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Aviation History
1933
1933 - 0996.PDF
FLIGHT, NOVEMBER 16, 1933 AVRO 637 An Economical Military Machine with Low Power but High Performance INTENDED primarily f o r duties like frontier patrol and police work, the Avro 637, although a fully-armed military aeroplane, is an ex tremely economical one. For countries where high cost and running expenses cannot be enter tained, but which require aero planes with a wide variation of equipment, the 637 is excellent In many countries suppression of bandits, frontier warfare, and smuggling is the regular job of their Air Force, and for this the Avro 637 can be used more economically than high-powered, more expensive machines, and with equal efficiency. Usually, economy means that the best equipment cannot be obtained ; the production of the Avro 637 has, however, changed that aspect, and makes available aircraft suitable in every respect for the work they have to do. The 637 is called an " Economy, Bombing and Fighting Aeroplane," and is the third of the series of all-metal machines built by A. V. Roe, Ltd., at Manchester during the last few years. The first of the type was the Avro 621 or " Tutor," a machine suitable for all forms of flying training. Next came the 626, a somewhat enlarged and three-seater version of the former, arranged for every form of military training. The 637 possesses all advantages of the form of construction perfected in these types, and has incorporated in it many features facilitating maintenance and repair. It is a two-seater biplane powered with the Armstrong Siddeley " Cheetah " engine developing 260 h.p., at 2,000 r.p.m., at 2,500 ft. Its construction follows the same general lines as the Avro " Tutor," which we have recently described. The fuselage is a single unit of welded steel tubes. The undercarriage, of the divided axle UNDER CONSTRUCTION : Rotatable trestles are used by A. V. Roe's for fuselage erection. It will be seen that the front end of this 637 fuselage is so held that it can be moved about or turned, thus making the job of erection very simple. (FLIGHT Photo.) type, is mounted in two separate units, the shock absorbing member utilising steel springs in conjunction with oleo gear to absorb the rebound. In common with the previous machines, large removable panels on the sides of the fuselage facilitate inspection and maintenance of the controls, while grease gun lubrica tion is used wherever possible. One Vickers gun is fitted centrally in front of the pilot, who uses the front cockpit. This gun fires through a channel in the top decking and top engine cowling. The rear cockpit has a Lewis gun on an Avro mounting. Fuel tankage of liberal capacity is provided, thus giving the machine a long range. The normal bomb load is eight 20-lb. bombs. The detail work of the equipment follows the usual Avro lines in its completeness. The pilot's seat is readily . adjustable for height, while the observer is provided with a folding seat, which can be put back out of the way when he is using the gun or acting as photographer. Both LENGTH 27'-3" SPAN 36-0" TOTAL WING AREA...314 SOFT AVRO 637 260hp "CHEETAH" ENGINE 0 I 2 5 A 5_ 6 7 8 9 jO SCALE IN FEET THE AVRO 637 : A general arrangement drawing, giving the main details of this latest Avro product. 1142
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