Belgian Wings
Belgian Air Force, past and present.
The Aeronautical Reference Site - De Luchtvaart Referentie Site - Le site référence de l'Aéronautique
Avro 504K
Single engine two-seat trainer aircraft
The Avro 504K which was very successful during World War I in Royal Flying Corps (RFC), Royal Navy Air Service (RNAS) and later on in Royal Air Force (RAF) service was first presented to the Belgian authorities in 1920 at Evere airfield. Two aircraft, Avro 504K G-EAVD (ex-E6757) and G-EAHX, were involved in these demonstrations which would lead to a first order for 6 Avro 504K’s (probably ex H1907, H1971, H1975, H1976, H1979 and H1980) through contract N° 45/21 between the Belgian government and Vickers Ltd. A second order for an additional six machines (c/n's 5011 to 5016) closely followed the initial contract (according to some source this second batch of aircraft received the Belgian civil registrations between O-BADI and O-BADK). Delivery to the Aviation Militaire Belge of these twelve Avro 504K trainers started from April 1921 onwards. Later in 1921 a third order was followed for 38 supplementary Avro 504K’s making a total of 50 aircraft delivered from British sources. This third batch was supplied by the Aircraft Disposal Co Ltd and delivered between 1921 and 1924.
Finally, as of 1924 Sabca constructed some 28 supplementary Avro 504K’s under license agreement with Avro making a grand total of 78 Avro 504K's delivered to the Aviation Militaire Belge/Belgisch Militair Vliegwezen.
The Belgian Air Service's "K"s were essentially used at the pilot schools, first at Asch and later at Wevelgem airfields, but some machines were also used as communications aircraft in different squadrons and groups. The Avro 504K received the Belgian military serials A-1 through A-78. Some thirteen Renard powered former AéM aircraft of the Sabca license production reappeared on the Belgian civilian register serving their owners well into the thirties. In 1929 the first of the Lynx 215 hp powered Avro 504N aircraft ordered as the “K” replacement was delivered by A.V. Roe which would mark the start of the retirement of these very forgiving and multi-adaptable machines in Belgian military service. (D. Brackx)
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A-2
C/N
H-1979
Date In
Apr 1921
Date Out
Jul 1924
History
A-2, Pilot School Asch, 2/VI Gr.
A-5
C/N
-
Date In
Apr 1921
Date Out
Jul 1924
History
A-5, Pilot School Asch VI Gr.
A-6
C/N
-
Date In
May 1921
Date Out
-
History
A-6, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem, II/3Aé,
A-7
C/N
5013 or 5015
Date In
May 1921
Date Out
Oct 1927
History
A-7, Pilot School Asch 2/VI Gr, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-8
C/N
5013 or 5015
Date In
May 1921
Date Out
Apr 1925
History
A-8, Pilot School Asch, VI Gr, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-9
C/N
-
Date In
May 1921
Date Out
-
History
A-9, Pilot School Asch,VI Gr., Pilot School Wevelgem
A-10
C/N
5011 or 5016
Date In
May 1921
Date Out
-
History
A-10, Pilot School Asch, VI Gr, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-12
C/N
-
Date In
Jun 1921
Date Out
Aug 1921
History
A-21, Pilot School Asch, VI Gr., crashed at Genk on 17 Aug 1921.
A-13
C/N
-
Date In
1922 (?)
Date Out
Jul 1930
History
A-13, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-14
C/N
-
Date In
1922
Date Out
-
History
A-14, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-16
C/N
-
Date In
Dec 1921
Date Out
History
A-16, Pilot School Asch, 2/VI Gr., Pilot School Wevelgem
A-17
C/N
-
Date In
Dec 1921
Date Out
-
History
A-17, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem, IV/1 Recce Units - Evere)
A-21
C/N
-
Date In
Dec 1921
Date Out
May 1924
History
A-21, Pilot School Asch, VI Gr.,
A-22
C/N
-
Date In
Jan 1922
Date Out
Jul 1924
History
A-22, Pilot School Asch VI Gr.
A-23
C/N
-
Date In
Mar 1922
Date Out
-
History
A-23, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-24
C/N
-
Date In
Apr 1924
Date Out
-
History
A-24, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem, IV/1Aé.
A-26
C/N
-
Date In
May 1922
Date Out
-
History
A-26, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-28
C/N
-
Date In
May 1922
Date Out
Oct 1922
History
A-28, Pilot School Asch, crashed on 14 Oct 1922
A-29
C/N
-
Date In
May 1922
Date Out
Jul 1925
History
A-29, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem, w/o at Wevelgem in July 1925
A-31
C/N
-
Date In
Jun 1922
Date Out
-
History
A-31, Pilot School Asch, VI Gr, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-32
C/N
-
Date In
Jun 1922
Date Out
-
History
A-32, Pilot School Asch, VI Gr, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-33
C/N
-
Date In
Jan 1923
Date Out
Jul 1924
History
A-33, Pilot School Asch, w/o at Asch on 23 Jul 1924
A-34
C/N
-
Date In
-
Date Out
Jan 1925
History
A-34, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-35
C/N
-
Date In
Jan 1923
Date Out
-
History
A-35, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-37
C/N
Date In
Jan 1923
Date Out
-
History
A-37, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-38
C/N
-
Date In
Nov 1922
Date Out
Jun 1925
History
A-38, Pilot School Asch VI Gr, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-40
C/N
-
Date In
Jan 1923
Date Out
-
History
A-40, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-41
C/N
*
Date In
Mar 1923
Date Out
Aug 1928
History
A-41, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem, crashed at Wevelgem on 28 May 1928.
A-43
C/N
-
Date In
Jun 1923
Date Out
-
History
A-43, Pilot School Wevelgem, 2/I/2Aé (Thistle), equipped with a Renard engine in 1929/30.
A-44
C/N
-
Date In
Oct 1923
Date Out
Nov 1925
History
A-44, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-45
C/N
-
Date In
Oct 1923
Date Out
Feb 1926
History
A-45, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-47
C/N
-
Date In
Mar 1923
Date Out
Dec 1929
History
A-47, Pilot School Asch, School Wevelgem
A-48
C/N
-
Date In
Mar 1924
Date Out
-
History
A-48, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-49
C/N
*
Date In
Apr 1924
Date Out
Feb 1926
History
A-49, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-50
C/N
-
Date In
1925
Date Out
-
History
A-50, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-51
C/N
-
Date In
Mar 1924
Date Out
-
History
A-51, Sabca built, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem, used for aerobatic presentations by pilot Van Damme.
A-53
C/N
-
Date In
Mar 1924
Date Out
-
History
A-53, Sabca built, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem, equipped with a Renard 120 hp engine
A-54
C/N
-
Date In
Mar 1924
Date Out
-
History
A-54, Sabca built, Pilot School Asch, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-58
C/N
-
Date In
Mar 1924
Date Out
-
History
A-58, Sabca built, IV/1Aé (Recce Evere), Pilot School Wevelgem
A-66
C/N
-
Date In
Nov 1924
Date Out
Oct 1927
History
A-66, Sabca built, I/2Aé (Schaffen), Pilot School Wevelgem, crashed near Wevelgem (?) on 1 Sep 1927.
A-68
C/N
-
Date In
Sep 1925
Date Out
-
History
A-68, Sabca built, II/2 Aé (Nivelles), Pilot School Wevelgem
A-69
C/N
-
Date In
Sep 1925
Date Out
-
History
A-69, Sabca built, Pilot School Wevelgem
A-71
C/N
-
Date In
Apr 1926
Date Out
-
History
A-71, Sabca built, Pilot School Wevelgem, equipped with Rhone 120 hp engine.
A-73
C/N
-
Date In
Jan 1926
Date Out
-
History
A-73, Sabca built, Pilot School Wevelgem, equipped with Rhone 120 hp engine, equipped with Renard 120 hp, 7/III/1Aé (Mephisto)
A-74
C/N
-
Date In
Jan 1926
Date Out
-
History
A-74, Sabca built, Pilot School Wevelgem, II/3Aé, equipped with Rhone 120 hp engine.
A-75
C/N
-
Date In
Dec 1926
Date Out
-
History
A-75, Sabca built, Pilot School Wevelgem, equipped with Rhone 120 hp engine, 7/II Group (Mephisto).
A-76
C/N
-
Date In
Jan 1927
Date Out
-
History
A-76, Sabca built, Pilot School Wevelgem, equipped with Rhone 120 hp engine
A-77
C/N
-
Date In
Apr 1927
Date Out
-
History
A-77, Sabca built, Pilot School Wevelgem, equipped with Rhone 120 hp engine
More individual aircraft will be added in the future.