AVRO 652

Avro 652 - The Avro 652 was designed by Roy Chadwick to meet an Imperial Airways spec-ification for a long-range twin-engined light transport, combining Avro and Fokker structural principles with a one-piece wood-en mainplane and a welded steel tube fuse-lage. Powered by 270 hp Cheetah V engines and with hand-worked retractable undercar-riage, two prototypes were built at Manchester and first flight was made at Woodford on January 7, 1935. Both aircraft acquired by AST as navigation trainers for No 11 Air Observers' Navigation School in 1938; impressed February 1941 as DG655 and DG656 for use by No 1 School of Photography and then served with No 811 Squadron, RN.

Max speed, 195 mph (314 km/h). Gross weight, 7,400 Ib (3,360 kg). Span, 56 ft 6 in (17.23 m). Length, 42ft 3 in (12.89 m).