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552 AVS (Canadian: 10 )

Avro 552 AVS

(RCAF Photo via the Shearwater Aviation Museum) Source Harold A Skaarup web page
Avro 552A Viper SS Patrol, RCAF.
Avro 552A Viper SS Patrol AVL (5) Reg. Nos. G-CYFT "“ G-CYFX, Avro 552A Viper TS Patrol AVS (9) Reg. Nos. G-CYGB to G-CYGJ, for a total of 14 aircraft.

The Avro 552 was a British light biplane aircraft produced in the early 1920s. It was another attempt by Avro to sell a derivative of the wartime 504 to the civil market. In this case, the company took advantage of the large number of war-surplus Wolseley Viper engines left over from Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.5a production. In 1921, one of these was married to a standard 504K airframe for evaluation under the designation Avro 551. Trials proved encouraging, but an extra fuel tank was installed in the upper wing as a result of the Viper's higher rate of fuel consumption, and changes were also made to the aileron design.

This configuration went into production as the 552, with the Argentine Navy purchasing 12 examples of a float-equipped version, the 552A, which served as trainers until 1927. Two similar machines were purchased by Bulgaria.

In 1924, the Royal Canadian Air Force arranged for Canadian Vickers to purchase a licence to produce five landplanes and nine seaplane examples for use in forestry patrol. These differed from British-built aircraft by the use of U.S. Naval Aircraft Factory floats, and increased fuel tankage for extended range. One of the license-built seaplanes was fitted with a Wright engine and known in Canadian service as the Avro Wright. Licensed production was also undertaken by C.B. Field of Kingswood Knoll, Surrey, England, who built three aircraft from surplus components supplied by Avro. These were flown as banner tugs by Inca Aviation until 1935.

The fuselage of the 552 prototype, G-EAPR was later used as the basis for the Cierva C.8 autogyro, but was eventually converted back to the winged configuration by a private owner when disposed of by the company. Wikipedia

Wkikpedia Wikipedia Avro 552 AVS

General Harold A Skaarup Web Page

last update: 2021-10-05 17:24:03

552 AVS 12

s/n
 12
c/n
 CV 29
c/r
 G‑CYGK

Known Squadron Assignments:


last update: 2024-November-09
   1925-July-14 Taken on Strength 2022-02-07
   1930-January-17 Struck off Strength 2022-02-07
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 197

552 AVS G‑CYGB

s/n
 G-CYGB
c/n
 CV20
c/r
 G‑CYGB

Known Squadron Assignments: 1; 3

Built as two seater floatplane. After company tests, ferried to Ottawa for further tests. Later shipped to Winnipeg, Man. Operated throughout Western Canada by No. 1 (Operations) Wing out of Winnipeg, Man. Used by No. 3 (Operations) Squadron at Rockcliffe and Shirleys Bay, Ont., dates unknown. Survey missions over Quebec in summer of 1928.
last update: 2024-September-22
   1925-May-12 Taken on Strength First flight: 1925-12-05 2020-09-19
   1927-December-30 Struck off Strength or 1928? Struck off, after Category A accident at Lac du Bonnet. 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 197

552 AVS G‑CYGC

s/n
 G-CYGC
c/n
 CV21
c/r
 G‑CYGC

Known Squadron Assignments: Winnipeg

Built as two seater floatplane. After company tests, shipped to Winnipeg, Man.
last update: 2024-September-22
   1925-May-26 Taken on Strength after first flight at Cartierville 2019-08-20
   1927-October-18 Struck off Strength Struck off after Cat. A accident at Bowden Lake, Alta. 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 197

552 AVS G‑CYGD

s/n
 G-CYGD
c/n
 CV22
c/r
 G‑CYGD

Known Squadron Assignments: Winnipeg

Built as two seater floatplane. After company tests, shipped to Winnipeg, Man.
last update: 2024-September-22
   1925-May-29 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1927-August-19 Struck off Strength Written off, after Category A accident at Moore Lake. 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 197

552 AVS G‑CYGE

s/n
 G-CYGE
c/n
 CV23
c/r
 G‑CYGE

Known Squadron Assignments: 5

Built as two seater floatplane. After company tests, shipped to Winnipeg, Man.
last update: 2024-September-22
   1925-June-12 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1928-January-16 Struck off Strength Written off, after Category A accident at Long Lake, Manitoba. 2019-08-20
1926-August-19 KIFA RCAF Pilot Officer Redford McLeod Carr-Harris 2024-01-07
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 197

552 AVS G‑CYGF

s/n
 G-CYGF
c/n
 CV24
c/r
 G‑CYGF

Known Squadron Assignments: Winnipeg

Built as two seater floatplane. After company tests, shipped to Winnipeg, Man.
last update: 2024-September-22
   1925-June-16 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1927-April-08 Struck off Strength Struck off, after Category A accident near Mile 185 of the Hudson's Bay Railway, Manitoba. 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 197

552 AVS G‑CYGG

s/n
 G-CYGG
c/n
 CV25
c/r
 G‑CYGG

Known Squadron Assignments: 1; 3

Built as two seater floatplane. After company tests, shipped to Winnipeg, Man. Operated throughout Western Canada by No. 1 (Operations) Wing out of Winnipeg, Man. At Cormorant Lake Sub-Base in 1925. Converted to 504NS in 1927, but retained tapered ailerons. Used by No. 3 (Operations) Squadron at Rockcliffe and Shirleys Bay, Ont., 1925 to 1927.
last update: 2024-September-22
   1925-June-26 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1928-February-17 Struck off Strength Struck off, after Category A accident at Lac du Bonnet. 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 197

552 AVS G‑CYGH

s/n
 G-CYGH
c/n
 CV26
c/r
 G‑CYGH

Known Squadron Assignments: Winnipeg

Built as two seater floatplane. After company tests, shipped to Winnipeg, Man. Category B accident at Cormorant Lake on 15 August 1925.
last update: 2024-September-22
   1925-June-26 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1927-August-19 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 197

552 AVS G‑CYGI

s/n
 G-CYGI
c/n
 CV27
c/r
 G‑CYGI

Known Squadron Assignments: 1

Built as two seater floatplane. After company tests, shipped to Winnipeg, Man. Operated throughout Western Canada by No. 1 (Operations) Wing out of Winnipeg, Man. Seen at Lac du Bonnet sub-base. Scheduled to be converted to 504NS, written off before conversion performed.
last update: 2024-September-22
   1925-June-30 Taken on Strength 2019-08-20
   1928-June-02 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 197

552 AVS G‑CYGJ

s/n
 G-CYGJ
c/n
 CV28
c/r
 G‑CYGJ

Known Squadron Assignments: Winnipeg

Built as two seater floatplane. After company tests, shipped to Winnipeg, Man. Seen at Lac du Bonnet sub-base. Fitted with external oil tank and Reed-Curtiss metal propeller summer of 1926, to solve overheating problems. Scheduled to be converted to 504NS, written off before conversion performed.
last update: 2024-September-22
   1925-July-09 Taken on Strength 2020-09-19
   1928-January-18 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
📙 JA Griffin (2005:Smith, Castle): 1968 197

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