Avro 641 Commodore
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = Commodore
|image = Avro641.jpg
|caption =
|type = Tourer
|manufacturer = Avro
|national_origin = United Kingdom
|designer =
|first_flight = 1934
|introduction = 24 May 1934
|retired = 1942
|status =
|primary_user =
|more_users =
|produced =
|number_built = 6
|unit cost =
|developed_from =
|variants =
}}
The Avro 641 Commodore was a British single-engine five-seat cabin biplane built by Avro in the mid-1930s for private use. A total of only six were built, including the prototype.
Design and development
After building the three seat Avro 639 Cabin Cadet, Avro then designed a larger, five seat cabin biplane, the Avro 641 Commodore. The Commodore had a similar steel tube structure to the Tutor, with heavily staggered single bay wings and a spatted undercarriage. The first Commodore was delivered to its owner on 24 May 1934.{{cite book |last= Jackson|first= A J |title=Avro Aircraft since 1908 |edition= 2nd |year= 1990 |publisher= Putnam Aeronautical Books|location= London |isbn= 0-85177-834-8}}
Operational history
Only six Commodores were built, with one being sold to the Maharajah of Vizianagram. This was found to be unsuitable for Indian conditions and was returned to Britain and scrapped.{{cite book |last= Jackson|first= A.J.|title= British Civil Aircraft since 1919 Volume 1|year= 1974|publisher= Putnam|location= London|isbn=0-370-10006-9 }} Two were sold to private owners in Egypt and were later taken over by the Egyptian Army Air Force.
The two Commodores that remained in service in England on the outbreak of World War II were impressed into service with the Royal Air Force and the Air Transport Auxiliary. One crashed fatally in 1941, with the last being struck off charge in 1942.
Operators
Specifications (Commodore)
File:Avro_641_Commodore_3-view_NACA-AC-193.png
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|crew=1
|capacity=4 pax
|length ft=27
|length in=3
|length note=
|span ft=37
|span in=4
|span note=
|height ft=10
|height in=0
|height note=
|wing area sqft=307
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb=2237
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=3500
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity={{cvt|50|impgal|USgal l|0}}
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IVC
|eng1 type=7-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
|eng1 hp=215
|eng1 note=
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=Fairey-Reed fixed-pitch metal propeller
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=
|max speed mph=130
|max speed note=
|cruise speed mph=110
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|range miles=500
|range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling ft=11500
|ceiling note=
|climb rate ftmin=700
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading lb/sqft=11.4
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass={{cvt|0.061|hp/lb}}
|more performance=
}}
See also
{{Aircontent
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|sequence=
|lists=
|see also=
}}
References
{{commons category|Avro 641 Commodore}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Avro aircraft}}
Category:1930s British civil utility aircraft
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft