Manufactured by Avro and incorporating the wings, tail, undercarriage and engines of the Lancaster bomber, the York was to prove a useful military and civilian transport aircraft in war and peace.

In 1941, Avro designer Roy Chadwick began to sketch out a long range transport aircraft based on the Lancaster. The result became the Avro Type 685 York, and the prototype flew on 5 July 1942.

Production began in 1943 and 258 aircraft were manufactured before construction ceased in November 1946. Yorks were used by the RAF and by a number of British and Commonwealth airlines and charter companies during the 1940s and 1950s. During the Berlin Airlift, Yorks flew 58124 of the 131800 sorties conducted by the RAF.

British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) Avro York aircraft took over the Shorts Empire Class flying boat routes from Cairo to Durban in late 1946. British South American Airways (BSAA) were also operators of Avro York aircraft on their routes to South America.

Power plant Four Rolls-Royce Merlin 24 engines
Thrust 4x 1,280 HP 4x 955 kW
Speed 290 mph 467 km/h
Ceiling 21,325 ft 6,500 m
Range 3,100 mi 4,990 km
Load 50 - 56 seats
Crew Five
First flight Prototype 1942
Date deployed 1944
Number built 257