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Aviation History
1932
1932 - 0269.PDF
FLIGHT, MARCH 25, 1932 Trie Avro 631 "Cadet" Coming from a firm which holds a leading position in the production of training aircraft, the Avro " Cadet" will attract world-wide attention. It is a two-seater training biplane fitted with Armstrong - Siddeley j-cylinder " Genet Major " engine of 135 b.h.p. It is designed for full training duties at low first cost and very modest maintenance cost yffT T first sight is might appear that the production 0\j| of the "Cadet" by A. V. Roe & Co., Ltd., \*S -UL represents a negation of that firm's policy. Actually this is not so. Those responsible for Avro policy have not changed their views in the slightest degree. The " Cadet " represents an addition to rather than an amendment of the policy. Our readers may recollect that in FLIGHT of July 3, 1931, the Avro firm contributed some very clearly expressed views on Air Force Training, in articles by Major F. P. Scott and Mr. K. J. Parrott. For the benefit of readers it may be recalled that in those articles the argument was used that in training aircraft true economy does not necessarily lie in low first cost, but that on the contrary it depends chiefly on other features, such as suit ability for rapid all-through train ing in time of war, when there will be no time for advanced training following upon ab initio training, nor will there be war type aircraft available for such training, the machines being urgently wanted elsewhere. The Avro view, as expressed in those articles, was also that all-metal construction is essential, because of the difficulty in this country of getting suitable timbers in time of war, not to mention the longer life and lower maintenance cost of an all-metal aircraft. In the Avro " Cadet " the question of first cost has been seriously studied, and all-metal construction has been abandoned. This is not because A. V. Roe & Co., Ltd., have changed their views, but because it is realised that while the above arguments hold good where large nations are concerned, there are countries in which cost is a very vital con sideration, and in which local supplies of timber are plentiful, while facilities or experience in handling and repairing steel wings may be lacking. The Avro, like all other British firms, must study closely conditions abroad, and must rely to a great extent on a healthy export trade. It is with this in view that the " Cadet " has been produced. In spite of a close family resemblance to previous Avro machines, the " Cadet," or Avro 631, incorporates a number of features not found in other Avro types, and these are obtained without any sacrifice of simplicity, which is, if anything, greater than ever. The machine is a normal single-bay tractor biplane, characterised by a REDUCING AIR DRAG : Behind the Townend ring is the exhaust collector ring, which in turn is separated by a large air space from the hemispherically- shaped nose of the fuselage. Note also the tripod undercarriage. (FLIGHT Photo.) 253
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