After WW1, A.V.Roe entered the light aircraft field with the Avro 534 Baby, a low-powered lightweight single-seat biplane. At the time, the only suitable engine was a 35 hp / 26 kW Green, which was modified by the makers. Designed around this machine, the Baby first flew on 39 April 1919, Just two minutes after take off it crashed at Hamble, the pilot having inadvertently switched off the ignition.
A second Baby flew on 10 May 1919, powered by the original engine, salvaged from the first aircraft, and this machine proved to have reasonable performance.
Records indicate that about nine Babies were built at Hamble, several achieving fame in notable flights.
Bert Hinkler was awarded the Britannia Trophy for 1 650 mile / 1046 km Croydon to Turin flight in 9 hr 30 min, while the third Baby won the 1920 Aerial Derby. One was sold to Russia, but the longest surviving example was probably the first production aircraft, which went to Australia and remained on that country’s civil register until 1936.
Variants
Avro 534A Water Baby
Twin-float seaplane flown in October 1919. Crashed in September 1921
Avro 534B
Version with plywood covered fuselage and shorter span lower wing.
Only one built. Crashed in August 1920.
Avro 534C
Version with reduced span wings for the 1921 Aerial Derby. Crashed in September 1922.
Avro 534D
Special version with modifications, to the order of Colonel E. Villiers, who used it for business trips around Calcutta until 1929.
Avro 543
Two-seat version with forward fuselage lengthened by 2 ft 6 in / 0.76m. later re-engined with 60 hp / 45 kW A.D.C. Cirrus engine and used until 1934.
Avro 554
Photo-survey version mounted on twin floats for the 1921 Shackleton-Rowett South Polr Expedition. Powered by an 80 hp / 60 kW Le Rhone rotary.
Avro 534
Engine: 1 x 35hp / 26 kW Green
Wingspan: 7.62 m / 25 ft 0 in
Length: 5.33 m / 17 ft 6 in
Height: 2.31 m / 7 ft 7 in
Wing area: 16.72 sq.m / 179.97 sq ft
Take-off weight: 395 kg / 871 lb
Empty weight: 280 kg / 617 lb
Max. speed: 129 km/h / 80 mph
Cruise speed: 113 km/h / 70 mph
Service ceiling: 12,000 ft / 3660 m
Range: 322 km / 200 miles
All Aero 