THE AVRO 688/689 Tudor

The final blow for the Tudor II came on August 23rd. 1947 when the prototype crashed at Woodford, killing 4 of the 6 crew including Bill Thorn, Chief Test Pilot and Roy Chadwick, Chief Designer. As with the Tudor I, BSAA followed BOAC's rejection of the Tudor II, and ordered 6 to their 44 seat requirements under the designation Tudor V.

The future of the entire Tudor programme was now in question, but the Berlin Airlift brought many of the completed aircraft into service as unpressurised freighters. Two Tudors, a Mk.II and a Mk.V were converted to tankers, carrying 2,500 galls. of diesel oil each trip. BSAA's fleet also served on the Airlift with great reliability. By August 1949 all Tudors had returned to the UK, BSAA was merged with BOAC and all Tudors were stored.

In 1954 Aviation Traders Ltd. purchased the entire available fleet and converted six into "Super Traders" for Air Charter Ltd. with large freight doors. These were used widely for charter work until retired in 1959.

The second Tudor I was converted at Woodford into an all-jet version fitted with 4 Rolls-Royce Nene turbojets in pairs as the Tudor 8.

The Tudor 8 was used for high altitude research work until retired in 1951.

(Monochrome Photograph showing - Tudor V of BSAA.)

(Monochrome Photograph showing - The Tudor 8 at Woodford prior to its first flight in September 1948.)

THE AVRO 706 Ashton

Following this, six redundant airframes were converted, at Woodford, for Ministry research work as the Avro Ashton, serving in a variety of roles for several years.

(Monochrome Photograph showing - The first Avro Ashton on a test flight in September 1950.)