The Avro Anson 

For it's time the Avro Anson was an advanced aircraft: it was the first monoplane with retractable gear in the RAF. Although not very known for it's war efforts, the Anson was a very succesfull aircraft. After originally being designated as a reconnaissance aircraft, the main role of the Anson became a trainer for bomber crews: navigators, radio operators and gunners.

Versions:

• Avro Anson Mk I
• Other Avro Anson versions
• Avro AT-20

Further pictures:

The Avro Anson

Technical data on the Avro Anson Mk I

Powerplant	2 × Armstrong Siddeley Cheetah IX, rated at 335 hp (249.74 kW) each		Role during war	Reconnaissance Aircraft Advanced Trainer
Length	42 ft 3 inch		Height	13 ft 1 inch
Empty weight	5512 lb		Operational weight	7955 lb typical, 8500 lb max
Wing Span	56 ft 6 inch		Wing Aspect ratio	7.255
Wing Area	440 sq ft		Service ceiling	19000 ft
Maximum speed	188 mph at 7000 ft		Cruising speed	158 mph at optimum altitude
Initial climb rate	720 ft / min at Sea level		Range	660 miles typical, 790 miles max
Fuel capacity internal	unknown		Fuel capacity external	-
Machine guns	2 × 0.303 inch trainable in manually operated top turret, or 2 × 0.303 in guns in power operated top turret.		Cannons	-
Bomb load	-		Torpedoes/rockets	-
Crew	5: 1 Pilot and pupili, plus an additional 3 instructors/trainees		Naval or ground based	Ground
First flight (prototype)	24 March 1935		Operational Service	1936 - 1968
Manufacturer	A. V. Roe and Company Ltd.		Number produced	10061 total, 6706 this version

Metric system

Length	12.88 m		Height	3.99 m
Empty weight	2500 kg		Operational weight	3608 kg typical, 3856 kg max
Wing Span	17.22 m		Wing Aspect ratio	7.255
Wing Area	40.88 m²		Service ceiling	5791 m
Maximum speed	303 km/h at 2134 m		Cruising speed	254 km/h at optimum altitude
Initial climb rate	219 / min at Sea level		Range	1062 km typical, 1271 km max
Fuel capacity internal	unknown		Fuel capacity external	-
Machine guns	2 × 7.7 mm trainable in manually operated top turret, or 2 × 7.7 mm guns in power operated top turret.		Cannons	-
Bomb load	-		Torpedoes/rockets	-

Here is a quick overview of all different versions, without the full technical specifications:

Remarks:

The real success of the Anson was not in combat, but as a trainer of crews. It's success can be derived from the fact that it served more than 32 years, and the number of planes built. About 2900 aircraft were built in Canada with Pratt and Whitney R-985AN-14 Wasp jr. engines, rated at 450 hp each.

The Anson left the RAF service in June 1968, after serving for more than 32 years.

Strengths:

• An excellent trainer
• Dependable

Weaknesses:

• Low speed
• Short range

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