Avro September 1948 - A Moment in Time 3

BACKGROUND to PRODUCTION

In the Tool Room highly skilled engineers work to extreme accuracy on the Jig Borers.

In the Pattern Shop it is the skill of the craftsmen which counts.

Bottom left - The work of the Power Presses is supplemented by the output from a 10,000 ton Rubber Press.

Bottom Right - Fully automatic milling machines save hours in the production of the spar booms more than 30 feet long.

A special machine of AVRO design produces fuselage formers from metal strip in a continuous operation.

The Machine Shop milling section is shown here with a batch of castings in the foreground.

Intricate wiring jobs are accurately and swiftly completed on a panel sub-assembly.

In the Metal Detail Shop a vast number of small components is assembled.

Bottom Left - Heat treatment and the application of protective treatment are important processes in the Plating Shop.

Bottom Right - Sub-assemblies and details are stored at strategic points alongside the assembly lines.



ASSEMBLY LINES AT CHADDERTON & FINAL ERECTION AT WOODFORD

Into Production

Fuselages are conveniently divided and each section is almost fully equipped before it leaves for final erection at Woodford. This technique plays an important part in saving floor space and production time.

Tail sections of the fuselage are placed on end to simplify assembly.

Accessibility in the fuselage nose is essential for easy maintenance.

The view to the right has been taken in the assembly hangers at Woodford. Here the wings, fuselage and engines are brought together and the rewards are reaped for co-operation with production viewpoints in the early design stages. A most important factor which simplifies the work of final erection and later servicing on Avro aircraft is the extremely high standard of interchangeability which is achieved on all major components and individual details. Woodford Aerodrome occupies 330 acres and of this some 900,000 square feet is factory space.

Easily detached panels provide excellent accessibility.

This magnificent interior of an Avro Tudor V provides an example of AVRO workmanship at its best.