Avro York prototype - photo
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Northampton
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Avro York prototype - photo
This photo turned up on a local Facebook group. It's the prototype of the Avro York with twin tail fins and the rounded windows.
The question being asked is where was this and when?
Any ideas?
Last edited by Wind Sock; 28th Nov 2018 at 23:03. Reason: poor spelling doh!
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: UK
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Are you able to contact the Facebook person who posted it ?
It looks to me to be a possibly framed photograph and if so it might well have something written on the back.
It might have been at CFS or No.1 FTS.
Possibly RAF Netheravon.
It looks to me to be a possibly framed photograph and if so it might well have something written on the back.
It might have been at CFS or No.1 FTS.
Possibly RAF Netheravon.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Northampton
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oops - Yes I just noticed that it does have a tail fin in the centre ( so a triple fin ). However - reading up on it I learn that the last two of the four prototypes were indeed built with triple fins.
Those were LV633 and LV639. However it could not have been LV633 "Ascalon" ( Churchill's own transport ) as that one was fitted with square windows.
Is there anything else in that photo that would distinguish a prototype from a standard C Mk 1 apart from perhaps the unit code?
Those were LV633 and LV639. However it could not have been LV633 "Ascalon" ( Churchill's own transport ) as that one was fitted with square windows.
Is there anything else in that photo that would distinguish a prototype from a standard C Mk 1 apart from perhaps the unit code?
Why do you think it could be a prototype? Most likely to be an in-service aircraft surely? I'm not sure where those prototypes went after manufacturer testing so I guess it could be one of those, but the odds are against it.
From my (invariably a bit fuzzy) memory, it looks like a photo taken at Lyneham with the dog-leg part of the pan in the background at left and the escarpment to the (east?) in the background at right.
I think your best bet is to pin down a unit and then try to find out which aircraft was 'K'.
From my (invariably a bit fuzzy) memory, it looks like a photo taken at Lyneham with the dog-leg part of the pan in the background at left and the escarpment to the (east?) in the background at right.
I think your best bet is to pin down a unit and then try to find out which aircraft was 'K'.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Northampton
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Why do you think it could be a prototype? Most likely to be an in-service aircraft surely? I'm not sure where those prototypes went after manufacturer testing so I guess it could be one of those, but the odds are against it.
From my (invariably a bit fuzzy) memory, it looks like a photo taken at Lyneham with the dog-leg part of the pan in the background at left and the escarpment to the (east?) in the background at right.
I think your best bet is to pin down a unit and then try to find out which aircraft was 'K'.
From my (invariably a bit fuzzy) memory, it looks like a photo taken at Lyneham with the dog-leg part of the pan in the background at left and the escarpment to the (east?) in the background at right.
I think your best bet is to pin down a unit and then try to find out which aircraft was 'K'.
The chap whose photo it was had received the photo from a distant relative who had worked on Churchill's own 'York' ( that would have been LV33 "Avalon")
However as the York in the photo is not LV633 as it has 'rounded windows' not 'square' ones then as it not Churchill's I doubt whether that one in the photo was even one of the four prototypes at all.
It would be reasonable to assume that the inclination and opportunity to stage a photo like that would be most likely to arise at the aircraft's base, rather than somewhere down the line.
If Lyneham, that would make the York almost certainly a 511 Squadron aircraft.
If Lyneham, that would make the York almost certainly a 511 Squadron aircraft.
Squadron badge looks similar to the aircraft shown here in NMF:
https://masterbombercraig.wordpress....advance-party/
https://masterbombercraig.wordpress....advance-party/
Here's a photo of 47 Group (i.e. 511 Squadron) Yorks at Luqa - the second aircraft (in camouflage) looks very similar to the one in the OP's photo, including the black nose which would have had a two-letter "C_" code:
Incidentally, MW288 served with 511 Squadron at one stage, and wore the code "CK", so that may be a candidate for the OP's photo.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Manchester
Posts: 25
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
A totally untechnical thought !
Aircraft prototypes are normally to be found at Aircraft Manufacturers airfields and flight test centres ( in the case of the AVRO York Ringway-Manchester) surrounded by manufacturers workmen.
If this aircraft is a prototype why then are all the people in the photograph in RAF uniform ?
Aircraft prototypes are normally to be found at Aircraft Manufacturers airfields and flight test centres ( in the case of the AVRO York Ringway-Manchester) surrounded by manufacturers workmen.
If this aircraft is a prototype why then are all the people in the photograph in RAF uniform ?