Avro York
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| Type 685 York | |
|---|---|
 LV633 "Ascalon," Churchill's personal aircraft. |
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| Type | Airliner |
| Manufacturer | Avro |
| Designed by | Roy Chadwick |
| Maiden flight | 5 July 1942 |
| Introduced | 1944 |
| Status | Two examples on display |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force BOAC; BSAA; Skyways |
| Produced | 1943-1946 |
| Number built | 259 (including prototypes) |
| Developed from | Avro Lancaster |
The Avro York was a British transport aircraft derived from the Second World War Avro Lancaster bomber that was used in both military and airliner roles between 1943 and 1964.
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[edit] Design and development
Designated the Avro type 685, development began in 1941. The design paired a new "squared-off" fuselage with the wings, tail and undercarriage of the Lancaster bomber. Production was undertaken by Avro with the hopes of sales to both the RAF and in the postwar civil airliner market.
The prototype, LV626, was assembled by Avro's experimental flight department at Manchester's Ringway Airport and first flew there on 5 July 1942. It had initially been fitted with the twin fins and rudders of the Lancaster, but the increased fuselage side area forward of the wing compared to the Lancaster necessitated fitting a third central fin to retain adequate control and directional stability. Initial assembly and testing of production Yorks, mainly for the RAF, was at Ringway, later Yeadon (Leeds) and Woodford (Cheshire).[1]
One pattern aircraft was built at Victory Aircraft in Canada, but no further orders were received. Victory tooled up for 30 of those aircraft and built parts for five with one ultimately being completed about the time the war came to an end.
[edit] Operational history
The first civilian York (G-AGJA), initially built for the RAF as MW103, was delivered from Ringway to British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) in February 1944. One of the prototypes LV633, named Ascalon, became the VIP transport and flying conference room for Winston Churchill; other VIP Yorks were provided for the use of Lord Mountbatten when Viceroy of India, the Duke of Gloucester when Governor-General of Australia, and South African leader Jan Smuts. In RAF Transport Command service, the York was used on the England-India route.
Production orders included 50 civilian Yorks and 208 military versions to the RAF - many of which subsequently passed into civilian hands. During the Berlin Airlift, Yorks flew over 58,000 sorties - close to half of the British contribution, alongside the Douglas Dakota and Handley Page Hastings.
In the postwar years, BOAC used Yorks on their Cairo to Durban service, which had previously been worked by Shorts flying-boats.[2] They were also used by British South American Airways and many private passenger and freight airlines.
When the Distant Early Warning Line (Dew Line) was being constructed in Canada in the late 1950s, the Avro York was introduced as a freighter by Associated Airways. At least one of the Yorks, CF-HAS, was retained, and was in service with Transair as late as 1961.
[edit] Specials
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The Avro York was, like its stablemates, the Lancaster and Lincoln, a very versatile aircraft; one York, LV633 "Ascalon", was custom-built as the personal transport of Prime Minister Winston Churchill. Ascalon was to be fitted with a special pressurised "egg" so that VIP passengers could be carried without their having to use an oxygen mask. Made of aluminium alloy it had eight perspex windows to reduce claustrophobia. It also had a telephone, instrument panel, drinking facilities and an ashtray with room for cigars, thermos flask, newspapers, books. Testing at RAE Farnborough found the "egg" to work satisfactorily. However, Avro said it was too busy with the new Lancaster IV (Avro Lincoln) work so it was never actually installed in the Ascalon. It was considered for installation in the successor aircraft, a Douglas C-54B but the contractor Armstrong Whitworth decided it was impractical and the project was shelved. The whereabouts of "Churchill's Egg" is currently unknown.[3].
MW104 "Endeavour" flew to Australia in 1945 to become the personal aircraft of HRH The Duke of Gloucester, Australia's then Governor-General. It was operated by the Governor-General's Flight and was the Royal Australian Air Force's only York.
Another aeroplane was fitted out as a "flying office" for Lord Mountbatten, then C-in-C South East Asia Command. During its first major overhaul at Manchester (Ringway) in 1945, the aeroplane was re-painted a light duck egg green, a shade intended to cool down the aeroplane, instead of its former normal camouflage colour scheme.
[edit] Variants
- York I
- Four-engined civilian transport aircraft.
- York C.I
- Four-engined military transport aircraft for the RAF.
- York C.II
- One of the prototype York aircraft was fitted with four Bristol Hercules XVI radial piston engines.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Military operators
- Royal Air Force
- No. 24 Squadron RAF
- No. 40 Squadron RAF
- No. 51 Squadron RAF
- No. 59 Squadron RAF
- No. 99 Squadron RAF
- No. 206 Squadron RAF
- No. 232 Squadron RAF
- No. 242 Squadron RAF
- No. 246 Squadron RAF
- No. 511 Squadron RAF
[edit] Civil operators
[edit] SurvivorsWhile there are no flying examples of the Avro York, there are two complete examples on display. Currently at the RAF Museum Cosford Collection is Avro 685 York C1, TS798 (cn 1223) which was initially intended for the RAF as TS798, but quickly passed to BOAC as G-AGNV and later to Skyways. It was previously preserved at Skyfame (Staverton), Brize Norton and Shawbury. Another example on public display is held at the Imperial War Museum Duxford: Avro 685 York C1, G-ANTK is an ex-Dan-Air London aircraft. This airframe was built at Yeadon, near Leeds, in January 1946 and entered RAF service with No. 242 Squadron RAF as MW232 that August. It joined the fleet of Allied aircraft engaged in the Berlin Airlift and in May 1947, the York moved to 511 Squadron at Lyneham, where it served until May 1950 when it was used by Fairey Aviation for flight refuelling research. It then retired to 12 Maintenance Unit at Kirkbride for storage prior to disposal. In July 1954, MW232 became G-ANTK with Dan-Air and it was used for freight work until its retirement in May 1964. It was ferried to Lasham and used as a bunk house by the local Air Scouts until 1974. The Dan-Air preservation group took it over and began to restore the aircraft in their spare time. In the mid-80s, Dan-Air realised the impracticality of the restoration work being undertaken and began negotiations with The Duxford Aviation Society. In May 1986, the aircraft was dismantled and on 23 May made its journey to Duxford on seven low loaders. [edit] Specifications (Avro York)Data from Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II[4] General characteristics
Performance
[edit] See alsoRelated development Comparable aircraft Related lists [edit] References[edit] Notes
[edit] Bibliography
[edit] External links
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