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Avro 685 York

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For a description of the format and data included in Production Tables, see here.

Contents

Type Description
Projected Variants

Type Description

  • Type 685 York C.Mk.1
  • Civil and military transport aircraft based on Lancaster wings and tailplane fitted to a new fuselage, to Specifications C.1/42 to meet the requirements of OR.113 for a Military Transport and 19/44 to meet the requirements of OR.190 for an Interim Civil Transport. The fuselage was of a semi-monocoque construction, complete with a flush-rivetted skin, and was built in five separate sections. The increased fuselage side area forward of the wing compared to the Lancaster necessitated fitting a third central fin to retain adequate control and directional stability. The crew of 5 consisted of two pilots, a navigator, wireless operator and cabin steward; 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. Four 1620 h.p. Rolls-Royce Merlin 22 (Military aircraft) or 502 (Civil aircraft) powerplants.
  • Type 685 York C.Mk.2
  • As C.Mk.1 with four 1650 h.p. Bristol Hercules VI powerplants.
  • Type 685 York C.Mk.3
  • As C.Mk.1 with modified cabin floor for R.C.A.F. Packard Merlin 38 powerplants.

Type 685 York C.Mk.1 Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Range Service Ceiling
102 ft 78 ft 6 in 16 ft 6 in 1205 sq ft 42040 lb 68000 lb 233 mph/ 202 kn 298 mph/ 259 kn 3000 mi 26000 ft
31.09 m 23.93 m 5.03 m 111.95 m2 19069 kg 30844 kg 375 km/h 480 km/h 4828 km 7925 m

Projected Variants

  • Type 685B
  • Long range flying boat transport using York wing and tail. Four 1280 h.p. Rolls-Royce Merlin XX powerplants.

Production Tables Index

Type 685 York - Military
Type 685 York - Military Exports
Type 685 York - Civil

Type 685 York - Military
Serial Range C/n Type Batch
Qty		 Conv. Canc'd Notes
 4 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Ringway, Manchester, to contract Acft/2087, Works Order Exp 134. Delivered between July 1942 and April 1944.
 LV626    C.Mk.1  1  (1)    Initially fitted with twin fins and rudders. Converted to the sole C.Mk.2.
 LV629      1      Originally intended as C.Mk.2, but produced as C.Mk.1.
 LV633      1      Prime Ministers transport, configured as VVIP, named 'Avalon'.
 LV639      1      Fitted for parachute dropping and glider towing.
 200 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Ringway, Manchester except as noted, to Contract Acft/2429, Requisition 4/E11/42, Avro Works Order 8670. Delivered between November 1943 and
 April 1948. All aircraft configured as Long Range Freighter (LRF) unless noted. See note 1 for definition of configurations.
 MW100 - MW149    C.Mk.1  50      MW100 configured as VVIP, MW101 and MW102, MW107 configured as VIP.
 MW107 delivered directly to SAAF.
 MW103, MW104, MW106, MW108 - MW129 configured as FCP.
 MW103, MW108, MW113, MW121 and MW129 diverted directly to BOAC and not delivered to the RAF.
 MW161 - MW210      50      MW193, MW198, MW199, MW201, MW05, MW206, MW208 - MW210 built at Yeadon.
 MW194, MW197, MW200, MW204, MW207 built at Ringway but completed at Woodford.
 MW195, MW196, MW202, MW203 built at Yeadon of Ringway components.
 MW169, MW173, MW178, MW186, MW190, MW193, MW196 - MW199, 201, MW204, MW206,
 MW208, MW209 configured as PCF.
 MW223 - MW272      50      All built at Yeadon except MW229, MW236, MW242, MW262, MW267, MW272 built at Woodford.
 MW224, MW226, MW227, MW229, MW230, MW233, MW236, MW272 configured as PCF.
 MW284 - MW333      50      MW320 was diverted directly to Skyways and not delivered to the RAF.
 MW285, MW287, MW289, MW290, MW292, MW293, MW296, MW297, MW306 - MW313, MW324
 built at Yeadon. All the rest built at Woodford (MW314 using Yeadon built components).
 MW291 - MW293, MW295, MW296, MW298, MW300, MW301, MW303, MW304, MW310 - MW333
 configured as PCF.
 100 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Woodford, Manchester, to Contract Acft/2429, Requisition 4/E11/42, Avro Works Order 8670/7. 8 delivered between October 1947 and April, 1948, the
 remainder cancelled. All aircraft configured as Passenger Cum Freighter (PCF). See note 1 for definition of configurations.
 PE101 - PE108    C.Mk.1  8      
 PE109 - PE129          21  
 PE146 - PE191          46  
 PE224 - PE248          25  
 150 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Yeadon, to contract Acft/4267. Cancelled.
 TJ720 - TJ762    C.Mk.1      43  
 TJ777 - TJ807          31  
 TJ820 - TJ866          47  
 TJ881 - TJ909          29  
 60 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Yeadon, to Contract Acft/4777, Requisition 2/E11/44, Avro Works Order 9143 (BOAC). 25 delivered between October 1947 and April, 1948, the
 remainder cancelled. All aircraft configured as Passenger Cum Freighter (PCF). See note 1 for definition of configurations.
 TS789 - TS813    C.Mk.1  25      All delivered directly to BOAC
 TS814 - TS822          9  
 TS838 - TS863          26  
 72 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Yeadon, to contract Acft/5127. Cancelled.
 TZ483 - TZ531    C.Mk.1      49  
 TZ547 - TZ569          23  
 50 aircraft ordered from Victory Aircraft Ltd., Malton, Ontario, Canada to contract ???. One delivered, remainder cancelled.
 FM400  PC4494  C.Mk.3  1      Transferred to RAF. Also known as C.Mk.1 Special.
 FM401 - FM449          49  
Total Production 238 (1) 398
Civil Registered Aircraft Allocated Military Serials For Trooping Flights
Military
Serial		 C/n Registration Notes
 XA191  1356  G-AMGK  
 XA192  1354  G-AMGL  G-AMGL crashed 11 March 1952; serial number transferred to G-AGNM.
 XD667    G-AMUN  
 XD668    G-AMUU  
 XD669    G-AMUV  Originally allocated XD623 in error.
 XD670  1222  G-AGNU  
 XE304    G-AMUN  Cancelled - already allocated XD667
 XF284    G-AMUL  
 XF285    G-AMUM  
 XF919    G-AMUS  
 XG897    G-AMRJ  
 XG898    G-ANRC  
 XG929    G-ANSY  
 XJ264    G-ANVO  
Total Allocated  14
Civil Registered Aircraft Allocated Military Serials For Operations into Suez Canal Zone
Military
Serial		 C/n Registration Notes
 WW465  1216  G-AGNN  
 WW466  1220  G-AGNS  
 WW467  1239  G-AGSO  
 WW468  1310  G-AHFG  Also used by G-AHFE in error - see WW578.
 WW499  1305  G-AHFB  G-AHFB also used WW586 in August 1951
 WW500  1307  G-AHFD  
 WW501  1229  G-AGOB  
 WW502  1311  G-AHFH  
 WW503  1309  G-AHFF  WW503 was also applied in error to G-AGHB for one flight on 28 September 1951.
 WW504  1304  G-AHFA  
 WW506  1302  G-AHEY  
 WW507  1306  G-AHFC  
 WW508  1207  G-AGJA  G-AGLA used WW541 from July 1951 to January or February 1952, WW508 between January (?) 1952 and September 1953.
 WW509  1218  G-AGNP  
 WW510  1226  G-AGNY  
 WW511  1215  G-AGNM  
 WW512  1356  G-AMGK  
 WW514  1221  G-AGNT  
 WW540  1237  G-AGSM  
 WW541  1207  G-AGJA  See also WW508
 WW542  1228  G-AGOA  
 WW576  1217  G-AGNO  WW576 applied in error to G-AGOD on 14 July 1951.
 WW577  1231  G-AGOD  WW577 applied in error to G-AGNO on 14 July 1951.
 WW578  1308  G-AHFE  See also WW468.
 WW579  1211  G-AGOF  
 WW580  1233  G-AGJE  
 WW581  1224  G-AGNW  
 WW582  1225  G-AGNX  See also WW499
 WW586  1305  G-AHFB  
Total Allocated  29
Type 685 York For Export
Aircraft Either Diverted From RAF Assignments and/or Stocks or Ex-RAF Aircraft Refurbished (In alphabetical order by country)
Serial Range Type Batch
Qty		 Notes
Australia  One aircraft transferred to RAAF in March 1945 for the Governor Generals Flight.
 A74-1  C.Mk.1  1  Ex MW140. Allocated A74-1 but not used. Returned to the Air Ministry in January 1947.
France  One aircraft transferred to France for the use of General de Gaulle in July 1945.
 MW169  C.Mk.1  1  Transferred to the Aeronavale in April 1954 as PA-4.
 4 aircraft supplied to the Aeronavale between October 1954 and February 1957.
 PA-1, PA-2, PA-3, PA-1*  C.Mk.1  4  Ex MW137, MW243, MW265 and MW234
South Africa  One aircraft supplied to the South African Air Force in May 1944.
 4999  C.Mk.1  1  Ex MW107. For General Smuts' use, named 'Oubass'.
Total 7
*Second allocation
Type 685 York - Civil
Joint R.A.F. Transport Command / B.O.A.C
C/n Initial
Registration		 BOAC Variant
(See Note 2)		 Notes
 1207  G-AGJA  Mk.III M  Ex MW103. Operated jointly with RAF. Named 'Mildenhall' after de-militarisation.
 1208  G-AGJB  Mk.III M  Ex MW108. Operated jointly with RAF. Named 'Marathon' after de-militarisation.
 1209  G-AGJC  Mk.III  Ex MW113. Operated jointly with RAF. Named 'Malmsbury' after de-militarisation.
 1210  G-AGJD  Mk.III M  Ex MW121. Operated jointly with RAF. Named 'Mansfield' after de-militarisation.
 1211  G-AGJE  Mk.III M  Ex MW129. Operated jointly with RAF. Named 'Middlesex' after de-militarisation.
 1213  G-AGNL  Mk.III MC2  Ex TS789. Named 'Mersey'.
 1215  G-AGNM  Mk.III PCF  Ex TS790. Named 'Murchison'.
 1216  G-AGNN  ??  Ex TS791. Named 'Madras'. To South African Airways as ZS-BGU.
 1217  G-AGNO  Mk.III MC2  Ex TS792. Named 'Manton'.
 1218  G-AGNP  Mk.III PCF  Ex TS793. Named 'Melbourne'. To South African Airways as ZS-BRA.
 1219  G-AGNR  Mk.III MC2  Ex TS794. Leased to South African Airways as ZS-APT, returned to BOAC. Named 'Moira'.
 1220  G-AGNS  Mk.III MC2  Ex TS795. Named 'Melville'. To South African Airways as ZS-BTT.
 1221  G-AGNT  Mk.III PCF  Ex TS796. Named 'Mandalay'. To South African Airways as ZS-ATU.
 1222  G-AGNU  Mk.III PCF  Ex TS797. Named 'Montgomery'. Leased to South African Airways as ZS-ATR(2), returned to BOAC.
 1223  G-AGNV  Mk.III MC2  Ex TS798. Named 'Morville'.
 1224  G-AGNW  Mk.III PCF  Ex TS799. Unnamed and sold to South African Airways as ZS-ATS.
 1225  G-AGNX  Mk.III PCF  Ex TS800. Named 'Moray'.
 1226  G-AGNY  Mk.III PCF  Ex TS801. Named 'Melrose'.
 1227  G-AGNZ  Mk.III PCF  Ex TS802. Named 'Monmouth'.
 1228  G-AGOA  Mk.III MC2  Ex TS803. Named 'Montrose'.
 1229  G-AGOB  Mk.III MC2  Ex TS804. Named 'Milford'.
 1230  G-AGOC  Mk.III PCF  Ex TS805. Named 'Malta'.
 1231  G-AGOD  Mk.III MC2  Transferred briefly to RAF as TS806 for training. Returned to BOAC and named 'Midlothian' after de-militarisation.
 1232  G-AGOE  Mk.III MC2  Transferred briefly to RAF as TS807 for training. Returned to BOAC and named 'Medway' after de-militarisation.
 1233  G-AGOF  Mk.III MC2  Ex TS808. Named 'Macduff'.
 1236  G-AGSL  Mk.III MC2  Ex TS809. Named 'Morley'.
 1237  G-AGSM  Mk.III MC2  Ex TS810. Named 'Malvern'.
 1238  G-AGSN  Mk.III MC2  Ex TS811. Named 'Marlow'.
 1239  G-AGSO  Mk.III PCF  Ex TS812. Named 'Marston'.
 1240  G-AGSP  Mk.III PCF  Ex TS813. Named 'Marlborough'.
Total Production (Joint R.A.F. Transport Command / B.O.A.C)  (30)
Aircraft Built New for Civil Market
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 12 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Yeadon, to Works Order 9273, for British South American Airways. Delivered between May and November 1946
 1300  G-AHEW  Merlin 22 powerplants. Named 'Star Leader'.
 1301  G-AHEX  Merlin 22 powerplants. Named 'Star Venturer'.
 1302  G-AHEY  Named 'Star Quest'
 1303  G-AHEW  Merlin 22 powerplants. Named 'Star Speed'.
 1304  G-AHFA  Named 'Star Dale'.
 1305  G-AHFB  Named 'Star Stream'.
 1306  G-AHFC  Named 'Star Dew'.
 1307  G-AHFD  Named 'Star Mist'.
 1308  G-AHFE  Named 'Star Vista'.
 1309  G-AHFF  Named 'Star Gleam'.
 1310  G-AHFG  Named 'Star Haze'.
 1311  G-AHFH  Named 'Star Glitter'.
 1 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Yeadon, to Works Order 35942, for Skyways Ltd. Delivered May 1946
 1316  G-AHFI  Merlin 22 powerplants. Named 'Sky Way'.
 1 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Yeadon, to Works Order 356146, for Skyways Ltd. Delivered June 1946.
 1340  G-AHLV  Named 'Sky Courier'.
 3 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Yeadon, to Works Order 36259, for Flota Aérea Mercante Argentina (FAMA). Delivered June 1946.
 1354  LV-AFV  Delivered as LV-XGN. Later G-AMGL of Eagle Aviation.
 1355  LV-AFY  Delivered as LV-XGO. Later G-AMGM of Eagle Aviation.
 1356  LV-AFZ  Merlin T24 powerplants. Delivered as LV-XGP. Later to Skyways as G-AMGK .
 2 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Yeadon, to Works Order 36259/4, for Flota Aérea Mercante Argentina (FAMA). Delivered Between July and August 1946.
 1365  LV-XIG  
 1366  LV-XIH  
 1 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Yeadon, diverted from MW320 to contract Acft/2429, for Skyways Ltd. Delivered November 1946
 1374  G-AIUP  Named 'Sky Consul'.
Total New Built  19
Total Production (Diverted from RAF Contract to Skyways)  (1)
Civil Registered Aircraft Converted From Military - Ex-RAF York C.Mk.1 Except As Noted
Initial
Registration		 Original Military
Serial		 Notes
 G-ALBX  FM400  To Skyways.
 G-ANAA  MW100  To Surrey Flying Services but ntu.
 G-ANAB  MW104  To Surrey Flying Services but ntu.
 G-AMUS  MW110  To Air Charter Ltd, Stansted. Named 'New Britain'. Civil conversion by Aviation Traders Ltd.
 CF-HMV  MW135  To Associated Airways via Spartan Air Services, Ottawa, Ontario.
 CF-HMW  MW136  To Maritime Central Airways, Quebec, via Spartan Air Services, Ottawa, Ontario.
 G-AMRI  MW138  To Air Charter Ltd, Stansted, via Surrey Flying Services Ltd. 'Named 'New Enterprise'. Civil conversion by Aviation Traders Ltd. To Air Liban, Lebanon June
 1955 as OD-ACD.
 G-ANAW  MW139  To Skyways Ltd for spares. Not converted for civil use.
 G-ANXJ  MW141  To Aviation Traders Ltd. Not converted for civil use.
 G-ANTI  MW143  To Dan-Air Services. Civil conversion by Scottish Aviation Ltd.
 CF-HMZ  MW147  To Associated Airways via Spartan Air Services, Ottowa, Ontario.
 G-ANTJ  MW149  To Dan-Air Services Ltd.
 CF-HMX  MW167  To Arctic Wings, Ottawa, Ontario, via Spartan Air Services.
 G-ANTH  MW177  To Skyways. Not converted for civil use.
 G-ANXK  MW178  To Aviation Traders Ltd. Not converted for civil use.
 G-AMUU  MW183  To Air Charter Ltd, Stansted, via Surrey Flying Services Ltd. Named 'Nouvelle Caledonie'. Civil conversion by Aviation Traders Ltd.
 G-AMUT  MW185  To Air Charter Ltd, Stansted, via Surrey Flying Services Ltd. Civil conversion by Aviation Traders Ltd. To Maritime Central Airways, Quebec, as CF-HMT.
 G-ANSY  MW193  To Scottish Airlines (Prestwick) Ltd, via Scottish Aviation.
 G-ANXL  MW196  To Aviation Traders Ltd. Not converted for civil use.
 G-AOAN  MW199  To Scottish Airlines (Prestwick) Ltd, via Scottish Aviation, but ntu. Not converted for civil use.
 CF-HMU  MW203  To Maritime Central Airways, Quebec, via Spartan Air Services, Ottawa, Ontario.
 G-ANYA  MW210  To Scottish Airlines (Prestwick) Ltd, via Scottish Aviation.
 G-AMUV  MW226  To Air Charter Ltd, Stansted. Named 'New Venture II'. Civil conversion by Aviation Traders Ltd.
 G-ANXM  MW227  To Aviation Traders Ltd. Not converted for civil use.
 G-ANGL  MW231  To Skyways Ltd. Later To Persian Air Services as EP-ADA.
 G-ANTK  MW232  To Dan-Air Services Ltd.
 CF-HFP  MW233  To Associated Airways via Spartan Air Services, Ottowa, Ontario.
 G-ANAC  MW236  To Surry Flying Services. Not converted for civil use.
 CF-HMY  MW237  To Associated Airways via Spartan Air Services, Ottowa, Ontario.
 G-ANUN  MW253  To Scottish Aviation Ltd. Re-registered G-ANVO.
 G-ANGF  MW254  To Hunting Air Transport Ltd. To TMA, Lebanon, April 1959 as OD-ADL.
 G-ANXN  MW258  To Aviation Traders Ltd.
 CF-HIP  MW287  To Maritime Central Airways, Quebec, via Spartan Air Services, Ottawa, Ontario.
 CF-HAS  MW290  To Arctic Wings, Ottawa, Ontario, via Spartan Air Services.
 CF-HFQ  MW291  To Arctic Wings, Ottawa, Ontario, via Spartan Air Services.
 G-AMVY  MW292  To Hunting Air Transport Ltd. Not converted for civil use. Used for spares.
 CF-HIQ  MW294  To Spartan Air Services, Ottawa, Ontario.
 G-APCA  MW295  To Field Aircraft Services. To TMA, Lebanon June 1957 as OD-ACQ.
 G-AMVZ  MW302  To Hunting Air Transport Ltd. Not converted for civil use. Used for spares.
 G-AMUL  MW308  To Scottish Airlines (Prestwick) Ltd, via Scottish Aviation.
 G-ANXO  MW318  To Aviation Traders Ltd. Not converted for civil use.
 G-AMUN  MW321  To Scottish Airlines (Prestwick) Ltd, via Scottish Aviation.
 G-AMXM  MW323  To Hunting Air Transport Ltd, Bovingdon.
 G-AMRJ  MW326  To Surrey Flying Services. To Air Liban July 1955 as OD-ACE.
 G-ANRC  MW327  To Scottish Aviation Ltd.
 G-AMUM  MW332  To Scottish Aviation Ltd.
 ZS-DGN  SAAF 4999  To Tropic Airways.
Total Civilianised  (33)
Total Not Converted  (13)

Production Summary

All Aircraft By Type
Type Built New Conv Canc'd Total
 York C.Mk.1 256 349 605
 York C.Mk.2 (1) 1
 York C.Mk.3 1 49 50
257 (1) 398

Notes

  1. York Configurations (from King [2]):
    Long Range Freighter (LRF). 113 built for the RAF.
     Passenger Cum Freighter (PCF). 64 built for the RAF.
     First Class Passenger (FCP). 22 built for the RAF.
     Very Important Person (VIP). 3 built for the RAF.
     Very Very Important Person (VVIP). 1 built for the RAF.
  2. BOAC York Variants (from King [2]): Mk.III - one aircraft stripped as a 'Supplies Flight only' cargo carrier with crew of four.
     Mk.III M - configured for 7 crew and 19 passengers in two cabins, with 2 cargo holds.
     Mk.III M2 - configured for 7 crew and 17 passengers in one cabin, with 4 cargo holds.
     Mk.III PCF - configured for 7 crew and 18 passengers in two cabins, with 2 cargo holds.
    The use of the 'Mk.III' appelation was a BOAC designation only.

Production References

  1. Avro Aircraft Since 1908, A.J. Jackson (Putnam, 1965 and 1990)
  2. Lancaster to York - Civil Lancasters, Lancastrians and Yorks, Derek A. King (Air Britain, 2018)
  3. Aeroplane Monthly, Feb 2011
  4. Aeromilitaria, 1984/1 (Air-Britain Publications)
  5. Aeromilitaria, 2015/3 (Air-Britain Publications)
  6. Aeromilitaria, 2015/4 (Air-Britain Publications)
  7. Air Britain RAF Aircraft Register Series, Various Volumes (Air-Britain Publications)
  8. Air Arsenal North America, Phil Butler with Dan Hagedorn (Midland Publishing, 2004)
  9. http://avions-de-la-guerre-d-algerie.over-blog.com/article-avro-type-685-york-70580202.html
  10. RAF Air Historical Branch: Delivery Serial Ledger (A.M. Form 622) (Dept of Archive and Aviation Records, RAF Museum, Hendon, Records MF-1 thru 5)
  11. RAF Air Historical Branch: RAF Aircraft Movement Card (A.M. Form 78) (Dept of Archive and Aviation Records, RAF Museum, Hendon, Records MFC-77-15-125)
  12. RAF Air Historical Branch: Contract Delivery Cards (Dept of Archive and Aviation Records, RAF Museum, Hendon, Records MFC-78-8-4)

Page Revision History

Revised at Version 2.0.0
  • Improved Type Description and Added Specification details.
  • Added Requisition Numbers.
Revised at Version 1.4.0
  • Added configurations to RAF aircraft.
  • Added Notes 1 and 2.
Revised at Version 1.3.0
  • Corrections to build locations.
  • MW284-MW333 - added note.
  • TJ820-TJ866 was TJ820-TJ868, and subsequent corrections to totals.
  • Added cancelled Canadian aircraft.
  • Corrections to Trooping Flight details.
  • Completely revised Civil tables.
  • Added Export table.