Photographs of Handley Page aircraft (images restored)

[viscount]

A few years ago several drawers and an LP box of assorted b&w photos came back into my possession. The collection had been gathered by MAS 'Flypast' editors in the late '70s through to the mid '80s for possible use in the magazine then sale to members. Nothing has been added since 1986. Regretably few Liverpool shots remain, however there is an absolute wealth of other forgotten photos of interesting aircraft.

The quality of photos vary, mostly b&ws, a number are clearly home processed and others severely cropped with sissors for use in 'Flypast'. I have digitally straightened, altered the contrast, cropped and removed major blemishes whenever necessary before posting. Very few have the photographer's name on the back, making it impossible to credit these shots, but I will do whenever I can.

Started this section by looking for Dart Herald photos, finding only a few extended to cover a number of Handley Page designs. While working to improve these shots, realised the nose-on HP.115 shot was printed back-to-front - my PC skills are improving as it was only a matter of seconds to correct - first time I've had to do that! The wonders of the digital age, rescuing scrap b&ws that should have been in the bin 30 years ago!

As usual any comments, additional information, corrections, memories, additional photos etc are welcome.

H.P.81 Hermes IV



1. G-ALDA Hermes IV in a beautiful Ian MacFarlane credited photo. G-ALDA served with Air Safaris 10.60 until reposessed 11.61. It then went on to fly with Skyways and Air Links, eventually withdrawn at Southend 12.64.



2. G-ALDL Hermes IV also of Air Safaris, with whom it had a sort career, being acquired 5.61 with airline ceasing ops last day of 10.61. Subsequently followed the same career path as 'DA until withdrawn at Southend 8.62. I wonder which airfield had allotments just over a boundary wire fence?



3. G-ALDG Hermes IV fuselage served with the BUA Cabin Training Unit at Gatwick from 10.62. Today it is preserved at Duxford, still as a fuselage and fin only.

H.P.67 Hastings



4. Hastings T.5 TG503 served with the BCBS and SCBS following conversion from Mk.C.1a. Appears to be in a plain metal and either yellow or day-glo T-bands scheme, I only remember these in silver/white scheme with day-glo tape. Note the under fuselage radome of the Mk. T.5.



5. Hastings C.1 TG513/V wearing the badge of 242 OCU and titles of RAF Transport Command. The aircraft ended its days with the Fire Fighters at Manston, del there 8.9.67.



6. Hastings NZ8804/22 of the Royal New Zealand Transport 22 Sqdn Squadron, very likely at a building site Heathrow, judging by the BOAC Comet 1 in the background. Subsequently find that this same photo appears with the Hastings entry on Wikipedia, credited to Alan Schofield, the location was indeed LAP, 10.10.53 before the start of a London-Christchurch Air Race

HP.115



7. The HP.115 aerodynamic test aircraft, XP841, while with RAE Aero Flight, Bedford.



8. The HP.115 is now in the 'Leading Edge' gallery at Yeovilton, along with Concorde G-BSST.



H.P.80 Victor

9. In all white anti-flash scheme, Victor B.1 XA933. The aircraft behind is a Valiant B.1.





10 & 11. Two shots of a pair of Victor K.2s with the refueling basket actuallly 'plugged-in'. Probably the work of different photographers but at the same event as the paper used for the prints is different!



12. This Ken Ellis accredited shot would appear to be a Victor K.2 landing during a RAFA Woodford Air Show.

[danairamb]

Great photos, especially the Hermes (only because civil aviation is my first obsession), wonder where those photos were taken, the 2nd one almost looks as if it was at some more exotic location but it could be somewhere as "unsexy" as Southend as I don't have any recollection of those airports back then.
These pics are great Brian. I recall getting great delight from all the photos that appeared in the MAS magazine for the few years that I received it, so its great to see these over 40 years later.

[viscount]

To follow on from the earlier post, I have no idea where the two Air Safaris Hermes IV shots were taken. Airfields have changed greatly in 50 years. The lack of information on the reverse of the photos is a frustration, while I can work out the what, I would love to know more of the where, when and indeed who took the photo!

If anyone knows more about any of these photos, do please post the information. While a number are inscribed 'Ken Ellis' on the back - not a great surprise as he was editor of MAS 'Flypast' for much of the period the box of photos was being brought together, I'm sure many came from the likes ofDave Price, Phil Butler, George Jones, John Browne, Photogenix, Gerry Manning and doubtless many others too - if only they had all scribbled their name on the back!

While the MAS Collection box has not been added to since 1986, I'm surprised how many shots date further back to the 50s and 60s - indeed it is these shots that are particularly fascinating, like the Hermes and Hastings, that makes the effort cleaning up the shots and posting so worthwhile. After the Handley Page types, I've got some interesting Manchester shots selected, then maybe some Meteors, Hunters, Canberras and Lightnings to follow over the coming weeks, along with BAC.1-11, Caravelle, Boeing 707s and Douglas piston-liners too - and that barely dints the collection.

[john1958]

I'd forgotten all about GALDG at LGW!!! She was there for so many years too!!! Used to always look at her when wandering up to the Beehive to see what was lurking in there!!! :-)

John

[Deleted]

The first pic was taken at Newcastle by Ian McFarlane.

An almost identical picture, although in colour, can be seen on AB pics.

www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1005948/

Dave

[viscount]

Aug 29, 2012 21:19:48 GMT 1 @davegraham said:

The first pic was taken at Newcastle by Ian McFarlane.

An almost identical picture, although in colour, can be seen on AB pics.

www.abpic.co.uk/photo/1005948/

Dave

Thanks Dave,

Nice to have the rather neat and tidy terminal identified, how airfield terminals changed in the 60s. This is one of the few photos with a name on the back, so was correctly credited in the caption. The quality of his work is evident on the print and after digitising.

[viscount]

Part two of the MAS Collection photographs of Handley Page aircraft feature the Dart Herald and Jetstream types.

The HPR.7 Dart Herald



13. The first production HPR.7 Dart Herald 100 was G-APWA, which was a demonstrator and leased out for short periods to a number of operators. I debated using this photo as it is so badly over-exposed, however as it was only used by Autair 4.63 to 8.63 decided to post it regardless as it would appear that it could be at Liverpool Speke. Sure enough our records show that the first visit to Liverpool by a Dart Herald was G-APWA with Autair on 18.7.63 arriving from Luton and onwards to Leuchars, to return on the reverse routing later in the day.

Since 3.93 this aircraft has been preserved at the Museum of Berkshire Aviation, Woodley. Currently in a BEA colour scheme.



14. Dart Herald 210 HB-AAG of Globe Air of Berne, with whom it operated 5.63 to 7.65. This aircraft ended its days in Taiwan, broken up there 5.87.



15. Dart Herald 201 D-BOBO of Bavaria Fluggesellschaft, operated by them 4.66 to 10.68. Another aircraft ended its days in Taiwan, broken up there 5.87.



16. Dart Herald 213 D-BIBI also of Bavaria, operated by them 5.64 until 6.67. Later became G-AVPN with Channel Express and since 10.97 has been on display at the Yorkshire Air Museum, Elvington.



17. Dart Herald G-ATIG seen here in a Tim Badham photo engine running outside Fields Avn at East Midlands on 27th May (no year!). G-ATIG flew with Brymon 7.77 until 11.81. The aircraft lingers on with the Fire Service at Norwich.

The HP.137 Jetstream 1

In keeping with the Handley Page theme, limiting these photos to the Handley Page produced Jetstream 1, mainly because there are no photos of the BAe produced Jetstream 31 in the collection!



18. The 6th Jetstream 1 built, this Ken Ellis photo shows G-AXEK wearing Paris number 480 and the titles of Air Wasteels - although it never served with the airline. Seen here at Paris Air Salon, June 1971.



19. Jetstream 200 G-AXFV with race code 32 is seen in this George Jones photograph at Abingdon at the start of the July 1971, London to Victoria, Australia Air Race.



20. Jetstream 1 G-BBBV was on the British register 6.73 to 7.74 before export to the USA. Today the fuselage is with the Museum of Flight, East Fortune.



21. Jetstream 1 G-BBYM was operated by Morgan Crucible Co. 2,74 to 7.81. To Cosford 6.00, but unsure of current whereabouts.



22. XX481/81 Jetstream T.1 was with the RAF only 3.74 until 10.78, when it was transferred to the Royal Navy as a Jetstream T.2.



23. Likewise XX485/85 a Jetstream T.1 was with the RAF 7.74 to 10.76 when transferred to the Royal Navy as a Jetstream T.2. This photo is credited on the reverse to George Jones ? ! From the aircraft in the background looks very like the static aircraft park at a RAF Finningley Battle of Britain Air Show.



24. Another Paris Air Salon shot, this one by Phil Butler of F-BTMI with Paris number 301. Operated by Air Wasteels 3.72 to 6.76 and 8.77 to 2.78. It later became a Jetstream T.2 ZA110 with the Royal Navy.



25. N340 was worn 6.69 to 5.78 with the National Steel Corp.



26. Jetstream N1035S in Cal-State Airlines colours - but was never delivered to them, although kept the marks for some time 5.69 to 2.74 when it became G-AWVK with Decca Navigator and later G-RAVL.



27. Although in the preamble to this section I stated no BAe Jetstream 31s, this machine started life in 1969 as a Jetstream 1, however it was converted to become the Jetstream 3100 prototype, re-flying 3.80. Operated as a test aircraft and demonstrator until 1990, since 8.96 has been displayed by the Scotish Museum of Flight, East Fortune. From the array of fire and rescue vehicles, I assume that this Ken Ellis credited photo is taken at SBAC Farnborough.

[Cityflyer]

Some of the Handly Page Jetstream shots from my collection : -

G-JSSD C/n 227 which was converted to Jetstream 31 test aircraft and designated Jetstream 3000 It then was further modefied for the Jetstream 32 or Super 31 project ans finally fitted with a Jetstream 41 Rudder assembly, it is seen here in the early 1980's


G-AXEP C/n 209 seen in the late 1960's on delvvery to the USA @ Prestwick


XX481 C/n 251 over the Clyde on a Pre-delvery flight during 1878 after conversion for the Navy


Hope this added to the original postings