Avro 621 Tutor Two-Seat Basic Trainer Biplane Aircraft

The Avro 621 Tutor became a mainstay trainer for various air powers of the world thanks to its Avro 504 lineage.

Detailing the development and operational history of the Avro 621 Tutor Two-Seat Basic Trainer Biplane Aircraft. Entry last updated on 2/21/2018. Authored by Staff Writer. Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com

The Avro 621 Tutor was a primary component of RAF and RN pilot training in the interwar years. Developed from the World War 1 era Avro 504 series, the 621 type proved to be a follow-up success. Built to some 852 examples, the 621 graduated many an airmen from some ten world air forces during her production run making a special place for the aircraft in the annals of aviation history.

Design of the Avro 621 Tutor was of a basic biplane type with twin tandem seating for the student and instructor respectively in the tubular-shaped fuselage. Windscreens were afforded each seating position as were redundant control systems. The biplane structure was connected via a series of struts between them while the engine was fitted to the extreme forward portion of the design rotating a two-blade propeller. Landing gear were of the traditional World War 1 static design and a tail wheel was fitted at rear.

In training, the Tutor proved to be of exceptional quality while handling was deemed excellent. This was no doubt partly due to the fact of the types origins in the excellent and highly successful Avro 504 series designed during the First World War. Some 200 Tutor trainers were still in operational use with British forces by the time of the Second World War. In all, production was handled by the United Kingdom (Avro), South Africa and Poland (both of the latter under license production rights). The UK line would stop production of the 621 by 1936 by which time some near 800 models would be in circulation.

Our Data Modules allow for quick visual reference when comparing a single entry against contemporary designs. Areas covered include general ratings, speed assessments, and relative ranges based on distances between major cities.

Image of collection of graph types

Relative Maximum Speed Rating

Hi: 120mph

Lo: 60mph

This entry's maximum listed speed (120mph).

Graph average of 90 miles-per-hour.

City-to-City Ranges

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Graph showcases the Avro 621 Tutor's operational range (on internal fuel) when compared to distances between major cities.

Aviation Era

Useful in showcasing the era cross-over of particular aircraft/aerospace designs.

Unit Production Comparison

Comm. Market HI*: 44,000 units

Military Market HI**: 36,183 units

852

* Commercial Market High belongs to Cessna 172.

** Military Market High belongs to Ilyushin Il-2.

Altitude Visualization

Compare this entry against other aircraft using our Comparison Tool

Supported Mission Types:

Anti-Ship

Airborne Early Warning

VIP Travel

Origin: United Kingdom

Year: 1933

Type: Two-Seat Basic Trainer Biplane Aircraft

Manufacturer(s): Avro / A. V. Roe - UK

Production: 852

Status: Retired, Out-of-Service

Global Operators:
Czechoslovakia; Canada; China; Denmark; Eire; Iraq; Ireland, Greece; Poland; South Africa; United Kingdom.

Historical Commitments / Honors:

Military lapel ribbon for Operation Allied Force

Military lapel ribbon for the Arab-Israeli War

Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Britain

Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Midway

Military lapel ribbon for the Berlin Airlift

Military lapel ribbon for the Cuban Missile Crisis

Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War

Military lapel ribbon for the French-Indochina War

Military lapel ribbon for the Golden Age of Flight

Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War

Military lapel ribbon for the Indo-Pak Wars

Military lapel ribbon for the Iran-Iraq War

Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War

Military lapel ribbon for the 1982 Lebanon War

Military lapel ribbon for the Malayan Emergency

Military lapel ribbon for the attack on Pearl Harbor

Military lapel ribbon for the Six Day War

Military lapel ribbon for the Soviet-Afghan War

Military lapel ribbon for the Spanish Civil War

Military lapel ribbon for the Suez Crisis

Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War

Military lapel ribbon for Warsaw Pact of the Cold War-era

Military lapel ribbon for the WASP (WW2)

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Military lapel ribbon for the Yom Kippur

* Ribbons not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective campaigns/operations.

Structural - Crew, Dimensions, and Weights:
Unless otherwise noted the presented statistics below pertain to the Avro 621 Tutor model. Common measurements, and their respective conversions, are shown when possible.

Operational
CREW

Personnel
2

Dimension
LENGTH

Feet
26.38 ft

Meters
8.04 m

Dimension
WIDTH

Feet
33.99 ft

Meters
10.36 m

Dimension
HEIGHT

Feet
9.58 ft

Meters
2.92 m

Weight
EMPTY

Pounds
1,843 lb

Kilograms
836 kg

Weight
LOADED

Pounds
2,493 lb

Kilograms
1,131 kg

Installed Power - Standard Day Performance:
1 x Armstrong Siddeley Lynx IVC air-cooled radial piston engine developing 240 horsepower.

Performance
SPEED

Miles-per-Hour
120 mph

Kilometers-per-Hour
193 kph

Knots
104 kts

Performance
RANGE

Miles
250 mi

Kilometers
402 km

Nautical Miles
217 nm

Performance
CEILING

Feet
16,001 ft

Meters
4,877 m

Miles
3.03 mi

Armament - Hardpoints (0):

None.

Variants: Series Model Variants
• 621 Tutor - Base Series Designation; two-seat basic trainer.
• 621 Tutor II - Redesigned Wing Strut Arrangement.
• 646 Sea Tutor - Seaplane Derivative for Royal Navy; fitted with twin floats for naval operation.
• PWS-18 - Polish designation for local licensed production of 621 Tutor models; some 40 examples produced.