Avro's chief designer, Roy Chadwick, made a redesign of the Lancaster bomber first flown in January of 1941. The York first prototype (LV626) was flown from Ringway on July 5, 1942, only 5 months after Chadwick's drawing was given to the experimental department. Wing, tail, engines and landing gear were of the Lancaster, the fuselage was a completely new design.
Four prototypes were built. Number 3 (LV633 named Ascalon) became Winston Churchill's personal flying conference room, a central fin was added and it had fewer square windows compared to long row of circular windows on all other aircraft. The central fin became standard on all further Yorks. The first was converted late 1943 to the only C. Mk.II produced, with Bristol Hercules IV radials and a central fin.
The transport was fitted for passenger, freight, or combined duties. In 1943 the production started and the bulk (208) went to the RAF, although many of these ended in civil service. The last aircraft was completed in April 1948, totaling 258 aircraft, including the 4 prototypes.
Transport
Four 1,620 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin T.24 in-line
102 ft (31.09 m)
78 ft 6 in (23.93 m)
17 ft 10 in (5.44 m)
1,297 sq.ft (120.49 sq.m)
45,000 lb (20,412 kg)
70,000 lb (31,752 kg)
210 mph (338 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,048 m)
3,100 mls (4,988 km)