Avro September 1948 - A Moment in Time (1)

In September, 1948 the Avro Company produced a Brochure highlighting capabilities for the Post- War era.

It tells the story far clearer than any modern day interpretation could hope to achieve.

A VISIT to a modern aircraft factory is a most interesting- though sometimes confusing- experience. There is so much to be seen and it is never possible to examine all the work which is going on in every department.
This booklet of photographs is intended to supplement the impressions of our visitors and convey some idea of the variety and scope of our activities to all ow friends at home and abroad.
A. V. Roe & Co. Limited. September, 1948

A graphic survey of the Avro Organisation

ONE of the most fascinating aspects of the aircraft industry is the need for the application of most of the scientific arts to the design of a modern aeroplane and its equipment. Forty years ago the pioneers of our Company were building with bamboo, linen and wire. A few years later, the impetus of war made progress doubly sure and it became a question of making the flying machine more reliable and more adaptable for multitudinous tasks which were found for it. Later still each type was designed for specific purposes and gradually, almost without realising it, chief designers became authorities in a number of branches of engineering. Concurrently, aircraft production engineers found themselves grappling with entirely new problems in fabrication and it became necessary to institute very rigid inspection procedures. As the science advanced, new materials and new aerodynamic knowledge made the work of design and production infinitely more lengthy and complicated. Advanced technical knowledge was needed as aircraft grew in size and performance and a whole host of ancillary industries found that they, too had an important contribution to make. To the aircraft company falls the lot of arranging the polygamous marriage of these conflicting interests. How well it has been done by others may be judged from the world wide use of such famous types as the Avro 504, Anson, Lancaster and Tudor IV.

AT our Head Office at Greengate, Middleton, called the Chadderton Works, we have concentrated our Administrative and Design Offices, our Records and Experimental Departments and all production Departments which are required up to the stage of final erection. At Woodford Aerodrome in Cheshire, the aircraft are assembled and flight tested. Woodford is also the headquarters of our Flight Research Department and in one of the hangers a wind-tunnel will take models with a maximum span of 7 feet. All types of repair and servicing work undertaken in the large and well equipped workshops at Bracebridge Heath near Lincoln, and Langer near Nottingham.

(Monochrome Photograph - Bottom Right) - The reception hall at the Chadderton Works.

(Monochrome Photograph - Bottom Middle) - The Executive office block at Chadderton Aircraft construction started in 1939.