Avro Heritage Museum

31/08/2026

With help from Manchester University, we have refitted the fly-by-wire controller to our Avro 707C. This film tells the story.

In a major STEM collaboration, the Avro Heritage Museum and the Uni...

31/08/2026

First Flight of VX777 as a Vulcan B2 version

The Avro Vulcan VX777 was the second prototype aircraft and was the first to be fitted with the first examples of the new Bristol Olympus 100 engines producing 9750lb of static thrust. The first prototype aircraft VX770 had been flown with Rolls-Royce Avon and later Rolls-Royce Sapphires whilst development of the Olympus engine was ongoing.

After successful taxi tests during the latter part of August 1953, the first flight of VX777 occurred on 3rd September 1953 when Avro Test pilot Wing Commander Roly Falk accompanied by test engineer Stan Nichol took VX777 into the air for an hour-long test flight. Thus began a long period of development and demonstration flying for the aircraft.

In July 1954 the aircraft suffered an inflight failure on a test flight and the pilot, Roly Falk made an emergency landing at Farnborough and departed the end of the runway during which the undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft was badly damaged.
The aircraft was repaired sufficiently for a ferry flight to Woodford for major repairs and modifications to be made including the more powerful Olympus 101 engine which would eventually produce 11,000lb of Static Thrust. These would be the power plants fitted to the B Mk1 production aircraft.

Development testing had highlighted high speed buffet attributed to the straight leading edge. A solution to this problem was tested on the Avro 707A and it proved to be successful in resolving the problem.

Between May and October 1955, VX777 wings were modified to the ‘kinked’ design or Phase 2 wing. It was Roly Falk who first took the aircraft into the air with the new Phase 2 wing on 4th October 1955 for a brief 5 minute test flight to make sure it handled as expected. The following day Roly took the aircraft into the air for a 90-minute flight testing the buffet threshold and other features. It was a success and VX777 continued in its role developing the Vulcan type.

In August 1956, VX777 was grounded at Woodford to allow fitting of the completely new ‘Phase 2C’ outer wing and other modifications to become the prototype Vulcan B Mk2 including the fitting of Rolls Royce Olympus 102 engines and elevons replacing the separate elevators and ailerons on the trailing edge of the wings.

The prototype B Mk2 took to the air for the first time on this day, 31st August 1957 with Roly Falk at the controls for a brief 15 minute flight to check the handling. The B Mk2 aircraft was shown to the public for the first time at the Farnborough Airshow in September 1957.

If you want to learn more about the Vulcan, sit in the cockpit of one of our two Vulcans or simply learn more about the tremendous history of the Avro Aircraft Company and its successors, why not visit the Avro Heritage Museum situated on the site of Woodford Aerodrome where all 136 Vulcans manufactured were assembled and took their first flights. For more information got to our website https://www.avroheritagemuseum.co.uk/.

Why not join us in September on the 12th and 13th when we have our annual 40s Weekend. For more information and tickets, go to our website.


Avro Vulcan B Mk2 prototype VX777

Diagram showing how the shape of the wing changed from the straight delta of the first prototype aircraft, to the Phase 2 compound sweepback deployed on the production Vulcan B1 and then into the ultimate Phase 2C enlarged compound sweepback.

Classified briefing note from the Aerodynamics Office for the Chief Test Pilot Roly Falk as to what to expect during the first flight of the B2 prototype.

29/08/2026

Avro Builds Tornado Fighter Aeroplane

Following the formation of Hawker Siddeley Aircraft in 1935, the constituent companies including Avro continued to produce their own aircraft designs under their own name as well as sharing manufacturing work throughout the group.

One such example of workshare was the Hawker Tornado. Originating from specification F.18/37 for a new interceptor to follow the Hurricane, the Hawker business came up with two aircraft versions each using different engines. One engine was the Napier Sabre and eventually the aircraft became known as the Tempest. The other engine was the Rolls-Royce Vulture and the aircraft became known as the Tornado.

Three prototype Tornados were built by Hawker at its Langley plant and the first flight was 6th October 1939 using Vulture II engines. Such was the success of the development programme an Instruction to Proceed was given to build 500 Tornados.

Production was to take place at Avro’s Woodford plant and on the 29th August 1941 the first production Tornado (construction number R7936) made its maiden flight at Woodford using the Rolls-Royce Vulture V engine. Tornado R7936 had a maximum speed of 398 mph at 23,000 feet. This would be the only production Tornado to be built because the experience with the Vulture engines on the Avro Manchester had shown serious reliability issues.

As a result of this Avro had developed the twin engined Manchester into a four engined aircraft powered by Rolls-Royce Merlins and named the Avro Lancaster. Absolute priority had been given by the Ministry of Aircraft Production to the Merlin engine programme and so the Vulture engine and the Hawker Tornado were swiftly cancelled.

Tornado R7936 was used for the next 18 months as a flying test bed for six bladed contra-rotating propellers developed by deHavilland and Rotol Airscrews.

16/08/2026

Avro Aeroplane was used to witness the total eclipse above the clouds 99 years ago

Recently we experienced the historic solar eclipse occurring today.

Back on the 29th June 1927, just over 99 years ago, most people were unlucky to see the first total eclipse over the UK for nearly 200 years because the weather was very poor with cloud and high winds.

Fortunately, Lancashire Aero Club chairman John Leeming had been asked by a special correspondent to fly high above the clouds to ensure that the phenomenon wasn’t missed. Leeming borrowed an Avro 504 fitted with an Armstrong Siddeley Lynx engine from Avro at Woodford. Flying via Southport, he climbed above the clouds over Yorkshire to witness what he later described in his book Airdays as the most impressive experience of his life:

“As the light faded, the rolling valleys of the clouds below filled with purpling colour. The whites faded to faint blues, to deep violets, to black. Great streaks of orange and mauve splashed rounded hill-tops of the clouds. The sky became deeper and deeper blue. A few stars twinkled into visibility – then, quite suddenly, it was night. I switched on the lights over the instruments……

Then, I noticed that the instruments lights seemed to be weaker, to be more yellow. And gradually a grey visibility seemed to fill the cockpit. It was growing light again. All the strange play of colours followed once more, but reversely. The sky lightened from black velvet to a deep faintly transparent blue, to the clear blue of summer morning. The clouds showed their outlines in gold and violet, shaded through orange to blues, and finally white”.

The picture shows an Avro 504 with an Armstrong Siddeley Lynx engine as flown by John Leeming.

Visit the Avro Heritage Museum to see more interesting aviation stories and our historic timeline of Avro aeroplanes

08/08/2026

Avro Anson G-AHKX restoration begins at Woodford.

Sir William Roberts built up a collection of vintage aircraft at Strathallan Airfield on the Strathallan Estate in Perthshire in the 1970s.Sir William made the difficult decision in 1981, due to the ever-increasing costs of maintenance and to keep the aircraft serviceable as well as operating them, to sell the majority of the collection.

This decision attracted the attention of Divisional Directors of the Weybridge Division of British Aerospace. The Division included the former Avro sites in Manchester, Chadderton and Woodford. It was decided that the Division should bid for one of the Anson C19 aircraft in the Auction with the objective of preserving this important part of the Avro heritage at its place of origin.

Harry Holmes and John Williamson travelled north on the appointed day to bid on behalf of the Division. Within minutes of the auction opening, the Anson, one of the first items on the list, was secured for the sum of £600. It was considered a bargain although much work was needed.

Woodford Transport Manager Jack Habberjam, who in days gone by has repositioned Ansons by the dozen, was tasked with the recovery of the aircraft to Manchester by road.
The intention was for the aircraft to be restored to full flying condition by the Chadderton and Woodford Apprentice Schools.
It was believed that this would provide future courses with a stimulating and rewarding project and valuable practical experience in a wide variety of disciplines including structural engineering, electrics, hydraulics, inspection, shop planning, raising of job cards, budgeting and store keeping.

The aircraft arrived at Woodford on the 8th August 1981 to begin its restoration journey. That journey would take a lot longer than originally anticipated. In the December 1986 edition of Manchester News, the in-house publication for the Chadderton and Woodford sites, it was reported that:-
“In late 1981 work began on the aircraft, but due to unforeseen problems, it became a much greater task than was first expected. The problems consisting of excessive corrosion, very old drawings and higher standards of work to comply with improved safety standards since the 1940s when this aircraft was originally built.”

Problems continued to mount as the apprentice scheme contracted and eventually the fuselage was returned to Woodford where a team of retired employees, led by Mike Taylor, continued the restoration work.

On 8th March 2001, G-AHKX once more returned to the skies with Woodford’s Chief Test Pilot Alistair McDicken at the controls and assisted by Mike Taylor as flight engineer.

In June 2002 the Anson joined the BAE Systems Heritage Flight at Old Warden Aerodrome and eventually it was transferred into the ownership of the Shuttleworth Collection in March 2022.

To learn more about the history of the Avro Anson development which saw over 11,000 enter service around the world, why not visit the Avro Heritage Museum at the old Woodford Aerodrome site and step on board one of three Anson’s we have in the collection, which is exhibited in the main Museum hall – G-AGPG.
For more information visit https://www.avroheritagemuseum.co.uk/

06/08/2026

At 10am on the 6th August 1986 the British Aerospace ATP was ready to take to the skies for a maiden flight. It was quite a blustery day delaying the take-off slightly but at 10:04 the ATP took to the skies. With Chief Test Pilot Robbie Robinson at the controls the 2-hour, 40-minute flight was a complete success.

The remarkable aspect of the maiden flight was that the date for the flight had been set over two years earlier.

The original schedule was mid-October 1986 but recognising how important it was for the aeroplane to feature at the 1986 Farnborough Airshow, a revised target date was set. So, in 1984 the target of 10am on 6th August 1986 was set.

Whilst the ATP was built as a development of the Hawker Siddeley HS 748 medium-sized turboprop airliner, it was quite a challenging target to achieve.

The pages from the British Aerospace in-house Manchester News magazine show how the project developed from the launch date through to the achievement of meeting the 6th August target for the forthcoming Farnborough Airshow which started on the 31st August 1986.

01/08/2026

The Avro Heritage Museum is pleased to host the start point of the Distinguished Gentleman's Drive on Sunday 27th September at 09:30. This is a charity organisation and the following information taken directly from their website describes the purpose.

The drive is an on-road motoring event, uniting classic cars built 40 years or older, designed to encourage enthusiasts and vintage car owners around the world to dress dapper and drive for men’s health. Funds raised by our Distinguished Gentlefolk support our charity partner, Movember.

These funds are invested in vital research and programs for prostate cancer and men's mental health to support the wellbeing of men all around the world. The Distinguished Gentleman's Drive is a themed event, where drivers and their passengers dress dapper to complement the elegant design of their vehicles.

To book on to the event as a participant please go to the website.

https://gentlemansdrive.com/events/england/stockport

The museum will be open as normal from 10:00.

28/07/2026

We are gearing up for our fabulous 1940s Weekend. Sat 12th and Sun 13th September, 10-4, Avro Heritage Museum, Woodford, Stockport. See photos for a taster of last year’s fabulous event! There's something for everyone and it's a great way to get together with family or friends for the day.

Step back in time with live entertainment and see amazing re-enactors in action, as well as food, drink and local stalls.

NEWS JUST IN - Battle of Britain Memorial Flight flypast! - date and time to be announced

Museum entry is included and highlights include:
* Live music from the fabulous Lancashire Belle - 1940s Wartime Singer, Bertie Blighty and DJ Windy Atrain, swing -dancing to popular 1940s music
* The Robinson brewery dray with shire horses
* Meet Sir Winston Churchill (Sunday)
* Re enactors
* Military policeman
* Fireman
* Chaplin and his accordian-playing wife
* Home guard
* Stalls and food and drink
* Thirsty Filly - beers, ciders, cocktails and soft drinks
* Adlington WI
* From home made passes
* African ali spices & sauces etc
* The escape committee
* Vintage fashion
* Runway 25
* Framed photos
* 1940s sweets
* Jo Middleton working wonders
* Foys Toys military surplus
* Doggy treats
* The rest good collective
* Carousel creations cheshire
* Small steamers - ride-on railway
* Working wonders

Facebook Event link is here - click 'Going' or 'Interested' for updates and to spread the word: https://fb.me/e/5fG2qvpS4

All of this for the price of normal museum entry! If we've missed anyone please pop yourself in the comments.
Save money by booking online in advance Adults £9, Concessions £7, Children aged 11+ £5, Family £25, Under 11s are free! https://www.avroheritagemuseum.co.uk/
Extra charges apply for some activities. Availability varies across the weekend.
SAT NAV postcode: SK7 1AG
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25/07/2026

Maritime Reconnaissance.

The Manchester factories of Chadderton and Woodford have had long involvement in maritime reconnaissance aircraft. The Anson and Lancaster performed such roles but the two aircraft types most synonymous with maritime patrol operations are the Shackleton and the Ni**od. The month of July has a history of key events in the development of both aircraft types.

Following the Second World War it was recognised how important coastal reconnaissance was to counter submarine threats obviously borne from bitter experience with the German U Boats. The Air Ministry issued specification R5\46 for a new maritime patrol aircraft. Avro responded with the Type 696, when the aircraft entered RAF service in 1951 it was named the Shackleton in honour of the famous explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton who was an ascendant of Chief Designer Roy Chadwick’s wife, Mary.

The Shackleton Maritime Reconnaissance Mark 1 (MR 1) first flew in March 1949 but with crew feedback and growing maritime threats a specification was soon issued for an improved Shackleton. This was designated the Shackleton Maritime Reconnaissance Mark 2 (MR 2) which incorporated numerous improvements including an improved radar system and structural changes.

The prototype was aircraft VW126 which was an MR1 but modified for use as an MR2 aerodynamic test vehicle and first flew 19th July 1951 piloted by Avro Chief Test Pilot J.H Orrell. Our own Shackleton WR960 (Dougal) was originally built as an MR2 and entered RAF service in 1954 before conversion at the Bitteswell airfield to an MR2 Aerial Early Warning (AEW) standard in 1972. A total of 181 Avro Shackleton aircraft were constructed over the lifetime of its production.

As the Shackleton MR2 fleet neared the end of its service life in the early 1960s the Government issued Air Staff Requirement 381 for a replacement Maritime Patrol aircraft and the Manchester factories now under the name of Hawker Siddeley duly responded. Beating strong competition, the contract for the Shackleton replacement was announced by PM Harold Wilson in February 1965. The aircraft was designated HS801 and named Ni**od MR 1. Named after the Biblical figure Ni**od, the Mighty Hunter which was rather apt given it’s demonstrated submarine hunting capabilities.

Using the De-Havilland Comet airframe the Ni**od had significant modifications to meet the Maritime Patrol requirement. XV147 was delivered to Woodford as a Comet in October 1965 and emerged from the Woodford factory for its successful first flight on 31st July 1967. Ni**od MR1 entered RAF service in 1969. Similar to the Shackleton story, the Ni**od MR1 was soon to be upgraded to the Ni**od MR2. Commencing in 1975 the MR2 update significantly improved the maritime patrol capabilities of the aircraft.

Once again July features in the Ni**od history as in July 1980 the first Ni**od Mk3 AEW aircraft performed its maiden flight. This was the conversion of eleven Ni**od MR1 airframes into Aerial Early Warning aircraft. The project suffered a series of technical difficulties and was cancelled in 1986.

Moving on to the 1990s, the RAF issued a requirement for a Replacement Maritime Patrol Aircraft (RMPA) known as Staff Requirement (Air) 420. This was to replace the now ageing Ni**od MR2 fleet. Again, this was a competition and British Aerospace responded with a proposal that significantly updated Ni**od MR2 airframe and systems. On 25th July 1996 the Ministry of Defence announced that British Aerospace had won the competition. The replacement of the Ni**od MR2 was named the Ni**od MRA4 (Maritime Reconnaissance & Attack).

No longer managed by the Manchester factories, the first flight of the MRA4 development aircraft was achieved in 2004 at Woodford, and the first production flight took place in 2009. The programme was beset by technical difficulties and was cancelled in 2010. This ended the maritime reconnaissance role conducted by either Shackletons or Ni**ods lasting over sixty years and this is shown in the image below.

Maritime reconnaissance remains an important UK defence requirement and is performed for the RAF by a fleet of Boeing P-8 Poseidon aircraft.

Visit the https://www.avroheritagemuseum.co.uk to learn more about the Shackleton or either join one of our ‘Behind the Scenes’ tours to meet Dougal or come along to our next event which is the 1940's Themed Weekend on Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th September 2026.