1927 Avro Avian IV
The Avro Avian is a series of British light aircraft designed and built by Avro in the 1920s and 1930s. While the various versions of the Avian were sound aircraft, they were vastly outsold by the de Havilland Moth and its contemporaries.
The Avian was used extensively as a civil tourer or trainer, with many being sold overseas. Avians were assembled by the Whittesley Manufacturing Co., Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA, and the Ottawa Car Manufacturing Company, Canada, as well as by Avro itself.
Avro Avian 594 Avian III (SN R3/AV/101) was owned by Lady Mary Heath and Amelia Earhart. Earhart’s Avian had an 84 hp Cirrus Mk II engine. It was originally registered to Lady Heath on 29 October 1927 and given the UK aircraft marking G-EBUG. When Earhart brought it to the United States it was assigned “unlicensed aircraft identification mark” 7083; aircraft not officially certificated in the United States were allowed to be flown as unlicensed but identified aircraft. Avian 7083 was used on Earhart’s first long solo flight, which occurred just as Amelia was coming into the national spotlight. By making the trip in August 1928, she became the first woman to fly solo across the North American continent and back.
Sources: The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft, Air Enthusiast, Anti-Clockwise: Australia the Wrong Way
Tour the Cockpit!
Front Cockpit View
Rear Cockpit View
Prior to being the co-founder of the Ala Doble Flying Collection, in 2001 Carlene (Mendieta) Bowe recreated Earhart’s flight in, at the time, Greg Herrick’s Type 594 Avian which he had purchased from Lang Kidby. At the time Herrick purchased the Avian from Kidby, two years prior, it was the oldest flying aircraft in Australia. This same airplane was acquired from Mr. Herrick and is now based at the Ala Doble Flying Ranch as part of the Ala Doble Flying Collection where it is maintained in flying condition.
1927 Avro Avian IV
- Registration: 7083
- Serial number: R3-AV-127
- Crew: 2
- Empty Weight: 1,005 lb
- Gross Weight: 1,523 lb
- Powerplant: Gypsy Major
- Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
- Performance:
- Cruise: 90 MPH
- Max Speed: 105 MPH
- Dimensions:
- Wing Span: 28 ft 0 in
- Length: 24 ft 3 in
- Height: 8 ft 6 in
