Avro 643 Cadet

The Avro 643 Cadet was the improved production version of the Avro Cadet, a single-engined British biplane trainer built in the 1930s as a smaller, cheaper to run civil relative of the Avro Tutor. It replaced the original Avro 631 Cadet in production in September 1934 and was distinguished by a revised rear fuselage with a raised rear seat, while keeping the 135 hp Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major 1 engine of the earlier model. Only eight aircraft of this exact version were built; it then formed the basis of the more powerful Avro 643 Mk II Cadet with a 150 hp Genet Major 1A, of which 61 were built, including 34 for the Royal Australian Air Force. The Cadet family was used mainly by flying schools and air forces rather than private owners, because it cost more to run than rival light aeroplanes and could not fold its wings for storage. Several airframes survive in Australia, Ireland, Portugal and the United States.