The Avro 504K has an important place in the SAAF as the first trainer, but its history has been largely neglected.

Thirty of these popular trainer biplanes arrived in South Africa with the Imperial Gift after World War I. After the formation of the SAAF in 1920( the SAAF is the world's second oldest Air Force ), these aircraft were assembled over a period of years at Robert’s Heights ( the so called ‘Aircraft and Artillery Depot’ ) near Swartkops. By the end of June 1921 only two Avros were assembled but eventually all the Avros were assembled and flown. An Avro was also responsible for the first accidental aviation deaths in the SAAF, two lieutenants were killed on 18 September 1922 when a wing apparently collapsed.

The photograph show a Avro 504K during 1922 to 1928. The photographs appear to have been taken at Swartkops airfield, and show the result of a training mishap. The colour schemes are shown in the drawings. Photograph: SAAF Museum, Cape Town.

All the SAAF Avro 504K's had 130Hp Clerget rotary engines and as far as I can tell most had the cord of the upper wing centre section reduced and tapered wing roots on the upper planes, as seen on the Avro 504N. Two Avros were sold to the SA Aerial Transport Co and another to Mr C Swart, the chief meteorologist. Several of the Avro 504Ks were modified to 504Ns with Armstrong Siddeley Lynx engines, oleo undercarriage and tapered ailerons, probably done during 1927 and 1928 at Robert's Heights. The Avros gave sterling service as trainers, photographic and artillery-spotting aircraft until replaced by Avro Avians from 1928 onwards. No part of an Avro remains in South Africa today, and even photographs are scarce.

Colour Schemes: 

Four colour roundal.

The few Avros initially assembled retained their RAF colour schemes of PC 10 upper surfaces, clear doped lower surfaces, standard RAE roundels and serial numbers. H9694 is such an example. From 1922 onwards the aircraft were doped in silver overall, using an aluminium coloured dope. The roundels were removed from the wings and the fuselages, leaving only the rudder stripes and SAAF serial numbers on the fuselages. Ken Smy confirmed there was an official order to this effect. Interestingly, an Avro504K was used for tests with the first four-coloured roundel using orange, red, green, and blue from centre outwards. Only one Avro was so painted, and the roundel was rejected. From December 1921 the four colour roundel using green, red yellow and blue from cemtre outwards was adopted, with rudder stripes as on 422 ( see schematic ). A photo of this scheme apears in Dave Becker's book, 50 years of SAAF. The four colour roundel was replaced by the orange, white and blue roundel from about 1926, and once agian the 504Ks had just  the rudder stripes painted on. It must be stressed that the changes were gradual, and I'm sure anomalies occurred. Most but not all 504K’s had black serial numbers and struts, cowlings and over wing gravity tank, the propeller was often but not always doped white. The drawing of 420 represents an Avro in a ‘typical’ late scheme. 407 is similar but has a beautifully polished metal over wing gravity tank. 422 is very interesting. It has the earlier four coloured rudder stripes but has a silver doped cowling and two black stripes encircling the fuselage, the significance of the stripes is unknown. All three of the schemes have reduced chord upper wing centre section as shown on the schematic.

MODELLING THE AVRO 504K

Amazingly enough, only two plastic models of the 504K have been produced. In 1957 a 1/48 scale kit by Merit appeared, surprisingly accurate and with beautifully thin trailing edges but with horrid etched markings on all surfaces, which are nevertheless easily removed. The tail end of the fuselage needs a little attention and the engine could do with an Aeroclub metal replacement. This kit is still available, now produced by SMER in Czechoslovakia. In 1967 Airfix produced a 1/72nd scale kit which was a fair kit but has a shallow fuselage, with misplaced cockpit position and the cowling wasn't quite right. Needs an Aeroclub Clerget too. I have provided scrap side and plan views, which show how much needs to be done to correct these problems. Alos show how to modify the upperwing roots and centre secton.

Drawing depict the various colour schemes of the Avro 504K in SAAF service. Drawing by M. Cilliers.

• Avro 504K WINDSOCK DATAFILE 28 - JM Bruce. The best single reference for modelling and detail, and yes the SAAF 504’s are mentioned with a photograph.
  
• Avro 504K Pat Lloyd and RL Rimell. Scale Models - May 1975.
  
• In the Cockpit. Edited by A. Robinson. Orbis books. A fantastically evocative chapter on flying 504Ks with cockpit views.