Avro 625 Avian (monoplane) G-AAYV at East Cowton.

This aeroplane was one of two Avro Avian monoplanes with every other Avian being built as bi-planes. This one, G-AAYV and one other, G-AAYW, were both entered into the Kings Cup 1930 Air Race. G-AAYV carried the race number 84 and was entered into the race by John Davenport Siddeley, Chairman of the A.V.Roe and Co. It was to be piloted by an Avro test pilot. The race was held on 5th July 1930 with the start and finish being at Hanworth and a 750 mile route to be flown that took pilots as far north as Newcastle. Checkpoints in the north of England of Manchester, Leeds (Sherburn in Elmet), Newcastle (Cramlington) and Hull (Hedon) were to be flown to before the route went back toward Hanworth. G-AAYV was in the last four of the eighty eight aeroplanes to take off. It appears to have flown rather slowly though reached Sherburn in Elmet. I have been unable to locate a newspaper report that states what happened other than the pilot is listed as retiring from the race before reaching Cramlington. For whatever reason, this aeroplane appears to have made a forced landing in the East Cowton / Pepper Arden area but crashed into a fence and sustained damage. The photograph shown above must show the crash scene because the race number is on the tail of the aeroplane. Following this incident this Avian appears to have been rebuilt but as a standard Avro 616 Avian bi-plane variant.

Pilot - F/O Frederick Basil Tomkins RAFO (19174).