Avro Anson C.19
Serial Number:
TX214
Period:
Post-WWII
Collection Ref: 85/A/7
Location: RAF Museum Cosford, Transport & Training
Starting life in the RAF in 1936 as a Coastal Command
reconnaissance and attack aircraft, the Anson was primarily used on light
transport and training duties. The Anson was designed in May 1934 to fulfil
a coastal reconnaissance requirement.
The first prototype flew on 24 March 1935 and subsequently 174 of the
type were ordered. The Anson became the first aircraft in RAF service
to have a retractable undercarriage. Despite being obsolescent, it remained
in Coastal Command service until 1942.
A trainer version had been developed in parallel and 1500 of these were
ordered into production in 1939. They were used to train pilots, navigators,
wireless operators and air gunners.
The type was selected for production in Canada and to conserve vital materials,
a MkV version was built using a moulded plywood fuselage and 1051 of this
type were produced in Canada, as well as 1832 of the conventionally constructed
version.
Later Ansons, some with metal wing structure, were used as light transports
and were in production up until 1947, by which time a total 11020 Ansons
had been built in the UK and Canada.
They remained in service until 28 June 1968 when the six surviving RAF
aircraft were withdrawn.
British European Airways (BEA) inherited thirteen Avro XIXs during 1947
and used them on some of their Northern Ireland routes. It was not considered
a good passenger aircraft due to its excessive noise and vibration and
it was phased out the following year. Four were retained for training
purposes at Cranfield and eventually they were moved to Northolt where
they were withdrawn in 1950.
