I flew from Nicosia Cyprus (as a 12 year old with my mother) to Southend (I think) in 1956 on a Casualty Evacuation flight (CASAVAC) which we could hitch a ride on for free if there was space. I was in 'T' shirt and flip flops which I much regretted but the nurses plied us with blankets and also a tarpaulin as I seem to remember that water came in - could that be right? Anyway it was a very noisy and turbulent flight which gave me the usual sickness problems! re-fuelled in Malta I seem to remember
John Hancocks, e-mail, 30.01.2023 02:26
1950 aged 6 I flew on one of the last York flights to Lagos, Nigeria, this was via Tripoli (wartime damage to buildings still evident - bullet and shrapnel holes in the corrugated iron), then over sahara at low altitude in daylight to Kano, air pockets over desert were terrible. Arrival in Lagos, wreckage of Wellington bomber still lying alonside runway.
Jim Wright, e-mail, 03.01.2022 19:21
I flew out to Singapore in 1954 in a York, at the age of 4, together with my Mother and 1 year old brother. Your email rang a bell as I remember the journey took 5 days but was only meant to take 4 days. Apparently there was some engine trouble and we stayed an extra day at one of the airports, perhaps in India.
I rember little else of the journey apart from having to drink a glass of salt water at meal time when we reached the hot countries.
Edward Jerman, e-mail, 14.12.2021 23:15
Hi Denis. the date you flew on Avro York G-ANVO I had just started working for Scottish Airlines as an instrument mechanic. Prior to that I spent five years in the Royal Air Force working on Lincoln bombers. I'm sorry to say Scottish Airlines folded in 1958 after several crashes. Glad you were not on one of them!. ED.
W Griggs, 18.01.2021 07:45
I lived adjacent to the Edmonton Alberta city airport Mid 1950s ,Yorks coming and going daily to the DEW line. then one had problems on take off , and crashed into the Calder railroad yards, it was a horrific mess, the moment still stays with me 65 years later. i still hear th roar of the big Merlins in my mind!!
Ian Mcilroy, e-mail, 27.04.2017 20:38
In 1956 as a member of 542 squadron C flt. we flew to RAAF Darwin and RAAF laverton Melbourne Australia in a Skyways York G-AJGA the flight took 7 day's with a few unscheduled stops at Beirut and another Philipines due to some problems with the aircraft en route, we started from RAF Lyneham.
angela, e-mail, 12.02.2017 13:31
I flew in this plane in 1953 on test flight from stanstead airport, my father was one of the pilots. He died in1954 june 26th it crashed over germany with 3 crew , ironic as he flew through the war earning DFC .I was 9 at the time and remember it clearly In 1965 lwent for job at lydd airport and was surprised to see yorks flyingout I didnt want the job !!
mike, e-mail, 10.07.2016 15:14
we flew out to singapore in an avro york when i was a kid i remember it took us 5 days and the bumpiest flight i ever flew in but the times in the cockpit with the pilot was great and took your mind off the constant apple smell and the sudden drops of air pockets
jackie pritchard, e-mail, 04.07.2016 08:08
I flew on an Avro York gagny this was in 1951 leaving Singapore and landing for over night stops in Ceylon, Bombay, Karachi, Iraq, malta, and finally England. This was a bare bones flight, the plane had seating of all descriptions old car seats coach seats you name it, we boarded wearing only our tropical uniform but had the sense thank goodness to carry our great coats. The plane was exactly the same as if being used for cargo no heating and the fuselage was clearly visible rivets and all, we half froze to death the steward was the navigator, the food was in little brown cardboard boxes complete with dry curled up meat and not forgetting a small wooden knife and fork. I often think about that journey and wonder if there are many left who were on that flight with me
Mic shute, e-mail, 08.10.2015 10:15
I flow in a RAF York from eastlty airport Kenya to England in 1956, My father was in the Britsh Army and was going to Carrick army base for on going training.
Mark Newberry, e-mail, 19.08.2015 00:22
01305812185 For Chris Ray. Yes a model has been made of the Avro York and in BOAC livery too. Corgi limited edition,you may still be able to find one in the better model shops ,,, mine sits on the shelf next to the computor table here together with a Constelation and a DC3 all Corgi.
Mark Newberry, e-mail, 19.08.2015 00:19
01305812185 For Chris Ray. Yes a model has been made of the Avro York and in BOAC livery too. Corgi limited edition,you may still be able to find one in the better model shops ,,, mine sits on the shelf next to the computor table here together with a Constelation and a DC3 all Corgi.
Mark Newberry, e-mail, 17.08.2015 00:07
Newberry,I flew on an BOAC Avro York in the summer of 1950.My mother and I were going to Jos Nigeria to join my dad who was working there.We took off from Heathrow approx 1400 hrs arrive Tripoli Castle Benito? about midnight . Our seats were four around a table , and I remember being upset on take off seeing the flames coming from the Rolls Royce Merlin engines, we then crossed the desert and arrived at Kano about 10'00 hrs next morning. I'm hopeing to get to Cosford this Summer to see if the York they have up there was an ex BOAC ? and check it's log book to see what it was doing in July 1950 ?
Peter Long, e-mail, 02.02.2015 20:31
In 1953 I flew in a York of Scottish Aviation from the UK to Canada, with stops at Prestwick, Keflavik, and Goose Bay, for training with the RCAF
Max Moscrop, e-mail, 24.10.2014 15:24
As a 7 year old I flew from nairobi to London .would this have been a york? I know the comet followed in the next year or 3.
Max Moscrop, e-mail, 24.10.2014 15:24
Sorry meant to add this was 1948
Max Moscrop, e-mail, 24.10.2014 13:55
Sorry meant to add this was 1948
Max Moscrop, e-mail, 24.10.2014 13:52
As a 7 year old I flew from nairobi to London .would this have been a york? I know the comet followed in the next year or 3.
Dave Smith, e-mail, 19.09.2014 22:00
In Aug.'51,I & about 40 other APO's flew from Lyneham to Southern Rhodesia for flying training.Outbound York of,I think Lancashire Airways had o'night stops @ Malta,(refuel El Adam),Khartoum,Entebe & Livingstone.On by train to Bulawayo or Salisbury.A/c had just returned from Berlin airlift where everything had been removed to max. cargo so our seats were tubular framed canvas &little soundproofing so, to this day, I can hear the steady drone of 4 Merlins! But we were young & keen so accepted it.Back home 9 months later in a less "basic" York ,of Skyways I think, o'night in Nairobi & Benina. The Merlins never faltered once.
James I. Murdoch, e-mail, 06.05.2013 14:26
I flew in an Avro York from Stansted to Lagos in Nigeria in 1954 with stops at Tripoli and Kano. I think it took three days, it was an awful, noisy flight, I recall the vomit bags were used when air pockets were encountered. Quite an adventure for a youngster though!
denis sutton, e-mail, 17.02.2012 22:08
I flew on this aircraft G-ANVO on the 10/08/1955 from standsted to cyprus (army). still have the pilots info to passengers form now. it was ' scottish airlines ' outward bound we blew an oil pipe on the inner port engine, returned to stansted for a 2 hr. repair then off for a 15.5 hr flight to Cyprus. corr. the noise of those Merlins rang in your ears for 24 hrs after arrival
Paul Willson, e-mail, 23.10.2011 03:57
I have a photograph of a YORK at Mont Joli Quebec circa 1956 when they were being used for DEWline construction in the Canadian north.
D.Langdown, e-mail, 31.05.2011 06:11
My previous message should read 1953 NOT 1973, the year of my first 747 flight London to Sydney.
David Langdown, e-mail, 31.05.2011 06:07
My first long haul flight was on a Skyways Avro York from Ceylon to London back in 1973. Route was Colombo,Calcutta,Bombay,Muscat,Damascus,Beirut,Rome,London. Allowing for overnight stops at Bombay,Beirut and Rome plus breakdowns, we flew at 8,000 ft all the way. The flight took 6 days. There were 26 passengers and we stopped in 5 star hotels including the luxurious Taj Mahal Hotel in Bombay. Overnight in Beiruit we stayed in the same hotel as Russia's Bulganin and Khruschev who incidentially wanted to drink Vodka with me and my mate. Oh what an amazing experience all paid for by the Royal Navy. I will never forget the constant noise of the engines.
B flewitt, e-mail, 15.08.2010 11:08
I believe the Americans called the York "The three finned,four fanned,aluminum spam can.)
d baker, e-mail, 21.12.2009 10:42
worked as fitter for skyways 1955 when centerfuel tank exspoded one man killed
John Hancocks, e-mail, 28.11.2009 07:30
In 1950 I flew in this aircraft on one of the last BOAC runs to Lagos, Nigeria. The journey took two days and was unforgettable...in Barcelona they had to remove a passenger whose heart had played up while crossing the Pyrenees (unpressurised), next stop Tripoli and a shrapnel shredded terminal...after prolonged run ups we took off for Kano crossing the sahara in broad daylight at 7,000 ft - the air pockets were sensational. Ah, the romance of flight....thank God they replaced them (briefly) with the Hermes!
chris ray, e-mail, 28.06.2007 14:13
Has a model ever been put into praduction, for the avid modler? If so i would love to hear about it. Thanks Chris
