Discover how Avro’s innovations in aviation shaped modern history from Manchester
Manchester: On January 1, 2025, we celebrated 115 years since Avro was founded. This British aircraft manufacturer may not have lasted long, but its impact on history is undeniable.
Alliot Verdon Roe started Avro, inspired by his father. The Greengate plant in Chadderton is where it all began. On June 8, 1908, Roe became the first Englishman to fly his own design. That was the spark that led to Avro’s creation.
Avro officially launched on New Year’s Day, 1910. But it wasn’t until World War I that they really took off in aircraft production. Roe and Roy Chadwick teamed up to design the AVRO 504, which became a key training aircraft for the Royal Flying Corps.
This trainer was so effective that it remained in service with the Royal Air Force until the late 1930s. Notably, even the Japanese pilot who led the Pearl Harbor attack learned to fly on the Avro 504.
Roe made history again on July 13, 1909, when he flew the Roe I, the first all-British plane. It was a wooden and paper creation that flew 100 feet. Quite the achievement!
After World War I, Avro dabbled in making cars, like the Harper Runabout. They were unique, built from wood and aluminum, similar to aircraft design.
In the 1920s and 30s, Avro’s factory at Newton Heath produced iconic planes like the Avian and Anson. But in 1938, the government decided to build a larger factory at Greengate.
Roy Dobson and Roy Chadwick envisioned a massive plant, double the size of typical factories. Employees moved in during spring 1939, and production kicked off soon after.
The Avro Manchester bomber was one of the first planes produced there, but it faced issues with its unreliable Rolls-Royce Vulture engine. If it had worked out, we might not have seen the legendary Lancaster bomber.
Thanks to the availability of the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine, Chadwick modified the Manchester design, creating the Lancaster. This bomber became crucial in many significant air raids during World War II.
At its peak in June 1944, the Woodford assembly lines produced 156 Lancasters in one month. A total of 7,377 were built, playing a vital role in the war effort.
Interestingly, despite being a prime target, the Luftwaffe never bombed the Woodford factory, which was a huge miscalculation on their part.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Arthur Harris praised Avro, saying their work was essential to winning the war. The Lancaster was a game-changer.
After the war, Avro continued to innovate with aircraft like the Shackleton and the Vulcan, which served as a nuclear deterrent for decades. The Avro name faded in 1963 when it merged into Hawker Siddeley Aviation.
The last aircraft fully made at Greengate was the ATP airliner, and production wrapped up in 2012. Now, a housing estate sits on the site, while the Avro Heritage Museum keeps the legacy alive.
