Avro Club Cadet
{{Short description|British biplane trainer aircraft}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = Club Cadet
|image = Avro638Cadet340.jpg
|caption = Avro 638 Club Cadet (G-ACNY), at Heston 1934
|type = Trainer
|manufacturer = Avro
|designer =
|first_flight = May 1933
|introduction = 1933
|retired =
|status =
|primary_user =
|more_users =
|number_built = 27 (17{{·}} 638 + 1{{·}} 639 + 9{{·}} 640)
|unit cost =
|developed_from = Avro Cadet
|variants =
}}
The Avro Club Cadet was a 1930s single-engined British biplane trainer aircraft, designed and built by Avro as a development of the earlier Cadet. It was planned for private and club use and, unlike the Cadet, was fitted with folding wings.
Design and development
The Avro 638 Club Cadet was a modified version of the Avro Cadet, similarly intended for both private and club use. The Club Cadet was fitted with unstaggered wings, that could be folded to help save hangar space; the staggered biplane wings of the earlier Cadet were unsuitable to be adapted for folding. The prototype flew in May 1933, powered by an Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major radial piston engine, another 16 were built, and production finished in 1935.{{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}}
A single prototype of an enclosed three-seat cabin version, the Avro 639 Cabin Cadet was built, and first flew in 1933,{{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 }} but did not enter production. A second three-seat version, the Avro 640 Cadet, was produced for joy-riding work, with a widened fuselage accommodating an open cockpit for two passengers side by side in front of the pilot. Nine of these were built, the first four powered by 140 hp (104 kW) Cirrus Hermes IV engines, and the remaining five powered by Genet Major engines.
Operational history
Most Club Cadets were used by flying schools, although intended for private as well as club use, the largest user being Airwork, that operated five Club Cadets. These were later re-engined with 130 hp (100 kW) de Havilland Gipsy Major engines; the air-cooled in-line inverted engines reduced drag, and gave improved fuel consumption.
Variants
;Avro 638 Club Cadet
:Two-seat trainer aircraft, powered by 135 hp (101 kW) Genet Major (radial) or 130 hp (100 kW) Gipsy Major I (inverted in-line) engine, 17 built.
;Avro 638 Club Cadet Special
:One aircraft, fitted with a 140 hp (104 kW) Cirrus Hermes IVA inverted in-line engine.
;Avro 639 Cabin Cadet
:Enclosed cockpit, one built.
;Avro 640 Cadet
:Three seat joyriding aircraft, powered by 140 hp (104 kW) Cirrus Hermes IV inverted in-line (first four aircraft) or 135 hp (101 kW) Genet Major engine, nine built.
Operators
;{{UK}}
Specifications (Avro 638 Genet Major I)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units?=imp
|crew=2
|length ft=24
|length in=9
|length note=
|span ft=30
|span in=2
|span note=
|height ft=8
|height in=9
|height note=
|wing area sqft=262
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb=1244
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=2000
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major 1
|eng1 type=7-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
|eng1 hp=135
|eng1 note=
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed-pitch propeller
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=
|max speed mph=115
|max speed note=
|cruise speed mph=100
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|range miles=325
|range note=
|combat range miles=
|combat range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading lb/sqft=7.63
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass={{cvt|0.075|hp/lb}}
|more performance=
}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons category|Avro Club Cadet}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071008000804/http://www.aviation.technomuses.ca/collections/image_bank/dig_image.cfm?Lang=e&id=KM1914 Canadian Aviation Museum]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20090107204054/http://www.jaapteeuwen.com/ww2aircraft/html%20pages/avro%20638%20club%20cadet.htm Avro Club Cadet] – British Aircraft of World War II
{{avro aircraft}}
Category:1930s British civil trainer aircraft
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft