKT was in September 1929, piloted by Avro chief test pilot Captain Harry Albert "Sam" Brown.

Operational History

Production was started against an order for three Tutors from the Irish Free State and 21 Trainers from the Royal Air Force. The RAF required a replacement for the wooden Avro 504, and after three years of trials against other machines such as the Hawker Tomtit it was adopted as their basic trainer, supplanting the 504 in 1933 and remaining in this role until 1939. As well as the first batch of 21 Trainers, a total of 381 Tutors and 15 Avro 646 Sea Tutors were eventually ordered by the RAF. RAF units to operate the type in quantity included the Royal Air Force College, the Central Flying School and Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 5 Flying Training Schools.

Subsequently, the Model 621 achieved substantial foreign sales. A.V. Roe and Co exported 29 for the Greek Air Force, six for the Royal Canadian Air Force, five for the Guangxi AF, three for the Irish AF (where it was known as the Triton) and two for each of the South African and Polish AFs. In addition 57 were license-built in South Africa, and three license-built by the Danish Naval Shipyard.

A total of 30 Tutors were exported to the Greek Air Force and at least 61 were license-built in Greece by KEA. A number of Greek Tutors was incorporated in combat squadrons after Greece's entrance in WWII, used as army cooperation aircraft.

Known for its good handling, the type was often featured at air shows. Over 200 Avro Tutors and five Sea Tutors remained in RAF service at the beginning of the Second World War.

The 621 was designed as a military trainer and few reached the civil registers. In the 1930s, in addition to ten prototypes and demonstrators, two were used by Alan Cobham's Flying Circus and two trainers were retired from the RAF into private use. One 621 was used from new by Australian National Airways. After the war another four ex-RAF 621s appeared on the civil register.

Variants

Avro 621 Trainer (Mongoose powered): Two-seat primary training aircraft.

Avro 621 Tutor (Lynx powered): Two-seat primary training aircraft.

Avro 621 Tutor II: One aircraft was modified into a two-bay biplane.

Avro 623: Three-seat version of the Type 621 Tutor upgraded for use in Tanganyika as aerial survey aircraft. Three were built between May and December 1930 and issued to the Director of Surveys of Tanganyika. Powered by a 240 hp Armstrong-Siddeley Lynx IV.

Avro 646 Sea Tutor: Two-seat seaplane fitted with twin floats, 15 built

PWS-18: Polish-built license version with 200 hp (150 kW) Wright J-5 engine. 40 built 1935–36. Still in service with Polish Air Force in 1939.

Operators

Czechoslovakia: Czechoslovak Air Force pilots operated at least one aircraft in 310 Fighter Squadron RAF.

Denmark: Royal Danish Navy operated five aircraft.

Canada: Royal Canadian Air Force operated six aircraft.

China: Chinese Nationalist Air Force (Kwangsi Airforce) operated five aircraft.

Iraq: Iraqi Air Force operated three aircraft.

Ireland: Irish Air Corps operated three aircraft.

Greece: Hellenic Air Force operated about 90 aircraft.

Poland: Polish Air Force received two aircraft from Avro, plus 40 from PWS.

South Africa: South African Air Force operated 60 aircraft.

United Kingdom:

Royal Air Force received 417 aircraft.

Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm

Surviving Aircraft

G-AHSA was used for communication duties during the Second World War, struck off December 1946 and purchased by Wing Commander Heywood. After suffering engine failure in the early stages of the filming of Reach for the Sky, it was purchased by the Shuttleworth Collection and restored to flying condition.

Up to the end of 2003, G-AHSA was still flying as K3215 in RAF trainer yellow. Since January 2004 it has flown painted as K3241 in the colors of the Central Flying School. (The real K3241 built in 1933, served RAF College Cranwell, until transferred to the CFA in 1936.)

General Information

Type: Trainer

National origin: United Kingdom

Manufacturer: Avro

Designer: Roy Chadwick

Primary user: Royal Air Force

Number built: 606

Introduction date: 1933

First flight: September 1929

Retired: 1941

Variants:

Avro 626

PWS-18

Specifications (Tutor)

Crew: 2

Length: 26 ft 4.5 in (8.039 m)

Wingspan: 34 ft 0 in (10.36 m)

Height: 9 ft 7 in (2.92 m)

Wing area: 301 sq ft (28.0 m2)

Empty weight: 1,844 lb (836 kg)

Gross weight: 2,493 lb (1,131 kg)

Powerplant: 1 × Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IVC 7-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine, 240 hp (180 kW)

Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Maximum speed: 120 mph (190 km/h, 100 kn)

Cruise speed: 97 mph (156 km/h, 84 kn)

Range: 250 mi (400 km, 220 nmi)

Service ceiling: 16,000 ft (4,900 m)

Rate of climb: 910 ft/min (4.6 m/s)

Bibliography

Cynk, Jerzy B. (1971). Polish Aircraft 1893–1939. London: Putnam.

Halley, J.J. (1976). Royal Air Force Aircraft K1000 to K9999. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd.

Jackson, A.J. (1990). Avro Aircraft since 1908 (2nd ed.). London: Putnam Aeronautical Books.

Jenks, Roy (March 1979). "RAF Piston Trainers: No. 4: Avro Tutor". Aeroplane Monthly. Vol. 7, no. 3. pp. 142–147.

Thetford. O. (1957). Aircraft of the Royal Air Force 1918–57. London: Putnam.

Vančata, Pavel (2006). "Cechoslováci v zahraničním odboji". Revi (bi-monthly magazine) (in Czech). No. 65. Ostrava-Poruba: REVI Publications.

 

Avro Tutor, 21 May 1937. (RAF photo)

The sole surviving Tutor wearing the 1930s yellow training color scheme at RAF Abingdon in 1968. (Ruth AS, 15 June 1968)

Avro Tutor of Shuttleworth collection 7 September 2008. G-AHSA was used for communication duties during the Second World War, struck off December 1946 and purchased by Wing Commander Heywood. After suffering engine failure in the early stages of the filming of Reach for the Sky, it was purchased by the Shuttleworth Collection and restored to flying condition. Up to the end of 2003, G-AHSA was still flying as K3215 in RAF trainer yellow. Since January 2004 it has flown painted as K3241 in the colors of the Central Flying School. (The real K3241 built in 1933, served RAF College Cranwell, until transferred to the CFA in 1936.) (TSRL, 9 September 2008)

Avro Tutor ‘K3241’ (G-AHSA). Owned and operated by the Shuttleworth Collection. Her actual military serial is 'K3215'. Seen displaying at the collections Evening Airshow, Old Warden Aerodrome, Bedfordshire, UK. (Alan Wilson, 17 June 2017)

Avro 621 Trainer 3-view drawing from NACA Aircraft Circular No.119, 1 June 1930. ( NACA Aircraft Circular)

Avro 621 Trainer photo from NACA Aircraft Circular No.119, 1 June 1930. (NACA Aircraft Circular)

Avro 621 Trainer photo from NACA Aircraft Circular No.119. (NACA Aircraft Circular)

Avro 621 Tutor of the Hellenic air force. The British Avro 621 Tutor was chosen as the basic training airplane in the Hellenic Air Force reconstitution program in the period between 1936 and 1940, prevailing in a competition held by the Ministry of Air Force in 1935, with the D.H. Moth II being the second choice. Thirty British-built airplanes were delivered in 1936 and 62 more were to be domestically produced. In December of 1939 59 Avro 621 were available, while 30 more airplanes were under production at the State Airplane Factory, the production line pace being about seven airplanes per month. In documents of this period is noted that many training squadrons were “under composition”, waiting for their airplanes to be delivered. Many of them were re-fitted to be able of inverted flight, while others were equipped with night illumination instruments or target towing equipment. Their use also included acrobatics training, night flying and weapons training. A small number of Avro 621 Tutor was incorporated to the combat squadrons at the outbreak of WWII, where they undertook liaison airplane duties. At least 4 Avro 621 escaped to Egypt.

 

Avro 621 Tutor, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 19 September 1939. (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581425) 

Avro 621 Tutor, s/n 188, of No. 110 (AC) Squadron, Ottawa, Ontario, 19 September 1939.  (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3642468)

Avro 621 Tutor, RCAF s/n 186, Camp Borden, Ontario. (Barrie Historical Archive)

Avro Tutor, DH-60GM Moths, serial numbers 155, 152 and 154, Fleet Fawn Mk. I, serial number 203, Avro Tutor, serial number 187, 3 September 1937.  (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3199002)

Avro 621 Tutor, RCAF, serial number 187, No. 111 (CAC) Squadron, RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, 9 June 1939.  (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3198994)

Avro 621 Tutor, serial number 188. 188 was first used for pilot training at Camp Borden. To Ottawa Car on 24 February 1932, unknown duration or reason. With the Test and Development Flight at RCAF Station Rockcliffe, Ontario, dates not known. To Armstrong Siddeley in Canada for reconditioning, 3 May 1936 to 13 November 1937, at a cost of $7,227.67. Had 421:00 logged time when it arrived. To Rockcliffe when completed, acceptance test flown by Test & Development Flight on 15 September 1939. To No. 110 (AC) Squadron (Auxiliary), from De Lesseps Aerodrome, Weston, Ontario on 21 September 1939. Category B crash in Weston, at 13:40 on 11 December 1938. To Ottawa Car for crash repairs, 17 January 1939 to 16 September 1939, at a cost of $2,892.26. Had 495:50 logged time when it arrived. To RCAF Station Ottawa when completed. Became Instructional Airframe A 32 on 11 July 1940. Used at No. 1 Technical Training School at St. Thomas, Ontario.  (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580691)

Avro 621 Tutor, serial number 188.  (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580690)

Avro 621 Tutor, serial number 188.  (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580919)

Avro 621 Tutor, serial number 188.  (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580920)

Avro 621 Tutor, RCAF No. 7 Squadron, P/O Stuart and P/O Reeves, 31 July 1939.  (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3581401) Avro Tutor, RCAF (Serial No. 189) was first used for pilot training at Camp Borden. To Armstrong Siddeley in Canada for "all mods", 7 May 1936 to 30 October 1937, at a cost of $7,551.27. Had 645:17 logged time when it arrived. To Rockcliffe for rigging when completed, then to No. 7 (GP) Squadron at RCAF Station Ottawa. Probably with No. 10 (AC) Squadron (Auxiliary) at Weston after this, but not confirmed. Took part in summer exercises at Camp Borden, Ontario, 1938. To Ottawa Car for further work, 13 December 1938 to 31 May 1939, at a cost of $2,961.28. Had 861:37 total time when it arrived. To RCAF Station Ottawa when completed. To No. 110 (AC) Squadron (Auxiliary), from De Lesseps Aerodrome, Weston, Ontario, also on 31 May 1939. To the Technical Training School at St. Thomas, Ontario on 9 January 1940. Became Instructional Airframe A 33 on 11 July 1940. 

Avro 621 Tutor (serial number 224), A 45, c/n 463, Reg. No. CF-ANQ, new trainer. Registration issued to Armstrong-Siddeley Motors Ltd. of Ottawa on 8 June 1930. Evaluated by RCAF in August 1930, had Mongoose engine at that time. Later received Lynx engine. Purchased by RCAF in 1937, became their serial number 224Also reported as a Model 626. Registration CF-ANQ used for trials before delivery to RCAF. Operated by No. 12 (AC) Squadron (No. 112 (AC) Sqn. (Aux.) from 15 November 1937), Winnipeg, Manitoba, 1937 to 1940. Later became Instructional Airframe A 45. (Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580451)

 

Avro 621 Tutor, serial number K3225. 

Avro 621 Tutor cockpit.

Avro Tutor, Hellenic air force, serial number E.59.

Avro Tutor, serial number K4798.

Avro Tutor, serial number K3215.

Tutor K3249 was built to contract 195190/32 by A.V.Roe & Co. Ltd. at Newton Heath, Chadderton and was delivered to Kenley on 15 May 1933. After being accepted for RAF service at Kenley it was taken on charge on 24 October 1933 by 5 FTS at Sealand. It was also allocated to 2 FTS but this allocation was not taken up. On 1 May 1936 it was transferred to 16 Squadron at Old Sarum and on 18 June 1937 it was transferred to the Station Flight at Debden. On 11 November 1937 it was transferred to the Station Flight at Aldergrove with whom it was still on the books with when the landing at Coniston took place on 8 March 1938. The following day it is listed as being transferred to H.Q.P. (Headquarters Pool) at Catterick but there is no indication of whether it was flown there or transported by road but it seems that it is likely that it was simply flown from Coniston to Catterick as there is no indication of the aircraft as having to be repaired in the published history of the aircraft. It appears to have remained at Catterick and on 14 September 1939 it was taken on charge by 609 Squadron at Catterick, it was then transferred to 219 Squadron also at Catterick on 10 October 1939 and was used as a run about aircraft for both 609 and 219 Squadrons. On 1 March 1940 it ran out of fuel and collided with a hedge in a forced landing at Rugeley, Staffordshire. Following the mishap on 1 March 1940 it was deemed beyond repair and was struck off charge. 

Avro Tutor, serial number K3244, at 23 Elementary and Reserve Flying Training School, Rochester, UK.

Avro 646 Sea Tutor, serial number K3372, RAF.

Avro Tutor, serial number 113, Danish air force.