Avro 701 Athena T.2    VR567

                               

                                     Only 15 Athena Mk. 2s were delivered to the RAF, since that force preferred the contemporary
                                     Boulton Paul Balliol.  Originally proposed as a prop-jet trainer, when the specs were changed,
                                     Avro redesigned the Athena to incorporate a 1,280 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 35, an engine which
                                     had a large inventory available.  The handful of Athenas were used by the Flying College at RAF
                                     Manby for armament training.