Aircraft heritage museum reveals plan to expand

The Avro Vulcan B2 XM603 is featured at the museum

A museum dedicated to the story of Manchester’s aviation history has revealed it has ambitious plans to expand.

The Avro aircraft company opened its site at Woodford in Stockport 100 years ago.

Workers there built some of the world’s most renowned aircraft, including the wartime Lancaster Bomber.

To mark the centenary the Avro Heritage Museum, which is based at the site, has unveiled ambitious plans for a major extension.

Avro, which became BAE Systems, closed the site in 2011

In 1909 Alliott Verdon-Roe, born in Patricroft, near Salford, built and flew the Roe 1 Triplane, the first all-British aeroplane.

A year later in 1910, he formed A V Roe and Company with his brother.

They set up a workshop in Brownsfield Mill, a cotton mill in Ancoats, Manchester, before expanding to larger factories across Manchester and setting up the assembly plant at Woodford in 1924.

A replica of the first all-British aeroplane, the Roe 1 Triplane replica is on display

Expansion plans would see the Avro Heritage Museum increase the number of aircraft which can be on display, improve accessibility and feature new interactive exhibitions.

Frank Pleszak of the museum said it was "vital" to preserve the story of Manchester's role in Britain's aviation history.

"The history of aviation in the North West is very significant," he said.

"It's Important to preserve it to inspire the next generation."

Alliott Verdon-Roe built and flew the Roe 1 Triplane, the first all-British aeroplane

Lancasters were produced by the Avro workforce at the factory in Chadderton, but as it had no airfield they were assembled and tested at the aerodrome before being delivered.

The factory also produced the Avro Vulcan, the Hawker Siddeley Nimrod and the BAe 146.

Avro, which became BAE Systems, closed the site in 2011.

Plans to expand the Avro Heritage Museum have been revealed

The Aviation Heritage Museum, which opened in 2015, includes a virtual reality experience of a bombing mission from the UK to Berlin.

A replica of the Roe I Triplane replica and the Avro Vulcan XM603 are also among the displays.

An application for plans to expand the existing buildings at the Aviation Heritage Museum is due to be submitted to Stockport Council by the end of the year.