A201’s Restoration

As mentioned on the “Existing Examples” page, my company Blue Swallow Aircraft, LLC acquired the last unrestored Avro 504 project in the World in November of 2011. Here are some pictures of the plane as it progresses with my restoration/build.

A201 fuselage as seen a little while ago. The undercarriage parts are all complete and put away as well as all 110 wing ribs and much of the interior fittings.
Machining steps for Avro 504 A201’s aileron pulleys. May 2021.
Central aileron control pulley finished and awaiting installation in A201’s fuselage.
One of two seats and the seat rails waiting to be installed.
Avro 504 A201’s undercarriage being fitted.
The iconic Avro 504 ski designed to reduce student pilots from nosing the plane over and damaging their machine.
Avro 504 parts awaiting installation after being painted black. Photo by Hugh Martin
Original Avro 504 drawing that use to reside on my office wall. Photo by Hugh Martin
Avro 504 finished spruce and ply stations for the top of the fuselage Photo by Hugh Martin
Avro 504 A201’s elevators and horizontal stabilizers all finished and hanging in my office for safe keeping.
The iconic “comma” rudder so characteristic of all variants of the Avro 504 built between 1913 and 1920’s.
Casting pattern on the left and finished cast Avro 504 axle covers made by my company, Blue Swallow Aircraft, LLC.
Original drawing of the 504’s rudder bar foot rest and the casting pattern I had 3D printed in order to cast the 4 foot rested I needed for A201.
One of the finished rudder bar foot rests awaiting installation.
Just a few of the many parts that had to be made to assemble the Avro 504 A201’s fusealge. Many of the original parts that came with the project were used as patterns if they were considered non-airworthy.
110 wing ribs in the four main plane panels for the 504’s wings.
Blue Swallow Aircraft made Smiths & Sons British WWI inclinometers for the Avro 504 cockpits.
Just a tiny smattering of the hundreds of SolidWorks drawings created for the Avro 504 project.