Avro York

The development of the Avro 685 York began in 1941 pennies designation " 685" type; under the direction of Roy Chadwick. Avro hoped to sell this plane with RAF like with various civil operators after the war. The plane was largely derived from the Avro Lancaster, of which it took again the wings, the train and the drift.

Prototype (LV626) was assembled by the experimental department of the airport of Ringway (Manchester) and took off for the first time on July 5th, 1942. It had initially been envisaged the assembly of a double drift, but the increase in volume of the fuselage required to adopt a solution with three drifts to guarantee a satisfactory yaw control. First Avro York were built in Ringway, then in Yeadon (Leeds) and Woodford (Cheshire).

A machine was assembled in the factories Victory Aircraft in Canada, but no order was followed from there. The construction of about thirty planes had been envisaged and finally, they are only spare parts for five machines which were built. It was finally assembled in Canada only one single plane, whereas the war touched at its end.

Operational service

First civil York (G-AGJA) was delivered to the company British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) in 1944.

One of the prototypes was converted into place of conference for Winston Churchill. This plane, baptized " Ascalon" is that which took along Churchill to the conference of Yalta in 1945. Other York were used in particular for Lord Mountbatten then viceroy of the Indies, with the duke of Gloucester whereas he was general governor for Australia (MW104 " Endeavor" - only York used by the Australian air forces) and with the leader South-African Jan Smuts. Within Command Transport of the RAF, it was used on the road of the Indies.

The total of the orders reaches 50 civil machines plus 208 military versions delivered to the RAF including one great number was exploited thereafter by civil operators. At the time of the airlift on Berlin, accomplished York more than 58.000 missions, which represents almost half of the English contribution, the other flights being assured mainly by C-47 and of Handley Page Hastings.

In the years according to war, the BOAC used of York on the line Cairo - Durban, in the past operated by the Shorts seaplanes. The plane was also used by British South American Airways like full private operators or for transport with freight.

When the advanced alarm system (Dew Line - Distant Early Warning Line) was established in Canada towards end of the year 50, Avro York was uses as transport of freight by Associated Airways. At least one of these planes (CF-HAS) was preserved and filled all kinds of missions until 1961.

Alternatives

York Mk I: Civil transport.
York C.Mk I: Military transport uses by the RAF.
York C.Mk II: A machine been driven by 4 radial engines Bristol-board Hercules XVI.

Civil operators

Air Charter.
BOAC.
British South American Airways.
daN Air.
Eagle Aviation.
Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina.
Hunting Clan Air Transport.
Scottish Airlines.
Skyways.
South African Airways.
Surrey Flying Services.

Military operators

Australia
Royal Australian Air Force.
France
South Africa.
South African Air Force.
the United Kingdom.
Royal Air Force.

Specifications

Scale: 31,1 m
Length: 23,9 m
Height: 5 m
wing Surface: 120,5 m ²
Wing load: 260 kg/m ²
Crew: 5 (2 pilots, navigator, radio, steward)
Capacity: 56 passengers
Tare weight: 18.150 kg
max. Weight: 29.480 kg
max. Speed: 479 km/h (258 nodes,) with 6.400m (21.000 feet)
Autonomy: 4.800 km (2.600 miles nautical)
practical Ceiling: 7.010 m (23.000 feet)
Rate of rise: 4,2 m/sec (820 feet per minute)
Driving: 4 V12 Rolls-Royce Merlin with 24 cylinders cooled by liquid
Puissance: 1.280 horses (950 kw) each one

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