Avro York

Type 685 York
LV633 Ascalon, Churchill's personal aircraft
Role	Transport Type of aircraft
Manufacturer	Avro
Designer	Roy Chadwick
First flight	5 July 1942
Introduction	1944
Retired	1964
Status	Two examples on display
Primary users	Royal Air Force BOAC British South American Airways Skyways Ltd
Produced	1943–1948
Number built	258 (including 4 prototypes)
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.