Avro 685 York

History Brief, by Johan Visschedijk

September 18, 2003

Avro 685 York

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, totalling 258 aircraft, including the 4 prototypes.

685 York C. Mk.I Ron Dupas Collection

Specifications

Type:

Transport

Engine:

Four 1,620 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin in-line T.24

Span:

102 ft (31.09 m)

Length:

78 ft 6 in (23.93 m)

Height:

17 ft 10 in (5.44 m)

Wing area:

1,297 sq.ft (120.49 sq.m)

Empty Wt:

45,000 lb (20,412 kg)

Max T/O Wt:

70,000 lb (31,752 kg)

Cruise speed:

210 mph (338 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,048 m)

Range:

3,100 mls (4,988 km)

Models

685 York:

four prototypes

685 York C. Mk.I:

production version

685 York C. Mk.II:

first prototype re-engined with Bristol Hercules IV radials