View source for Avro 501

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{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=May 2017}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name=501
|image=Авро 501 (503).jpg
|caption=
|type=Military utility seaplane
|manufacturer=[[Avro]]
|national_origin=United Kingdom
|designer=
|first_flight=January 1913
|introduction=
|retired=
|status=
|primary_user=
|more_users=
|produced=
|number_built=1 – 501<br/>4 – 503
|variants=
}}
The '''Avro Type H''', '''Type 501''', and '''Type 503''' were a family of early British military [[seaplane]]s. They were a development of the [[Avro 500]] design and were originally conceived of as amphibious, the prototype being fitted with a single large main float (equipped with wheels) under the fuselage, and two outrigger floats under the wings.
==Design and development==
Tests were conducted on [[Windermere]] in January 1913. It was later converted to a twin-float configuration and bought by the [[British Admiralty]]. It now, however, proved too heavy and was converted again – this time to a landplane.<ref name=Jackson>{{cite book |last=Jackson |first=A.J.|title=Avro Aircraft since 1908 |year=1990|edition=Second |publisher= Putnam|location= London|isbn=0-85177-834-8 }}</ref>
An improved version, designated the '''503''', was demonstrated to the Inspector of Naval Aircraft, who placed an order for three machines. The prototype itself was demonstrated for the [[Imperial German Navy]] in its seaplane trials in June 1913 and was purchased by the government of the [[German Empire]] for evaluation purposes. This machine subsequently became the first aircraft to fly across the North Sea, from [[Wilhelmshaven]] to [[Heligoland]], in September 1913. [[Gothaer Waggonfabrik|Gotha]] purchased a licence from Avro and produced the type as the '''WD.1''' (''Wasser Doppeldecker'' – "Water [[Biplane]]").<ref name=Jackson/>
== Operators ==
[[File:Avro 501.jpg|300px|right|thumb|{{center|Avro 501 ''No. 16'', converted to landplane and delivered to the [[Royal Naval Air Service]] in January 1913. Used for training at [[RAF Eastchurch|Royal Naval Air Station Eastchurch]].<ref>Thetford, Owen, ''British Naval Aircraft Since 1912: Sixth Revised Edition'', Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1991, {{ISBN|1-55750-076-2}}, p. 400.</ref>}}]]
;{{flag|German Empire}}
* [[Kaiserliche Marine]] – one aircraft.
;{{UK}}
* [[Royal Naval Air Service]]
;{{TUR}}
* [[Ottoman Air Force]]
== Specifications (501 seaplane) ==
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units? = imp
|ref=Avro Aircraft since 1908<ref name="Jack avro p51">Jackson 1990, p. 51.</ref>
|crew=2
|capacity=
|length m=10.06
|length ft=33
|length in=0
|span m=14.48
|span ft=47
|span in=6
|height m=3.81
|height ft=12
|height in=6
|wing area sqm=44.4
|wing area sqft=478
|empty weight kg=789
|empty weight lb=1,740
|gross weight kg=1,225
|gross weight lb=2,700
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Gnome Omega Omega]] 14-cyl two row air-cooled rotary piston engine
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=<!-- prop engines -->100
|max speed kmh=89
|max speed mph=55
}}
== See also ==
{{aircontent|
<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. -->
|related=<!-- related developments -->
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
*[[List of aircraft of the Royal Naval Air Service]]
*[[List of flying boats and floatplanes]]
|see also=<!-- other relevant information -->
}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last1=Metzmacher |first1=Andreas |title=Gotha Aircraft 1913-1954: From the London Bomber to the Flying Wing Jet Fighter |date=2021 |publisher=Fonthill |location=Brimscombe, Stroud |isbn=978-1-78155-706-8}}
* {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=91 }}
* {{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London |pages=File 889 Sheet 93 }}
== External links ==
{{commons category|Avro 501}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194546/http://www.britishaircraft.co.uk/aircraftpage.php?ID=290 Avro 501] – British Aircraft Directory
{{Avro aircraft}}
{{Gotha aircraft}}
[[Category:1910s British military utility aircraft]]
[[Category:Floatplanes]]
[[Category:Avro aircraft|501]]
[[Category:Gotha aircraft|501, Avro]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Amphibious aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1913]]
[[Category:Rotary-engined aircraft]]