The Avro York was a passenger aircraft of the 1940s up to the early 1960s and was developed from the Lancaster bomber. Development started in 1940 as a low priority project for a long range transport aircraft. Due to the restrictions of wartime development, the wings, engines, undercarriage and tail were taken from the Avro Lancaster bomber with the York having a square fuselage and central vertical fin. The first prototype undertook its first flight on 5th July 1942 from Ringwood airport Manchester. Production was initially slow with only seven aircraft built by the end of 1943 but in 1944 production was stepped up with production at 3 per month. In all 257 aircraft were built.

The aircraft served in both the Royal Air Force and with civilian airlines and both versions flew in the Berlin Airlift. The aircraft flew with both Skyways and Dan Air until 1964.

This drawing is of G-AGJC construction number 1209 which was named Malmesbury and delivered to BOAC on 17th April 1944 and the registration was cancelled on 22nd November 1957.