Avro 504F from the front-left
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The Avro 504F was the designation given to Avro 504C 8603 after it was given a 75hp Rolls-Royce Hawk six cylinder in-line engine.
The Rolls-Royce Hawk used one back of six cylinders from the Rolls-Royce Eagle V-12 engine, the first aircraft engine developed by Rolls-Royce, and a successful design of which over 4,500 were produced. It was a reliable engine used after the war on Alcock and Brown’s first non-stop trans-Atlantic flight. The Hawk was equally reliable, but was produced in much smaller numbers, with only 205 built, all but one by Brazil Straker at Bristol. The largest user of the Hawk was the SSZ class coastal patrol airship.
The Hawk was installed in the Avro 504F in response to a suggestion from the Admiralty, who also placed a contract for thirty production aircraft. However this was cancelled and replaced by an order for aircraft powered by the 80hp Gnome engine.
The Imperial War Museum has a picture labelled as showing the Avro 504F powered by a 100hp Sunbeam Dyak engine. If this is correct then 8603 was given a new engine after the loss of interest in the Hawk.
Engine: Rolls Royce Hawk
Power: 75hp
Crew: 1
Span: 36ft 0in
Length: 29ft 5in
Height: 10ft 5in