Avro York
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Type 685 York | |
|---|---|
 |
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| LV633 "Ascalon," Churchill's personal aircraft. | |
| Type | Airliner |
| Manufacturer | Avro |
| Designed by | Roy Chadwick |
| Maiden flight | 5 July 1942 |
| Introduced | 1944 |
| Status | two examples on display |
| Primary user | BOAC |
| Produced | 1943-1946 |
| Number built | 258 |
| Developed from | Avro Lancaster |
The Avro York was a British transport aircraft 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 twin fins and rudders, but the increased fuselage size necessitated fitting a third central fin to retain adequate control. Initial assembly and testing of production Yorks 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 actually built parts for five with one ultimately being completed about the time the war came to an end.
[edit] Operational service
The first civilian York (G-AGJA) was delivered to British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) in 1944. One of the prototypes became a flying conference room for Winston Churchill - it was named Ascalon and flew Churchill to the Yalta Conference in 1945. Other 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 C-47 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
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.
More interestingly,"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, 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" are presently unknown.
[From an article in Aeroplane Monthly, January 1983].
Two further Yorks are of note: 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] Survivors
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.
[edit] Variants
- York Mk I : Four-engined civilian transport aircraft.
- York C.Mk I : Four-engined military transport aircraft for the RAF.
- York C.Mk II : One Avro York aircraft was fitted with four Bristol Hercules XVI radial piston engines.
[edit] Civil Operators
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[edit] Military Operators
Australia: Royal Australian Air Force
France
South Africa: South African Air Force
United Kingdom: Royal Air Force
[edit] Specifications (Avro York)
Data from Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II[3]
General characteristics
- Crew: 5 (two pilots, navigator, wireless operator, cabin steward)
- Capacity: 56 passengers
- Length: 78 ft 6 in (23.9 m)
- Wingspan: 102 ft 0 in (31.1 m)
- Height: 16 ft 6 in (5 m)
- Wing area: 1,297 ft² (120.5 m²)
- Empty weight: 40,000 lb (18,150 kg)
- Loaded weight: 65,000 lb (29,480 kg)
- Powerplant: 4× Rolls-Royce Merlin 24 liquid-cooled V12 engines, 1,280 hp (950 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 298 mph (258 knots, 479 km/h) at 21,000 ft (6,400 m)
- Range: 3,000 mi (2,600 nm, 4,800 km)
- Service ceiling: 23,000 ft (7,010 m)
- Rate of climb: 820 ft/min (4.2 m/sec)
- Wing loading: 54 lb/ft² (260 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.079 hp/lb (130 W/kg)
[edit] References
[edit] Related content
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Comparable aircraft
Designation sequence
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