The original Avian was the Avro 581 G-EBOV which was first flown in 1926. Built for the Lympne Trials, the two-seat Avro 581 Avian was powered by a 52kW Armstrong Siddeley Genet engine. Its Armstrong Siddeley Genet engine was replaced by an ADC Cirrus I and with other modifications it became the Avro 581E in 1927.
From this the Avro 594 Avian I G-EBQN was developed and later in the same year the first Cirrus II powered Avian II G-EBTU was flown.
The 581E was powered by a 63kW Cirrus II engine, and used by H. J. L. Hinkler for the first solo flight to Australia in 1928.
Of wooden construction, the 581 was in production with various engines as the Avro 594 in the UK and USA between 1927 and 1929. The Avian continued in production until 1935 when the last Avian G-ADEO was built up from spare parts.
The 581 was replaced in production by the metal fuselage Avro 616 Avian IVM and Sports Avian variant in 1929.
The Avian IIIE featured upper wing slots.
In February 1928, H.J.L (Bert) Hinkler, and Australian, took off from London in an Avian. Less than three weeks later he was in Austrlia. Hinkler had flown from London to Australia in fifteen and a half days.
Avro 581
Engine: 1 x 70hp Armstrong Siddeley Genet
Take-off weight: 726 kg / 1601 lb
Empty weight: 316 kg / 697 lb
Wingspan: 9.75 m / 32 ft 0 in
Length: 7.39 m / 24 ft 3 in
Height: 2.51 m / 8 ft 3 in
Wing area: 27.31 sq.m / 293.96 sq ft
Max. speed: 113 km/h / 70 mph
Avro 594 Avian Mk. III
Length: 24.245 ft / 7.39 m
Wingspan : 27.986 ft / 8.53 m
Max take off weight : 1435.5 lb / 651.0 kg
Max. speed : 89 kts / 164 km/h
Range : 348 nm / 644 km
Engine : ADC Cirrus III, 95 hp
Avro 594 Avian IIIE
Engine: ADC Cirrus II, 85hp
Wingspan: 28 ft
Length: 24 ft 3 in
AUW: 1467 lb
Max speed: 98 mph
Avro 594 Avian IVM
Engine: de Havilland Gipsy II, 120 hp
Wingspan: 28 ft
Length: 24 ft 3 in
Height: 8 ft 6 in
Empty weight: 1005 lb
Loaded weight: 1523 lb
Max speed: 105 mph
Cruise: 90 mph
All Aero 