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Avro 691 Lancastrian

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For a description of the format and data included in Production Tables, see here.

Contents

Type Description
Production Details

Type Description

  • Type 691 Lancastrian C.Mk.I
  • Passenger transport and freighter derivative of the Lancaster for BOAC and Qantas, to Specification 16/44. Structurally identical to the Lancaster except for the deletion of gun turrets and armour and with the addition of large streamlined nose and tail fairings accommodating mail and baggage. The bomb bay was reduced in length at the rear to increase cabin space, where provision was made for 9 day or 6 night passengers on the port side in sideways facing seats, with extra fuel tanks in the remaining part. Cabin windows were provided in the fuselage starboard side, opposite the passenger seating. Flight deck crew were similar to the Lancaster, with pilot, co-pilot/flight engineer, navigator and wireless operator, along with the addition of a cabin steward. Four 1635 h.p. Rolls-Royce Merlin 500 (civil version of the Merlin T.24/2) powerplants.
  • Type 691 Lancastrian C.Mk.II
  • As C.Mk.I for the RAF to meet the requirements OR.175.
  • Type 691 Lancastrian C.Mk.III
  • 13-seat transport aircraft for British South American Airways; as the Mk.I but featuring 11 forward and two aft facing seats, along with passenger cabin windows on both sides. Bomb bay fuel tanks were eliminated, resulting in a reduced range of 2820 miles.
  • Type 691 Lancastrian C.Mk.IV
  • As C.Mk.III for the RAF.

Type 691 Lancastrian C.Mk.I Specification
Span Length Height Wing Area Empty Wt Max AUW Cruise Speed Maximum Speed Range Service Ceiling
102 ft 76 ft 10 in 17 ft 10 in 1297 sq ft 37190 lb 65000 lb 290 mph/ 252 kn 315 mph/ 274 kn 4100 mi 24300 ft
31.09 m 23.42 m 5.44 m 120.5 m2 16869 kg 29484 kg 467 km/h 507 km/h 6598 km 7407 m

Production Tables Index

Type 691 Lancastrian - Civil
Type 691 Lancastrian - Military

Type 691 Lancastrian - Aircraft Delivered As Civil
Lancastrian C.Mk.I
C/n Set No
(1)		 Initial
Registration		 Allocated
Military Serial		 Notes
 60 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Woodford, to contract Acft/4780, Avro Works Order 9126, using airframes ordered as Lancaster B.III as indicated. Order reduced to in August 1945
 to 41 with two retained by the MOD, 21 delivered to BOAC between March and October 1945, the remainder transferred to contract Acft/5328 for C.Mk.II.
 1172  1  G-AGLF  VB873  Ex PD140. First flew marked PD140 October 1944. To BOAC as VB873. Civil markings applied May 1945.
 1173  2  G-AGLS  VD238  Ex PD141. To BOAC
 1174  3  G-AGLT  VD241  Ex PD142. To BOAC
 1175  4  G-AGLU  VD253  Ex PD143. First flew as VD253. To BOAC Civil markings applied June (?) 1945.
 1176  5  G-AGLV  VF163  Ex PD144. To BOAC To Skyways (East Africa) Ltd., January 1949 as VP-KGT.
 1177  6  G-AGLW  VF164  Ex PD145. To BOAC named 'Northampton'.
 1178  7  G-AGLX  VF165  Ex PD146. First flew marked PD146. To BOAC
 1179  8  G-AGLY  VF166  Ex PD159. To BOAC named 'Norfolk'.
 1180  9  G-AGLZ  VF167  Ex PD160. First flew marked PD160.To BOAC named 'Nottingham'.
 1181  10  G-AGMA  VF152  Ex PD161. First flew marked PD161.To BOAC named 'Newport'.
 1182  11  G-AGMB  VF153  Ex PD162. To BOAC named 'Norwich'.
 1183  12  G-AGMC  VF154  Ex PD163. To BOAC
 1184  13  G-AGMD  VF155  Ex PD164. To BOAC named 'Nairn'. To Quantas Empire Airways October 1947 as VH-EAS.
 1185  14  G-AGME  VF156  Ex PD165. To BOAC named 'Newhaven'.
 1186  15  G-AGMF  VF160  Ex PD166. To BOAC
 (none)  16  (none)  VH737  Ex PD167. Retained by MOD. To Rolls-Royce as a Nene engine test bed.
 1187  17  G-AGMG  VF161  Ex PD193. First flew marked VF161.To BOAC, named 'Nicosia'.
 1188  18  G-AGMH  VF162  Ex PD168. To BOAC
 1189  19  G-AGMJ  VF145  Ex PD169. To BOAC named 'Naseby'.
 1190  20  G-AGMK  VF146  Ex PD170. To BOAC named 'Newbury'.
 1191  21  G-AGML  VF147  Ex PD171. To BOAC named 'Nicobar'. To Quantas Empire Airways September 1947 as VH-EAT.
 1192  22  G-AGMM  VF148  Ex PD172. To BOAC named 'Nepal'.
 1193  23  G-AGMN  VF149  Ex PD173. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM701.
 1194  24  G-AGMO  VF150  Ex PD174. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM702.
 1195  25  G-AGMP  VF151  Ex PD175. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM703.
 1196  26  G-AGMR  VF137  Ex PD176. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM704.
 1197  27  G-AGMS  VF138  Ex PD177. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM725.
 1198  28  G-AGMT  VF139  Ex PD178. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM726.
 (none)  29  (none)  VH742  Ex PD179. Retained by MOD. To Rolls-Royce as a Nene engine test bed.
 1199  30  G-AGMU  VF140  Ex PD194. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM727.
 1200  31  G-AGMV  VF141  Ex PD180. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM728.
 1201  32  G-AGMW  VF142  Ex PD181. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM729.
 1202  33  G-AGMX  VF143  Ex PD182. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM730.
 1203  34  G-AGMY  VF144  Ex PD183. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM731.
 1242  35  G-AGPK  VD239  Ex PD184. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM732.
 1243  36  G-AGPL  VD240  Ex PD185. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM733.
 1244  37  G-AGPM  VD242  Ex PD186. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM734.
 1245  38  G-AGPN  VD243  Ex PD187. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM735.
 1246  39  G-AGPO  VD244  Ex PD188. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM736.
 1247  42  G-AGPP  VD247  Ex PD190. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM738.
 1248  41  G-AGPR  VD246  Ex PD191. For BOAC but cancelled. Became C.Mk.II VM737.
Total Production  23
Total Transferred to C.Mk.II  18
Lancastrian C.Mk.III
C/n Set No
(1)		 Initial
Registration		 Allocated
Military Serial		 Notes
 18 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Woodford, to contract Acft/5820, Avro Works Order 9265, using airframes ordered as Lancaster B.III as indicated, for use by BSAA. 6 aircraft
 delivered before BSAA was absorbed into BOAC, the remainder finding new customers as shown.
 1279  40  G-AGWG  TX274  Ex PD189. Originally allocated VD245 but ntu. To BSAA, named 'Star Light'.
 1280  58  G-AGWH  TX275  Ex RE112. To BSAA, named 'Star Dust'.
 1281  59  G-AGWI  TX276  Ex RE113. To BSAA, named 'Star Land".
 1282  60  G-AGWJ  TX280  Ex RE114. To BSAA, named 'Star Glow'.
 1283  61  G-AGWK  TX281  Ex (unknown). To BSAA, named 'Star Trail'.
 1284  62  G-AGWL  TX282  Ex (unknown). To BSAA, named 'Star Guide'.
 1285        Allocated to BSAA but ntu. Not built. C/n later allocated to Avro 19.
 1286        Allocated to BSAA but ntu. Not built. C/n later allocated to Avro 19.
 1287        Allocated to BSAA but ntu. Not built. C/n later allocated to Avro 19.
 1288  71  G-AHBT    Ex (unknown). To British Aviation Services, London, for operation by Silver City Airways, named 'City of New York'.
 1289  72  G-AHBU    Ex (unknown). To Skyways Ltd, named 'Sky Path'.
 1290  73  G-AHBV    Ex (unknown). To British Aviation Services, London, for operation by Silver City Airways, named 'City of Canberra'.
 1291  74  G-AHBW    Ex (unknown). To British Aviation Services, London, for operation by Silver City Airways, named 'City of London'.
 1292  75  G-AHBX    Ex (unknown). To BEA for crew training. To Alitalia in February 1948 as I-AHBX, named 'Maestrale'.
 1293  76  G-AHBY    Ex (unknown). To BEA for crew training. To Alitalia in November 1947 as I-AHBY, named 'Libeccio'.
 1294  77  G-AHBZ    Ex (unknown). To Skyways Ltd, Dunsfold, named 'Sky Ambassador'. To Onzeair, Karachi, as AP-ACQ
 1295  78  G-AHCA    Ex (unknown). To Skyways Ltd, Dunsfold.
 1296  79  G-AHCB    Ex (unknown). To BEA. To Alitalia in July 1947 as I-AHCB, named 'Grecale'.
 1297  80  G-AHCC    Ex (unknown). To Skyways Ltd, Dunsfold, named 'Sky Chieftan'.
 1298  81  G-AHCD    Ex (unknown). To BSAA, named 'Star Valley'.To BEA in April 1947. To Alitalia in Dec 1947 as I-AHCD, named 'Sirocco'.
 1299  82  G-AHCE    Ex (unknown). To BEA. To Alitalia in August 1947 as I-DALR, named 'Borea'.
Total Production  18
Total Cancelled  3
Civil Registered Avro Type 691 Lancastrian C.Mk.IV
C/n Initial
Registration		 Notes
 3 aircraft diverted from to contract Acft/5666, Avro Works Order 9243, converted by A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Langar, for Flota Aerea Mercante Argentina (FAMA) and delivered between May and
 June 1947.
 1382  LV-ACS  Ex TX288.
 1402  LV-ACU  Ex TX287. To Fuerza Aérea Argentina as T-101 in August 1948. Re-serialed T-66 in June 1949.
 1403  LV-ACV  Ex TX289. To Fuerza Aérea Argentina as T-65 in August 1948.
Total Production 3
Type 691 Lancastrian Delivered As Military
Lancastrian C.Mk.II
Serial Range Set No(1) Batch
Qty		 Conv. Canc'd Notes
 57 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Chadderton, to contract Acft/5328, Avro Works Order 9199. Built as 33 C.Mk.II, remainder cancelled.
 VD281 - VD299        19  
 VL967 - VL981  43-57  15      Ex Lancaster III airframes PD192, PD195, PD196, RE100 - RE111 respectively.
 VL967 - VL971 were originally ordered as C.Mk.I and allocated serials VD248 - VD252.
 VL982 - VL986        5  
 VM701 - VM704  23-26  4      Transferred from contract Acft/4780. See Table for correlation with Lancaster III airframes.
 VM725 - VM738  27, 28, 30-39, 41, 42  14      Transferred from contract Acft/4780. See Table for correlation with Lancaster III airframes.
Total Production 33 24
Lancastrian C.Mk.IV
Serial Range Set No(1) Batch
Qty		 Conv. Canc'd Notes
 8 aircraft ordered from A.V. Roe and Co. Ltd., Woodford, to contract Acft/5666, Avro Works Order 9243. Delivered between March and April 1946.
 TX283 - TX290  63-70  5    3  TX287 - TX289 ntu and transferred directly to civil.
Total Production 5 3
Aircraft Converted From Type 683 Lancaster
Serial Range Batch
Qty		 Conv. Canc'd Notes
 1 aircraft converted by the Fuerza Aérea Argentina in February 1958.
 T-62    (1)    Ex B-045, converted using parts of Lancastrian T-65 (ex LV-ACV). Re-serialed June 1959 to T-102.
(1)

Production Summary

All Aircraft By Type
Type Built New Conv Canc'd Total
 Lancaster Conversion (1) 1
 Lancastrian C.Mk.I 23 23
 Lancastrian C.Mk.II 33 24 57
 Lancastrian C.Mk.III 18 3 21
 Lancastrian C.Mk.IV 8 8
82 (1) 27

Notes

  1. Avro used Set Numbers during production to correctly account for sub-assemblies and other components to ensure traceability.

Production References

  1. Lancaster to York - Civil Lancasters, Lancastrians and Yorks, Lancastrians and Yorks, Derek A. King (Air Britain, 2018)
  2. Avro Aircraft Since 1908, A.J. Jackson (Putnam, 1965 and 1990)
  3. Aeroplane Monthly Magazine, Jun 1992
  4. Aviation News, Vol 7/3
  5. British Isles Civil Aircraft Registers 1919-2011 (LAAS International, 2011)
  6. http://www.amilarg.com.ar/avro-lancastrian.html

Page Revision History

Revised at Version 2.0.0
  • Improved Type Description and Added Specification details.
  • Table order revised.
  • VH737 corrected to originally intended as Lancaster III airframe PD167, (was PD193).
  • Military serial details for c/n 1199 (set 30) corrected.
  • Sets 16 and 29 moved to C.Mk.I Table.
  • C.Mk.II and C.Mk.IV now in separate tables.
  • Old note 1 deleted, new note 1 added.
Revised at Version 1.4.0
  • Page completely rewritten
Revised at Version 1.2.0
  • Page completely rewritten