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| Lancastrian | |
|---|---|
|
| |
| Type | Passenger and mail transport |
| Manufacturer | Avro |
| Designed by | Roy Chadwick |
| Maiden flight | 1943 |
| Introduced | 1945 (BOAC) |
| Retired | 1960s |
| Primary users | BOAC Trans Canada Airlines Alitalia Royal Air Force |
| Produced | 1943-1945 |
| Number built | 91 (including conversions) |
| Developed from | Avro Lancaster |
The Avro 691 Lancastrian was a British passenger and mail transport aircraft of the 1940s and 1950s developed from the Avro Lancaster bomber. the Lancastrian was very similar to the Lancaster, differing primarily in having all of the armament removed and faired over, and the replacement of the glazed nose with a streamlined "solid" model. The Avro York was similar conversion, although it featured a redesigned fuselage. The Lancastrian name refers to an inhabitant of Lancaster or Lancashire.
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In 1943, Avro through its wartime Victory Aircraft Canadian subsidiary converted a Lancaster X bomber for civil transport duties with Trans-Canada Airlines (TCQ). This conversion was a success resulting in six additional Lancaster Xs being converted. The "specials" were powered by Packard-built Merlin 38 engines and featured a lengthened, streamlined nose and tail cone. Range was enhanced by two 400-gallon Lancaster long-range fuel tanks fitted as standard in the bomb bay. These Lancastrians were used by TCA on its Montreal–Prestwick route.
In 1945, deliveries commenced of 30 British-built Lancastrians for BOAC. On a demonstration flight on 23 April 1945, G-AGLF flew 13,500 miles (21,700 km) from England to Auckland, New Zealand in three days, 14 hours at an average speed of 220 mph (354 km/h).
Since the Lancastrian had rather limited cubic capacity yet had a "good turn of speed" and long range, it was most suited for transport of mail and VIP passengers. BOAC used it on England to Australia flights from 31 May 1945. It also served with the RAF, one of whose planes named Aries, completing the first airborne circumnavigation of the globe, as well as serving with QANTAS and Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina.
Lancastrians were also used during the Berlin Airlift to transport petrol; 15 aircraft made over 5,000 sorties.
In another role, Lancastrians were also used for tests of various turboprop and jet engines. One powered with Rolls-Royce Nene turbojets is credited with the first international passenger jet flight from London to Paris on 23 November 1946. The flight time was just 41 minutes.
On 2 August 1947, Lancastrian G-AGWH Star Dust of British South American Airways crashed in the Argentinean Andes after sending a cryptic radio message, what became known as the "Stendec incident". The wreckage was found 50 years later but the radio message remains a puzzle. Stendec was later adopted as the name of a UFO magazine.
The probable cause of the crash was a navigation error due to the then unknown effect of fast-moving, high altitude airstreams. Headwinds meant that dead reckoning of their position was inaccurate and the pilot started the descent while the plane was still over and not past the crest of the Andes mountains.
| Aircraft produced by Avro | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer designations |
Type D • Type E • Type F • Type G • Type H 500 • 501 • 502 • 503 • 504 • 508 • 510 • 511 • 513 • 519 • 521 • 522 • 523 • 527 • 528 • 529 • 530 • 531 • 533 • 534 • 536 • 538 • 539 • 545 • 546 • 547 • 548 • 549 • 550 • 551 • 552 • 553 • 554 • 555 • 556 • 557 • 558 • 560 • 561 • 562 • 563 • 566 • 567 • 571 • 572 • 574 • 575 • 576 • 578 • 578 • 580 • 581 • 584 • 586 • 587 • 594 • 597 • 604 • 605 • 608 • 608 • 609 • 611 • 612 • 613 • 616 • 617 • 618 • 619 • 620 • 621 • 624 • 625 • 626 • 627 • 631 • 632 • 633 • 636 • 637 • 638 • 639 • 640 • 641 • 642 • 643 • 644 • 646 • 652 • 655 • 656 • 663 • 664 • 665 • 666 • 668 • 670 • 671 • 672 • 674 • 675 • 679 • 680 • 681 • 682 • 683 • 684 • 685 • 686 • 688 • 689 • 691 • 682 • 694 • 695 • 696 • 698 • 701 • 706 • 707 • 711 • 720 • 721 • 724 • 726 • 728 • 729 • 730 • 731 • 732 • 735 • 748 • 776 • 784 |
| By role |
Bombers: 730 • Aldershot • Antelope • Buffalo • Lancaster • Lincoln • Manchester • Vulcan Transports: Andover • Lancastrian • York Maritime Patrol: Anson • Bison • Shackleton Passenger transports: 748 • Ashton • Commodore • Eighteen • Five • Six • Ten • Tudor Trainers: 504 • Athena • Cadet • Tutor • Prefect |
| Lists relating to aviation | |
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Accidents/incidents | General · Military · Commercial (airliners) · Deaths |
| Records | Airspeed · Distance · Altitude · Endurance · Most-produced aircraft |
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