The Avro Heritage Trust is responsible for the running of the Avro Heritage Museum, Woodford Aerodrome, Chester Road, Woodfor ... d, Stockport, United Kingdom. The Museum is run entirely by enthusiastic volunteers and depends entirely on donations and revenue raised from admissions and shop sales. It allows visitors to appreciate the pioneering work of Alliot Verdon Roe in establishing the worlds first registered aircraft manufacturing business on 1st January 1910 using the basement of his family's Manchester cotton mill. It takes visitors on a journey through time showing how aircraft design and manufacturing changed to meet the demands of two World Wars and the part played by the AVRO Aircraft Company in delivering such iconic aircraft as the Avro 504, Anson and Lancaster all of which were developed in Manchester. The site of the Museum at Woodford Aerodrome saw continuous aircraft manufacture from 1924 through to 2011 when it was sold off for redevelopment. In the post war period, the airfield saw first flights of iconic aircraft such as the Vulcan bomber, Avro 748 turboprop airliner and the Shackleton Maritime Patrol aircraft. The manufacturing site at nearby Chadderton, Oldham delivered the parts for final assembly at Woodford. As the UK aircraft manufacturing industry was consolidated, AVRO became a part of Hawker Siddeley which in turn became a part of British Aerospace now BAE Systems. The iconic AVRO name would return once more with the production of the AVRO Regional Jet. The last aircraft to be developed at the Manchester sites was the ill-fated Nimrod MRA4. The project was beset with problems and delays. It was a fine aircraft that never saw operational service with the RAF. Defence spending cuts saw it axed just as it was ready to enter service. This brought an end to aircraft production at Woodford Aerodrome after 86 years. The Avro Heritage Museum, situated in the former airfield fire station at Woodford allows visitors to explore this remarkable legacy. read more