The Avro York was a British transport aircraft developed by Avro during the Second World War. The design was derived from the Avro Lancaster heavy bomber, several sections of the York and Lancaster being identical. Due to the importance of Lancaster production, York output proceeded slowly until 1944, after which a higher priority was placed upon transport aircraft.

The York saw service in military and civilian roles with various operators between 1943 and 1964. In civilian service, British South American Airways (BSAA) and British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) were the largest users of the type. In military service, large numbers of Yorks were used for air-supply missions during the Berlin Blockade 1948–49. A number of the type were used as air transports of heads of state and government; VIPs who flew on Yorks included British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, French General Charles de Gaulle, Governor-General of India Lord Mountbatten and South African Prime Minister Jan Smuts.

Development

Origins

During 1941, Avro elected to begin development of a new civil-orientated transport aircraft.

Roy Chadwick, Avro's chief designer, had foreseen a need for a transport aircraft that was powered by four engines and would be capable of flying for long distances. The design, which was designated as the Type 685, had its origins in the company's then-newly developed four-engined bomber, the Avro Lancaster, which had made its first flight only earlier that year. By the end of 1943, only the four prototypes and three production aircraft had been manufactured, but production was scheduled to rise to three aircraft per month throughout 1944. Early production Yorks were principally used as a VIP transport aircraft; notably, the third prototype, LV633 being luxuriously fitted out and becoming the personal transport of Winston Churchill.

thumb|left|RAF York

On 25 March 1943, RAF Transport Command had been formed, which soon established a clear requirement for the strengthening of Britain's air transport forces; the York became the first British aircraft to be used in quantity by Transport Command. The first Royal Air Force (RAF) production order consisted of 200 aircraft; while a further 100 were ordered under a second order placed shortly after. This aircraft would later be purchased by Skyways Ltd. Each engine drove a three-bladed constant-speed fully feathering metal propeller, manufactured by de Havilland Hydromatic. The fuselage was of a semi-monocoque construction, complete with a flush-rivetted skin, and was built in five separate sections.

In a typical passenger configuration, the York could accommodate a 21-seat three-abreast arrangement split between the fore and aft cabins. The main entrance door was set between the two cabins, along with cloakrooms and lavatory and a kitchen and baggage hold was located at the rear of the cabin. Emergency exits were present in the ceiling of each cabin. Passengers were subjected to very noisy conditions due to the aircraft's engines,

Operational history

Military

thumb|BOAC York operating a freight schedule at [[London Heathrow Airport|Heathrow in 1953]]

In 1945, No. 511 Squadron became the first squadron to be fully equipped with Yorks; eventually a total of ten squadrons of RAF Transport Command were wholly or partially equipped with the York. the type had borne 43% of the British contribution, alongside other aircraft such as the Douglas Dakota and Handley Page Hastings. Following the end of the Airlift, the RAF retired much of its York fleet; around 40 of these were sold onto civilian operators while many others were scrapped due to the onset of corrosion. During the 1950s, numerous military contracts were issued to civilian York operators.

In 1954, the French Aéronavale procured five Yorks from the British Air Ministry and operated the type at Le Bourget for around a year.

Civilian

thumb|[[Air Charter Limited|Air Charter York taking off from London Stansted in 1955 on a trooping flight to the Suez Canal Zone]]

On 21 February 1944, the first civilian York (G-AGJA), initially built for the RAF as MW103, received its airworthiness certificate, thus clearing its delivery shortly thereafter to BOAC. Early BOAC operations were conducted in close collaboration with No. 216 Group RAF; this led to some early Yorks bearing a confusing combination of both civilian registrations and military external markings. The majority of BOAC's York fleet were fully furnished passenger airliners or as combi passenger-cargo aircraft. Other airlines also adopted the type, such as its use by British South American Airways (BSAAC) on their routes to the Caribbean and South America, prior to their merger into BOAC in September 1949. BOAC's Yorks continued to operate freight schedules until November 1957 when the last example was withdrawn. After disposal by BOAC and BSAAC, their York fleets were purchased by several UK independent airlines and operated on both passenger and freight flights; these service often included long-distance trooping flights to Jamaica and other UK garrisons. The largest York operator out of the independents was Skyways. In 1964, the last Yorks were retired from service by Skyways and Dan Air.

When the Distant Early Warning Line (Dew Line) was being constructed in Canada in the late 1950s, the York was introduced as a freighter by Associated Airways to support the initiative, these being used later in ordinary airline service. 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, the enclosure had eight perspex windows to reduce claustrophobia. It also had a telephone, an instrument panel, drinking facilities and an ashtray with room for cigars, a thermos flask, newspapers and books. Testing at RAE Farnborough found the "egg" to work satisfactorily. Avro said it was too busy with the new Lancaster IV (Avro Lincoln) work so it was never installed in 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 not known.

MW140, Endeavour, flew to Australia in 1945 to become the personal aircraft of the Duke of Gloucester, Australia's Governor-General. It was operated by the Governor-General's Flight from 1945 to 1947; it was the Royal Australian Air Force's only York.

;York C.I

:Four-engined military transport aircraft for the RAF, 208 built by Avro and one by Victory Aircraft.

;

  • (FAMA)
  • Aerolíneas Argentinas

;

  • Arctic Wings
  • Associated Airways
  • Maritime Central Airways
  • Pacific Western Airlines
  • Spartan Air Services
  • Transair (Canada)

;

  • Persian Air Services
  • Middle East Airlines
  • Trans Mediterranean Airways

;

  • South African Airways - operated Yorks leased from BOAC as stopgap until taking delivery of DC-4s and Avro Tudors
  • Tropic Airways
  • BOAC
  • British South American Airways
  • Dan-Air
  • Eagle Aviation
  • Hunting-Clan Air Transport
  • Scottish Airlines
  • Skyways
  • Surrey Flying Services

Aircraft on display

While there are no flying examples of the Avro York, there are two complete examples on display in the United Kingdom. Both aircraft were initially allocated to the RAF, but were used by civil operators for most of their flying careers; both aircraft were issued with military and civil registrations.

;Avro York TS798, G-AGNV

thumb|right|Avro 685 York C1, TS798 (G-AGNV) at the RAF Museum Cosford, 2020

Avro 685 York C1, TS798 (cn 1223), now part of the collection of the Royal Air Force Museum Midlands, Cosford. This aircraft was completed in October 1945 and intended for the RAF as TS798, but quickly passed to BOAC and given the civil registration G-AGNV. In BOAC service it flew routes in South Asia and Africa until 1950. In 1955 it was acquired by Skyways, who operated it until 1964.

;Avro York MW232, G-ANTK

thumb|right|Avro York G-ANTK at the Imperial War Museum Duxford, temporarily outside before being moved to a new hangar (2006)

Displayed 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 242 Squadron 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 Airfield and used as a bunk house by the 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-1980s, 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.

Accidents and incidents

The Avro York had 87 hull-loss accidents or incidents with the following list of accidents involving fatalities and major hull-losses. This information is primarily derived from: Piston Engine Airliner Production List (1991) and Aviation Safety Network.:

  • 14 November 1944: An RAF York crashed near Grenoble, France, killing all ten aboard, including Air Chief Marshal Trafford Leigh-Mallory.
  • 2 February 1945: An RAF York crashed off Lampedusa Island.
  • 29 December 1945: An RAF York crashed and was destroyed by fire near New Milton, Hampshire, England.
  • 11 April 1946: An RAF York crashed and burned on takeoff from RAF Woodbridge, one of the six crew on board was killed.
  • 7 September 1946: A British South American Airways York Star Leader on a flight from London to Buenos Aires via Lisbon, Bathurst, Natal, Rio de Janeiro and Montevideo, crashed shortly after takeoff from Bathurst, The Gambia. The captain lost control of the aircraft as it was climbing. The accident killed all 24 passengers and crew on board.<!--Reference with wrong departure airport-->
  • 6 October 1946: An RAF York crashed in the Bay of Bengal.
  • 20 October 1946: An RAF York crashed on takeoff from Dum Dum, Calcutta, India.
  • 20 November 1946: An RAF York crashed in the desert south of Helwan, Egypt.
  • 23 December 1946: A Flota Aérea Mercante Argentina York crashed into a mountain 31&nbsp;km from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  • 18 March 1947: An RAF York crashed and burnt out near Negombo Town after departure from Negombo, Ceylon.
  • 13 April 1947: British South American Airways York Star Speed crashed on landing at Dakar, Senegal.
  • 1 July 1947: An RAF York crashed after overshooting at RAF Oakington.
  • 16 July 1947: A BOAC York crashed near Basra, Iraq.
  • 17 November 1947: An RAF York crashed after overshooting at RAF Dishforth, Yorkshire.
  • 16 February 1948: An RAF York was damaged beyond repair during a landing at RAF Hullavington.
  • 4 July 1948: An RAF York collided with a Scandinavian Airlines System DC-6 over Northwood, London, killing all seven passengers and crew on the York and 32 passengers and crew on the DC-6. See 1948 Northwood mid-air collision.
  • 19 September 1948: An RAF York crashed on takeoff from Wunstorf, West Germany.
  • 5 January 1949: British South American Airways York Star Venture crashed at Caravellos Bay, Brazil.
  • 15 March 1949: A Skyways York crashed on approach to Gatow, (southwest of West Berlin), West Germany.
  • 2 February 1953: A Skyways York crashed into the sea off Newfoundland, Canada after an SOS was sent by the pilots. The wreck of the aircraft was never found; all 39 passengers and crew died.
  • 26 June 1954: A Skyways York crashed landed at Kyritz, East Germany.
  • 26 May 1955: An Associated Airways York was damaged beyond repair after hitting an obstacle on takeoff from Edmonton Municipal Airport, Canada.
  • 29 September 1955: An Associated Airways York was damaged beyond repair after ditching into the Thoa River near Yellowknife, North West Territories, Canada.
  • 18 February 1956: A Scottish Airlines York crashed at Malta due to pilot error, killing all 50 passengers and crew. See 1956 Scottish Airlines Malta air disaster
  • 30 April 1956: A Scottish Airlines York crashed on takeoff from Stansted Airport, Essex.
  • 26 September 1956: A Maritime Central Airways York was damaged beyond repair in a forced landing in Quebec, Canada.
  • 8 January 1957: A Transair (Canada) York was destroyed by fire after crash landing on a lake in Hudson Bay, Canada.
  • 25 June 1957: A Pacific Western Airlines York was damaged beyond repair after an accident at Cape Perry, North West Territories, Canada.
  • 23 December 1957: A cargo Scottish Airlines York crashed near Stansted on approach to the airport, killing all four crew.
  • 25 May 1958: A Dan-Air York crashed at Guragon, Punjab, India.
  • 29 September 1958: A Middle East Airlines York went missing over the Mediterranean Sea somewhere between Beirut and Rome.
  • 15 March 1963: A Trans Mediterranean Airways York crashed seven miles southeast of Karaj, Iran.

Specifications (Avro York)

thumb|right|Avro York

See also

Footnotes

References

Citations

Bibliography

  • Avro York on display at RAF Museum, Cosford
  • "1,000,000th Ton!" a 1949 Flight advertisement for the York
  • "Flying with Prudence" a 1946 instruction film made to instil in RAF flying personnel the importance of flight safety in peacetime.