Avro/HS./BAe.748/Andover Photographs (some 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. 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.

The Avro/HS/BAe.748 has always been a popular subject on this forum. This selection is mostly of demonstrators and RAF Andovers rather than airline schemes, simply because that is what is in the collection!

I welcome additional comments, corrections, anecdotes related to '748s, or additional photos of the type to add to this thread.



1. Avro 748 series 1, G-ARRW, served with BKS from new in 4/63 to 3/67 and again on lease 12/67 until 3/68. It also flew with Skyways, Dan Air, Ryanair, London European, British Independent before sale in Nepal 11.92. Damaged beyond repair after over-running the runway at Pokara, Nepal 6.11.97.



2. Both HS.748 series 2s, G-AVXI and G-AVXJ served their whole active lives with the Civil Aviation Flying Unit, from early '69 through to sale to Emerald late '98.



3. This photo is credited on the reverse to E.G.Little, who has also written on the details: HS.748-2, F-BSRU of TAT, operating an Air France service into Heathrow 5.8.75.



4. HS.748-2, G-BEBA in the earlier, dark, Dan Air scheme for the type. Originally delivered to Fiji Airways, G-BEBA was flown by Dan Air 5/76 to 5/89, less a few short spells out on lease. Eventually destroyed by fire Big Trout Lake, Ontario 14.8.91.



5.HS.748 Coastguarder demonstrator G-BCDZ. Note the 'Hawker Siddeley 748 Coastguarder' cabin titles. Photo has a Ken Ellis sticker on the reverse. Certainly the weakest print of this selection, but included in order to compare with the next one.



6. Another of Coastguarder G-BCDZ, this time with 'British Aerospace Coastguarder' titling and much sharper shot. A Ken Ellis stickered photo.



7. Large freight door variant demonstrator G-BDVH. Again note the 'Hawker Siddeley Aviation' cabin titling. A Ken Ellis photo.



8. G-BDVH again, this time with the freight door open, note the change to 'British Aerospace' titling. A Ken Ellis stickered photo.



9. Demonstrator for the BAe.748-2B, G-BGJV.



10. In the final years of BAe.748 sales, demonstrator G-BLGJ, now marketed as 'Super 748'.

[viscount]

Following the airline and demonstrator Avro/HS/BAe.748 photos, some of the Andover in R.A.F. service.



11. Queen's Flight HS.748 Andover CC.2, XS789 with the original polished metal underside. This photo credited to G.J.R. Skillen and noted to be at Aldergrove.



12. A later shot of a Queen's Flight Andover CC.2, this time XS793, now with a painted underside. A Ken Ellis stickered photo.



13. A HS.780 Andover C.1 of the Empire Test Pilot School, which presumably makes it XS606. There were 31 of the HS.780 Andover C.1 built with a considerably redesigned rear to permit a rear underside cargo door and 'kneeling' undercarriage, a feature displayed to good effect in this shot. A Ken Ellis stickered photo.



14. Landing 'action' shot of Andover C.1 XS641, quite likely at Farnborough - note simply 'Royal Air Force' titles on the cabin.



15. A slightly over-exposed shot of XS612.



16. Andover C.1 XS609 wearing full 'Royal Air Force Air Support Command' cabin titles.

[avro748]

Hello Brian.

Good subject for a thread! Lots of local interest.

Some photos of aircraft you have already posted.

G-ARRW Manchester July 1977


G-BEBA Manchester October 1980


G-BCDZ Woodford June 1977


G-BLGJ Woodford July 1980


G-BGJV Woodford June 1980


Plenty more where they came from!

Cheers

Shaun

[avro748]

Some photos of new build '748 prior to delivery to the customer. Most are taken at Woodford, the exception being C/No 1775 taken at Manchester and C/No 1787 whilst being used as a demonstrator at Farnborough.

C/No 1768 Series 2B(LFD) (No reg worn) May 1979. The 2B prototype G-BGJV which became the 2B demonstrator.


C/No 1775 Series 2A(LFD) XT-MAN July 1981. To the Upper Volta Air Force.


C/No 1787 Series 2B G-11-22 September 1982. To Bouraq as PK-IHP.


C/No 1793 Series 2B G-BKLG April 1983. To Bouraq as PK-IHT.


C/No 1796 Series 2B G-BKIG October 1982. To Airline of the Marshall Islands as MI-8203.


C/No 1803 Series 2B (No reg worn) June 1985. To LIAT as V2-LCT.


C/No 1804 Series 2B G-11-10 June 1986. To Cameroon Airlines as TJ-CCF.


Cheers

Shaun

[ian531]

Hi Shaun

Great set of shots, keep them coming
Ian

[gwoof]

#12 the shot of XS793 was taken 1st July 1976 at Exeter. I know as I have a colour slide almost identical, as I was stood next to Ken at the time ;D

Also by coincidence XS789 we logged at Exeter on 29/6/76 in the new colours.

Small aviation world, happy days.

[Deleted]

Avro 748 is not just a good photographer - he's a very naughty boy! ;D

He knows that he wasn't supposed to take his camera into work - Official Secrets Act and all that, but I'm glad he did! Some excellent pictures there, and they certainly bring back a few memories. The three-year fight to win the LIAT contract. The awful conditions in the Marshall Islands and Cameroons etc., etc.

[gwoof]

XS789 at Exeter from an old Agfa slide

[avro748]

I am affraid its another 'naughty boy' photo Garstonboy! Taken from the Flight Test Engineering office over looking the apron at Woodford in June 1992. Possibly a unique family photo of the ATP, 748 and 780.



The ATP was Set 1 G-MATP, '748 was the company shuttle G-SSFS and the '780 was ETPS XS606.

Cheers

Shaun

[avro748]

Here are some more ‘748 photos.

CS-03 Series 2A(LFD) Belgian Air Force visiting Woodford in February 1992.



G-ARRW Series 1. In the colours of short lived operator British Independent Airways. Stored at Bournemouth September 1991.



G-AYIM Series 2A. Painted in these colours for a Canadian Oil Company, unfortunately the deal fell through. Stored at East Midlands September 1991. It finnished up at Emerald and was the last ‘748 I flew. You could actually see this scheme bleeding through the Emerald scheme in its later days.



G-BEKG Series 1. Also in storage at Bournemouth in September 1991 after use with British Independent Airways.



G-BGMN Series 2A. At Blackpool in September 1991 whilst in use with JEA.



Three of the above later served with Emerald Airways (G-AYIM, G-BEKG and G-BGMN).

Cheers

Shaun

[acklington]

Excellent and interesting photos gentlemen, including some rare schemes.

To add to the variety, here are some from my own collection;


D-AHSA of DLT flying a Lufthansa service, Bristol, 17 June 1987


G-ARAY with engine explosion on take-off, Bristol, 3 May 1989. Note pax to the left - remarkably well organised! This was a pre-cursor to the similar Emerald accident at Stansted with some footie team on board.


G-ARAY and G-BEBA at Newcastle, 30 October 1976.


G-ARAY at Newcastle, 11 August 1972, with Air Trader Vanguard SE-FTI passing behind.


G-ARMW of Dan-Air Skyways at Newcastle, 16 August 1972.


Prototype Andover G-ARRV (ex G-APZV), officially 8669M on the fire heap at Benson, 19 May 1986. It had been painted up as a 'Soviet' for a Bond film, hence the green camo.


G-ASPL at Newcastle, 18 April 1977. I have this in earlier BKS colours at Newcastle, if I can find the photo!


G-ATMJ on lease from the CAA to Dan-Air for passenger services, Newcastle, 21 November 1975.


G-ATMI in the late Dan-Air thick black trim scheme, Leeds Bradford, 22 March 1980. Note the 'Spitfire'!


G-ATMJ after it's near disastrous engine maintenance explosion and fire, Isle of Man, 2 May 2002. It was rebuilt and eventually ferried out of the IOM.


XS637, Andover, of the rare RAF Germany HQ unit, at East Midlands Airport, 15 October 1976.


G-AVXI after handover from the CAA to FR Precision, at IOM for ILS checking, 7 November 1997.


G-AVXJ in the rare CAA 'day-glo' scheme, at IOM, 4 July 1989.


G-AXVG, on Dan-Air training, Newcastle, 10 November 1971.


G-AZSU of Dan-Air Skyways, at Newcastle, 1 September 1972.


G-ACOE of the BA Highlands Division, on its first visit to Newcastle, 11 January 1976.


G-BDVH, BAe military demonstrator, at Blackpool, 25 October 1985. A Warton diversion.


G-BEJD, ex Dan-Air at IOM, 11 November 1992. I haven't included any of my many Emerald Airways photos here, and this visit I attributed to Janes Aviation.


G-BGMN, I think on its first visit to the IOM doing the Belfast City - IOM - Blackpool run, 19 December 1990. This was normally a SD360 route.

That's my first batch of photos. Anyone bored, or would you like more??

[avro748]

You keep them coming 'Acklington' ...you can never have too many '748 pictures!

Cheers

Shaun

[john1958]

Long live us naughty boys!!!!!!!!

:-) :-)

John

[acklington]

Continuing with more "Budgie" photos;


This G-BGMO's first visit to the IOM, 14 November 1989.


And G-BMFT at the IOM on 7 August 1990.


G-BOHZ at Manchester on 7 May 1991.


This photo was taken out of the window of a JEA 360 at Exeter (to MAN) on 26 February 1991. In amongst the sea of stored sheds are 748s G-BGMO and G-BPDA.


Andover XS596 of 115 Sqdn at St Athan B of B display, 12 September 1981. Normally 115 Sqdn's Andover E.3 calibration aircraft were red, white, and light grey, so I'm not sure if this is an E.3, or still a C.1.


Like XS605 of 115 Sqdn at Yeovilton on 21 August 1991.


XS637 was still a C.1, in 60 Sqdn anniversary colours at Brize Norton on 7 September 1991.


An early C.1 example XS639 of 46 Sqdn at Newcastle on 1 August 1974.


The other RAE example, XS646 at Greenham Common on 27 June 1981.


XS793 of the Queen's Flight on finals at Newcastle, 5 December 1975.


XS794 of 32 Sqdn, under guard at Greenham Common, 27 June 1981.


XS643 of 32 Sqdn in the rare low-viz scheme, at IOM on 11 February 1994. I can't explain the bicycles.


Sister aircraft XS644, also of 32 Sqdn, at IOM on 30 April 1993. This was an E.3A and brought a military band to the Island.


Back to old stalwart G-ARAY, in its final Dan-Air scheme, this time at Bournemouth Hurn on 30 January 1986.


A rare shot only in the location - Carlisle, which was never noted for its airliner movements. G-ARMW, probably on a weekend schedule to Jersey, on 1 June 1974. Note the CSE Training PA-28 fleet behind, and also the cows, which appear to be un-fenced! The passengers are walking across the grass.


And finally the same shot as posted earlier on this thread, but this time in colour, G-BDVH at Farnborough on 8 September 1978. In black and white it is never clear if the aircraft is in brown and green, or its alternative guise of two tone 'desert' brown.

That's all folks, thanks for looking.

[avro748]

Some great photos there 'Acklington'. You are right about the rarity of the low-vis Andover scheme, i never managed to photograph them in that scheme. One of those in the low-vis scheme was XS644, I had just scanned this photo of '644 this afternoon. Wearing the rather brighter scheme whilst serving with 115 Squadron, visiting Manchester in September 1991.



Cheers

Shaun