Who was the York "Ascalon" fitted out for?

Short answer

For King George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill: the LV633 "Ascalon", one of the Avro York prototypes, was custom-built as their personal transport and flying conference room. It was later converted into a VVIP transport for the royal family, the prime minister and other dignitaries.

Published: November 4, 2026 · Updated: November 4, 2026 · Edited by Above Ten Thousand · Editorial policy

Who was the York "Ascalon" fitted out for?

Aircraft of the Royal Air Force- Avro 685 York. CH16488

A prototype for the King and the Prime Minister

One of the Avro York prototypes, the LV633 "Ascalon", was custom-built as the personal transport and flying conference room of King George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill. The aircraft was converted into a VVIP transport for the royal family, the prime minister and other dignitaries. It was delivered to No. 24 Squadron. It was the only aircraft of its type fitted with square windows.

State flights

Ascalon flew to Gibraltar and back to Northolt. Its longest flight was nearly 2,000 miles non-stop between Cairo and Moscow, covered in 12 hours and 45 minutes. The aircraft carried His Majesty King George VI to review his victorious 8th Army and on a tour of the Middle East. In late July 1944, the King used the LV633 again, this time accompanying the Queen and Princess Elizabeth to Rabat and Naples.

A York that looked different

On the York, the larger side area of the fuselage forward of the wing compared with the Lancaster made it necessary to fit a third central fin to retain adequate directional control and stability.