Researched 2026-10-11 from the sources listed below. Airframes move between hangars, workshops and loans: check with Avro Heritage Museum before travelling to see this one.
The airframe in brief
| Serial / registration | WZ744 |
|---|---|
| Type | Avro 707C |
| First flew | 1 July 1953 |
| Units / operator | Avro; Royal Aircraft Establishment (from January 1956) |
| Research | Fly-by-wire hydraulic controls with side-stick, about 200 hours |
| Withdrawn | September 1966 |
| Previous homes | RAF Colerne store; RAF Museum Cosford (from 1973) |
| Arrived | 2022, at Woodford |
| Status | In store |
| Where | Avro Heritage Museum, Stockport |
The story of WZ744
WZ744 was built as a two-seat delta trainer, with a widened cockpit for side-by-side seating and dual controls. Four were ordered, but the Vulcan proved easy to fly and the rest were cancelled, leaving WZ744 as the only 707C.
It first flew on 1 July 1953 at Waddington. That year it flew in formation with the three single-seat 707s at the SBAC Show.
Its later work had little to do with the Vulcan. It joined the Royal Aircraft Establishment in January 1956 and flew trials of electrically signalled hydraulic controls, an early fly-by-wire system, using a side-stick. It logged about 200 hours on this work, with the RAE at Bedford and Farnborough.
It flew with the RAE until September 1966, when it reached the end of its airframe life. It went into the RAF Museum store at Colerne, then to Cosford in 1973. It was displayed there for years until the BAe EAP took its place in the Test Flight hall, and it went back into store.
In 2022 it moved to the Avro Heritage Museum at Woodford. It is stored in the former BAe 146/Avro RJ simulator building next door.
Seeing WZ744 today
WZ744 is kept in store in the former simulator building beside the museum and is not normally on public view.
| 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… |
Also known as: Avro 707C · 707C WZ744 · two-seat Avro 707