Also known as Avro Woodford · BAE Systems Woodford
The story of Woodford Aerodrome
In the late 1930s concrete runways were laid and the main runway was extended east. New factory space went up beside Woodford village for a huge expansion of production. Lancasters were built here in the Second World War. The Anson, Lincoln, Tudor, Shackleton, Avro 707, Vulcan and Ashton were all built or first flown at Woodford.
Avro became part of Hawker Siddeley, and its name was dropped in 1963. The HS 748 and the Nimrod followed. British Aerospace took over in 1977 and built the ATP and the BAe 146. BAE Systems planned to finish the Nimrod MRA4 here before closing the site in 2012. The project was cancelled in 2010. After almost 80 years of aircraft building, Woodford was sold in December 2011. Woodford Garden Village now covers much of the site. The Avro Heritage Museum occupies the former aerodrome fire station.
Flying units
| Unit | Years | Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| A. V. Roe and Company (Avro) | 1924–1963 | Anson, Lancaster, Lincoln, Shackleton, Vulcan |
| Hawker Siddeley Aviation | 1963–1977 | HS 748, Nimrod |
| British Aerospace / BAE Systems | 1977–2011 | BAe ATP, BAe 146, Nimrod MRA4 |
What survives
- The former aerodrome fire station, now the Avro Heritage Museum
The museum on the airfield
| Museum | Adult entry | Airframes | Headline exhibit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avro Heritage MuseumStockport, Greater Manchester | £9 | 14 | Vulcan XM603 — the only all-white Vulcan on display anywhere, in original anti-flash nuclear livery — plus walk-in Lancaster and Nimrod… |