| Type 685 York | |
|---|---|
 LV633 Ascalon, Churchill's personal aircraft | |
| General information | |
| Type | Transport |
| Manufacturer | Avro |
| Designer | |
| Status | Two examples on display |
| Primary users | Royal Air Force |
| Number built | 258 (including 4 prototypes) |
| History | |
| Manufactured | 1943–1948 |
| Introduction date | 1944 |
| First flight | 5 July 1942 |
| Retired | 1964 |
| Developed from | Avro Lancaster |
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, Indian Governor-General Lord Mountbatten and South African Prime Minister Jan Smuts.