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| The York transport aircraft was developed from the Lancaster bomber. The original prototype first flew in July 1942. The type was intended as an interim transport, pending completion of newer types designed primarily for transport duties. To expedite production the York was designed to incorporate the wings, engines, landing gear and tail unit of the Lancaster. A radically new all-metal square-section large capacity fuselage was introduced. The first prototype was converted to the one-off Mk 2 York, with Bristol Hercules radial engines; and the third prototype Ascalon became Churchill's wartime transport. Production by Avro during 1945-48 included 208 for the world trunk routes of RAF Transport Command. Civil Yorks were built for BOAC (25), British South American Airways (12), Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina (5) and Skyways (3). One additional York was built by Victory Aircraft, Canada.
Yorks of BOAC, independent operators and the RAF flew 3,000 hours during the Berlin Airlift of 1948-49. RAF and BOAC Yorks were withdrawn from service in 1957. Surplus Yorks were used by airlines in the Near East, South Africa and Canada and by the French Navy.
| ENGINE | 4 x Rolls-Royce Merlin XX, 954kW |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 31115 kg | 68597 lb |
| Empty weight | 19069 kg | 42040 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 31.09 m | 102 ft 0 in |
| Length | 23.93 m | 79 ft 6 in |
| Height | 5.44 m | 18 ft 10 in |
| Wing area | 120.42 m2 | 1296.19 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 480 km/h | 298 mph |
| Cruise speed | 338 km/h | 210 mph |
| Ceiling | 7010 m | 23000 ft |
| Range | 4345 km | 2700 miles |
 | A three-view drawing (800 x 676) |
| PETER DAVIES, e-mail, 04.03.2024 03:23 Pete Davies
I flew from Nicosia Cyprus (as a 12 year old with my mother) to Southend (I think) in 1956 on a Casualty Evacuation flight (CASAVAC) which we could hitch a ride on for free if there was space. I was in 'T' shirt and flip flops which I much regretted but the nurses plied us with blankets and also a tarpaulin as I seem to remember that water came in - could that be right? Anyway it was a very noisy and turbulent flight which gave me the usual sickness problems! re-fuelled in Malta I seem to remember reply |
| John Hancocks, e-mail, 30.01.2023 02:26 1950 aged 6 I flew on one of the last York flights to Lagos, Nigeria, this was via Tripoli (wartime damage to buildings still evident - bullet and shrapnel holes in the corrugated iron), then over sahara at low altitude in daylight to Kano, air pockets over desert were terrible. Arrival in Lagos, wreckage of Wellington bomber still lying alonside runway. reply | | W Griggs, 18.01.2021 07:45 I lived adjacent to the Edmonton Alberta city airport Mid 1950s ,Yorks coming and going daily to the DEW line. then one had problems on take off , and crashed into the Calder railroad yards, it was a horrific mess, the moment still stays with me 65 years later. i still hear th roar of the big Merlins in my mind!! reply | | Ian Mcilroy, e-mail, 27.04.2017 20:38 In 1956 as a member of 542 squadron C flt. we flew to RAAF Darwin and RAAF laverton Melbourne Australia in a Skyways York
G-AJGA the flight took 7 day's with a few unscheduled stops at Beirut and another Philipines due to some problems with the aircraft en route, we started from RAF Lyneham. reply | |
| | angela, e-mail, 12.02.2017 13:31 I flew in this plane in 1953 on test flight from stanstead airport, my father was one of the pilots. He died in1954 june 26th it crashed over germany with 3 crew , ironic as he flew through the war earning DFC .I was 9 at the time and remember it clearly In 1965 lwent for job at lydd airport and was surprised to see yorks flyingout I didnt want the job !! reply | | mike, e-mail, 10.07.2016 15:14 we flew out to singapore in an avro york when i was a kid i remember it took us 5 days and the bumpiest flight i ever flew in but the times in the cockpit with the pilot was great and took your mind off the constant apple smell and the sudden drops of air pockets reply |
| jackie pritchard, e-mail, 04.07.2016 08:08 I flew on an Avro York gagny this was in 1951 leaving Singapore and landing for over night stops in Ceylon, Bombay, Karachi, Iraq, malta, and finally England. This was a bare bones flight, the plane had seating of all descriptions old car seats coach seats you name it, we boarded wearing only our tropical uniform but had the sense thank goodness to carry our great coats. The plane was exactly the same as if being used for cargo no heating and the fuselage was clearly visible rivets and all, we half froze to death the steward was the navigator, the food was in little brown cardboard boxes complete with dry curled up meat and not forgetting a small wooden knife and fork. I often think about that journey and wonder if there are many left who were on that flight with me reply | | Mic shute, e-mail, 08.10.2015 10:15 I flow in a RAF York from eastlty airport Kenya to England in 1956,
My father was in the Britsh Army and was going to Carrick army base for on going training. reply | | Mark Newberry, e-mail, 19.08.2015 00:22 01305812185 For Chris Ray. Yes a model has been made of the Avro York and in BOAC livery too. Corgi limited edition,you may still be able to find one in the better model shops ,,, mine sits on the shelf next to the computor table here together with a Constelation and a DC3 all Corgi. reply | | Mark Newberry, e-mail, 19.08.2015 00:19 01305812185 For Chris Ray. Yes a model has been made of the Avro York and in BOAC livery too. Corgi limited edition,you may still be able to find one in the better model shops ,,, mine sits on the shelf next to the computor table here together with a Constelation and a DC3 all Corgi. reply | | Mark Newberry, e-mail, 17.08.2015 00:07 Newberry,I flew on an BOAC Avro York in the summer of 1950.My mother and I were going to Jos Nigeria to join my dad who was working there.We took off from Heathrow approx 1400 hrs arrive Tripoli Castle Benito? about midnight . Our seats were four around a table , and I remember being upset on take off seeing the flames coming from the Rolls Royce Merlin engines, we then crossed the desert and arrived at Kano about 10'00 hrs next morning.
I'm hopeing to get to Cosford this Summer to see if the York they have up there was an ex BOAC ? and check it's log book to see what it was doing in July 1950 ? reply | | Peter Long, e-mail, 02.02.2015 20:31 In 1953 I flew in a York of Scottish Aviation from the UK to Canada, with stops at Prestwick, Keflavik, and Goose Bay, for training with the RCAF reply | | Max Moscrop, e-mail, 24.10.2014 15:24 As a 7 year old I flew from nairobi to London .would this have been a york? I know the comet followed in the next year or 3. reply | | Max Moscrop, e-mail, 24.10.2014 15:24 Sorry meant to add this was 1948 reply | |
| | Max Moscrop, e-mail, 24.10.2014 13:55 Sorry meant to add this was 1948 reply | | Max Moscrop, e-mail, 24.10.2014 13:52 As a 7 year old I flew from nairobi to London .would this have been a york? I know the comet followed in the next year or 3. reply | | Dave Smith, e-mail, 19.09.2014 22:00 In Aug.'51,I & about 40 other APO's flew from Lyneham to Southern Rhodesia for flying training.Outbound York of,I think Lancashire Airways had o'night stops @ Malta,(refuel El Adam),Khartoum,Entebe & Livingstone.On by train to Bulawayo or Salisbury.A /c had just returned from Berlin airlift where everything had been removed to max. cargo so our seats were tubular framed canvas &little soundproofing so, to this day, I can hear the steady drone of 4 Merlins! But we were young & keen so accepted it.Back home 9 months later in a less "basic" York ,of Skyways I think, o'night in Nairobi & Benina. The Merlins never faltered once. reply |
| James I. Murdoch, e-mail, 06.05.2013 14:26 I flew in an Avro York from Stansted to Lagos in Nigeria in 1954 with stops at Tripoli and Kano. I think it took three days, it was an awful, noisy flight, I recall the vomit bags were used when air pockets were encountered. Quite an adventure for a youngster though! reply | | denis sutton, e-mail, 17.02.2012 22:08 I flew on this aircraft G-ANVO on the 10 /08 /1955 from standsted to cyprus (army). still have the pilots info to passengers form now. it was ' scottish airlines ' outward bound we blew an oil pipe on the inner port engine, returned to stansted for a 2 hr. repair then off for a 15.5 hr flight to Cyprus. corr. the noise of those Merlins rang in your ears for 24 hrs after arrival reply |
| Paul Willson, e-mail, 23.10.2011 03:57 I have a photograph of a YORK at Mont Joli Quebec circa 1956 when they were being used for DEWline construction in the Canadian north. reply |
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mike
My brother & I flew out to Kano on a York in 1947 & then on to Jos in a De Havilland Dove to visit our Parents. I was 11 years old & my brother 18months younger. We stopped in Tripoli for refuel. The flight was very noisy with the Merlin engines spitting fire & also very bumpy! We both made use of our sick bags! We departed from Heathrow & flew at around 10.000 ft I think as the aircraft was unpressurised so any higher you needed an oxygen mask.At Kano I remember a long horn being blown to announce our arrival! As young boys it was a great adventure & our first introduction to flying.
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