The Avro 571 Buffalo was designed by Avro as a private venture to meet the requirements of Air Ministry Specification 21/23, for a two-seat torpedo bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, intended to replace the Blackburn Dart.

[1] It was evaluated against the Blackburn Ripon and the Handley Page Harrow, but was found to have poor handling and was therefore rejected.

[2] The prototype was therefore rebuilt as the Avro 572 Buffalo II, with new, all-metal wings, fitted with controllable Handley Page slats and a more powerful engine.

[2] After it failed to be ordered into production, the Buffalo was converted into a seaplane in 1928 for the Air Ministry.

As serial number N239, it was used for trials at the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment at Felixstowe.