AVRO 631 / AVRO 643 CADET
- This two-seat (in
tandem) open cockpit biplane designed by Roy Chadwick appeared in 1932.
Avro built 36 Type 631s and eight improved Type 643 Cadets, all with 135
hp Genet Major 1 radial engines, principally for civil users pre-war.
Of these, 14 Type 631s used by AST at Hamble joined No 3 E & RFTS
in September 1939 and were in use for about a year before being transferred
to Watchfield and then impressed for further use, mostly as non-flying
instructional airframes. Avro also built 27 Type 643 Mk II Cadets, with
150 hp Genet Major IA and lengthened nose, for civil use, of which 18
served similarly with No 3 E & RFTS at Hamble and No 9 E & RFTS
at Anst^ until transfer to Watchfield in 19*10 and subsequent impressment.
RAAF purchased 34 Type 643 Mk II Cadets in 1935-1939 and these served
with No 1 FTS, Point Cook, and Nos 21 (City of Melbourne) and 22 (City
of Sydney) squadrons for most of the war, 16 surviving to 1945.
