Avro York

Infobox Aircraft
name=Type 685 York


caption= LV633 "Ascalon," Churchill's personal aircraft.
type=Airliner
manufacturer=Avro
designer=Roy Chadwick
first flight=5 July 1942
introduced=1944
retired=
status=Two examples on display
primary user=Royal Air Force
more users=BOAC; BSAA; Skyways Ltd
produced=1943-1946
number built=259 (including prototypes)
unit cost=
variants with their own articles=
developed from = Avro LancasterThe 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.

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). [http://www.rafmuseum.org/cosford/collections/aircraft/avro-york-c1.cfm Avro York C1] Royal Air Force Museum. Retrieved: 24 October 2006.]

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.

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. [http://www.jaapteeuwen.com/ww2aircraft/html%20pages/avro%20685%20york.htm "Avro 685 York".] British Aircraft of World War II. Retrieved: 24 October 2006.] They were also used by British South American Airways and by many independent airlines on both passenger and freight flights.

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.

pecials

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. [ "Aeroplane Monthly", January 1983] .

"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 York (MW102) was fitted out as a "flying office" for Lord Mountbatten, then C-in-C South East Asia Command. During its first major overhaul by Avro at Manchester (Ringway) in 1945, the aircraft was re-painted a light duck egg green, a shade intended to cool down the aeroplane, instead of its former normal camouflage colour scheme.

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.

Operators

Military operators

;AUS
*Royal Australian Air Force
**Governor-General's Flight RAAF;FRA
*French Air Force;flag|South Africa|1928
*South African Air Force;UK
*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

Civil operators

;ARG
* Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina;flag|Lebanon
*Middle East Airlines;flag|South Africa|1928
*South African Airways;UK
*Air Charter
*BOAC
*British South American Airways
*Dan Air
*Eagle Aviation
*Hunting Clan Air Transport
*Scottish Airlines
*Skyways
*Surrey Flying Services

urvivors

While 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.

pecifications (Avro York)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II [Ref Jane's|The Avro Type 685 York|105]

crew=5 (two pilots, navigator, wireless operator, cabin steward)
capacity=56 passengers
length main=78 ft 6 in
length alt=23.9 m
span main=102 ft 0 in
span alt=31.1 m
height main=16 ft 6 in
height alt=5 m
area main=1,297 ft²
area alt=120.5 m²
empty weight main=40,000 lb
empty weight alt=18,150 kg
loaded weight main=65,000 lb
loaded weight alt=29,480 kg

payload main=20,000 lb
payload alt=9100 kg

engine (prop)=Rolls-Royce Merlin 24
type of prop=liquid-cooled V12 engines
number of props=4
power main=1,280 hp
power alt=950 kW

max speed main=298 mph
max speed alt=258 knots, 479 km/h
max speed more=at 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
range main=3,000 mi
range alt=2,600 nm, 4,800 km
ceiling main=23,000 ft
ceiling alt=7,010 m
climb rate main=820 ft/min
climb rate alt=4.2 m/s
loading main=54 lb/ft²
loading alt=260 kg/m²
power/mass main=0.079 hp/lb
power/mass alt=130 W/kg

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Avro Lancaster
* Avro Lancastrian
similar aircraft=
* Armstrong Whitworth Ensign
lists=
* List of aircraft of the RAF
* List of airliners

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Hannah, Donald. "The Avro York (Aircraft in Profile number 168)". Leatherhead, Surrey, UK: Profile Publications Ltd., 1967.
* Holmes, Harry. "Avro - The History of an Aircraft Company". Second edition. Crowood Press, Marlborough, 2004. ISBN 1-86126-651-0
* Jackson, A.J. "Avro Aircraft since 1908, 2nd edition". London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1990. ISBN 0-85177-834-8.

External links

* [http://www.bamuseum.com/40-50.html British Airways Museum images]