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Aviation History
1944
1944 - 0144.PDF
JANUARY 2OTH, 1044 ^^^ j. ag^L * Avro York Transport Fast, Comfortable, Roomy Pioneer of Postwar British Commercial Aviation THE Avro York is designed specifically to meet the imme diate need for a passenger /freight transport aircraft. A condition of the specification was that the machine must be completely convertible from passenger aircraft to freighter, or vice versa, inside 24 hours, and this condition has been unobtrusively fulfilled by the exercise of great in genuity on the part of the designing team. The maximum payload is 10.5 tons for a range of 500 miles, diminishing to a load of 4.2 tons for a range of 3,000 miles. Maximum speed is in excess of 300 m.p.h., maximum cruising speed is 275 m.p.h., and the economical cruising speed, from the point of view of fuel consumption, is approximately 220 m.p.h., although, naturally, optimum cruising speed is dependent upon the requirements of range. As with the Lan caster, the York can be equipped with either Rolls-Royce Merlin or Bristol Hercules engines. As a freighter the aircraft is valuable for its great weight- carrying capacity as well as the unobstructed roominess of its interior. The illustrations provide ample indications of the type of cargo the York is ably fitted, to handle. This is, of course, governed at present by war needs, and the space occu pied by four Jeeps or 15 Lancaster wheels and tyres, could well be used for the less spectacular, but more comfortable, occupation of three grand pianos or a houseful of furniture. Single-seater fighter airframes, crates of airscrew blades, machine tools and power-eggs are all capable of transportation by the York. Loading Ramps For the carrying of power-eggs Avros have evolved a special trolley and*ramp,, carried in the aircraft to facilitate unloading. •The main ramp for loading and unloading freight is a con veniently handled piece of equipment, being mounted on wheels which can be jacked up when the ramp is in use, and lowered .so that the ramp can be wheeled away after use. Jeeps are 0 driven up the ramp and partly into the fuselage where they are then man-handled into a fore and aft stowage position. It is surprisingly easy, and four Jeeps can be stowed complete in about eight minutes. Office Furnishing The business end of the York is beautifullv laid out and is characterised by first-class visibility for both pilots, and abso lute convenience of all controls. The pilot and second pilot sit • side-by-side on either side of the cockpit and have duplicated controls and instruments. Engine instruments and ancillary service instruments are grouped centrally, and the engine, air screw, flaps and undercarriage controls are mounted centrally- overhead. Rudder, elevator and aileron trimming is controlled from a compound box which is fitted to the starboard side of the chief pilot's seat structure where it is easy of access to both pilots. The wireless operator is stationed behind the chief pilot, but about four feet below him, whilst the navigator is seated behind the second pilot on the same level. The navi gator's astro-dome is immediately above his head, and the dimensions of his plotting table are more than generous. In addition to the orthodox P.4 type magnetic compass, which is mounted below the engine instruments, both pilots and the navigator have a direct-reading instrument operated electrically from the gyro-stabilised master-compass located in the after part of the fuselage. The run of control linkages, electrical conduits, heating „ ducts, etc., are all accommodated above the fuselage ceiling.'^3 The heating for the cabin is supplied from an auxiliary source tapped into the engine coolant circuit, and in the passenger version of the York each passenger has a fitting, adjustable for direction and aperture, by which a stream of warm or cool air can be directed where required. This adjustment in connection with the master control gives a degree of temperature regula tion that is as perfectly balanced as anyone could desire. Four jeeps awaiting their turn for stowage. Each vehicle is driven up the ramp and into the fuselage where it is man- Mte handled into position. The freight entrance is about 8ft. wide by 6ft. high. W_
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