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The Avro 504C was the first single seat version of the Avro 504 and was built as an anti-Zeppelin and coastal reconnaissance aircraft.
The Avro 504C was built for the RNAS for use on coastal reconnaissance duties. It was a single seat aircraft, with a large cylindrical fuel tank replacing the front cockpit. It was armed with a Lewis gun mounted to fire incendiary ammo upwards at 45 degrees through a gap in the centre of the upper wing, for use against Zeppelins. It had the same recessed longerons, long span ailerons and unbalanced rudder attached to dorsal fin as the 504B. The extra fuel gave it an endurance of 8 hours.
Three orders were placed, for a total of 80 aircraft (of which the last was completed as the Avro 504F). These aircraft were allocated serial numbers 1467-1496 (30), 3301-3320 (20) and 8574-8603 (30), for a total of 80 aircraft.
Some sources give a higher figure of 107 aircraft, but this appears to be due to an error with the last batch, allocating it serial numbers 8547-8603 by reversing the last two digits of the first aircraft. This turns the final 30 aircraft into 57, getting to 107. However aircraft 8547-8573 were a mix of Wright Type 840s, Short Type 827s and Bristol Boxkites.
Although the combat record of the Avro 504C is hard to trace, three incidents show it was in use in 1916.
On 13 February 1916 Avro 504C no.8601, part of the RNAS Scarborough Home Defence Flight suffered an engine failure during a patrol and made a forced landing near Robin Hood’s Bay, on the Yorkshire coast. The pilot survived. The aircraft was repaired after this incident, but appears to have been unlucky and was damaged twice more before being deleted from charge on 1 May 1916.
On 20 February 1916 Flt Sub-Lt Francis Hamilton G Toms was killed when his aircraft crashed and caught fire at Chingford.
On 2 April 1916 Flight Sub-Lt Cox took off from East Fortune (near Edinburgh) in an attempt to intercept two Zeppelins that were approaching Edinburgh. He was unable to find the airships and was badly injured when he crashed while landing.
Crash data shows the type was still in use in 1917, when seven incidents can be found, and as late as 23 February 1918 when aircraft 1494 from Cranwell crashed in Lincolnshire.
Production
1467-1496 (30): built by Brush
3301-3320 (20) built by Brush
Serials 8574-8603 (30) built by A.V.Roe
8603 gets Rolls Royce Hawk and becomes Avro 504F
Engine: Gnome
Power: 80hp
Crew: 1
Span: 36ft 0in
Length: 29ft 5in
Height: 10ft 5in