|
Post by Samba on Aug 19, 2010 18:42:19 GMT 1
Happy memories. There must be one or two faces here from our forum. I should have added, on delivery from Cardiff on her last flight. Photo courtesy of Austin Brown ex Cambrian and BA F/O.
|
|
|
Post by Beemer on Aug 19, 2010 19:12:50 GMT 1
Crackin' photo that Samba. The clarity looks like it could have been taken to-day. Regards Beemer.
|
|
|
Post by calflier on Aug 19, 2010 19:48:51 GMT 1
Yes great photo that Samba,its interesting that the Ground power unit(gpu)has already been painted in the new Cambrian livery(orange top)brings back happy memories of polishing whiskey foxtrot in hangar 1,what a great lead to aviation it was for me.Thanks for sharing.
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Sept 14, 2011 21:08:01 GMT 1
Just came across some footage of G-ALWF landing at Rome in 1953. Also in the clip is her illfated sister G-ALWE which came down a mile short of Manchester's runway in 1957 with the loss of 22 lives. www.britishpathe.com/record.php?id=60936Note, in 2018 this link no longer works.
|
|
|
Post by kevmul on Sept 15, 2011 18:40:44 GMT 1
It really is a cracking photo Bob And just look at the number of people on the balcony behind where many of us would have spent many a long, happy hour. Great times! Kev
|
|
|
Post by viscount on Mar 23, 2018 14:42:44 GMT 1
In the past weeks I've come across a number of photos of Viscount 701 G-ALWF both before, after and while preserved at Speke. Before starting a new thread, discovered that there was indeed (hardly surprisingly) one already started, but languishing well back in the index pages. I've deleted a post which had had the images removed and unrecoverable, and 'Samba' has kindly restored the image in his post which had been 'Photobucketed' (deleted by the third party hosting site). This image is also on a '50s Speke photo thread, but is interesting to repeat here to compare with a current photo of her at Duxford painted in those some colours - her first colour scheme from new. Photo is likely in the early 60s once BEA started using Viscount 701s on their Irish Sea routes. G-ALWF also flew in the wide black window depth cheat line and red square logo scheme while with BEA. From BEA the aircraft was sold to Channel Airways. During the time with Channel it was leased to British Eagle in 'Eagle's full scheme with fleet name "City of Truro". This photo at Speke was while the aircraft was being flown by British Eagle before repaint. Shortly after the lease to British Eagle ended it was sold to Cambrian Airways. G-ALWF's initial colour scheme with Cambrian Airways, photo dated 21st February 1966, tucked in close outside Hangar No.2, only days after delivery to Cambrian. This is her final scheme while in active airline service with Cambrian/British Air Services as seen at Speke in summer 1971. During her time with Cambrian she wore 4 different colour schemes, the 2nd scheme being the 'white cabin' scheme with maroon narrow cheat, while the 3nd scheme was similar to the last, but with a much paler blue tail and British Air Services titles. A commercial quality b&w near A4 print of G-ALWF at Ronaldsway/Isle of Man Airport (orginally stated as Cardiff/Rhoose but as pointed out in a later post that assumption is categorically wrong!). No date or photographer's stamp on the reverse of the print, but clearly a publicity shot. The following 7 photos, all professionally produced as glossy near A4 prints by the Liverpool City Engineers Photography Unit of the ceremony held to open G-ALWF to the public under the auspices of the 'Viscount Preservation Trust'. Paul St.John Turner, who 'masterminded' the project to bring the oldest surviving Viscount to Liverpool on its retirement from active service features on most, along with the Lord Mayor of Liverpool. Apart from the City Engineers date stamp there are no notes on the back of the prints. The photos are dated 5th December 1972, so it must have been fairly chilly in the back of No.1 hangar! Paul St.John Turner addressing the invited audience Lord Mayor's address Ascending the rear stairs prior to the next photo: The Lord Mayor cutting the tape to declare the aircraft 'open'. In the cabin with the aircraft's Log Book. In the cockpit - everything still functional as the aircraft was very much as it was when it flew into Liverpool The Lord Mayor, Lady Mayor and Paul St.John Turner descending the steps after the first official tour of the aircraft. XXXXXXXIMAGE YET TO BE LOCATEDXXXXXXXXXXXXX Although initially fairly successful as an exhibit at the Airport, the timing was unfortunate as due to aircraft hi-jackings, security was stepped across Britain's Airports. This complicated getting visitors to and from the aircraft in No.1 hangar as it was on the 'wrong' side of new security barriers. The cost of looking after the aircraft with no income and no likelihood of viable public exhibition, put the future of the aircraft in doubt. Eventually it was pulled around behind No.2 hangar and stored in the open with the outer wings removed. It was donated to the Duxford Aviation Society, who over a period of several months dismantled it into moveable sections. This photo, from Bank's Lane on either 10th or 25th January 1976 shows the dismantling process - the wing spar bolts proved extremely difficult to extract and delayed the move to Duxford. If anyone wonders, the Boeing 707 on the finger apron is a Sudan Airways machine! HISTORY LESSON, G-ALWF G-ALWF was built as C/no.5, the third Vickers Viscount 700 (the first 2 prototypes being 600 series) and the second production aircraft and the second for British European Airways. First flight at Weybridge 3rd December 1952, landing at Wisley. C of A was issued 9th February 1953 and the aircraft delivered to BEA 13th February with the fleet name 'Sir John Franklin'. Initially used on intensive training and route proving programme prior to type introduction. A partial undercarriage collapse at Blackbushe 12.12.54 damaged undercarriage, flaps and Starboard propeller. Entered service configured for 40 first or 47 second class seats, in 1960 was converted to 60 to 63 seat configuration. Sold to Channel Airways 6th December 1963 and delivered to Southend 31st March 1963. Leased to British Eagle International Airways and delivered to Speke 18th November 1964 named 'City of Exeter'. Returned to Channel Airways May 1965 minus titles until delivered to Rhoose 15th December 1965, on sale to Cambrian Airways. After overhaul and re-spray, delivered Cambridge to Speke 13th February 1966. Last revenue flight was made on 24th December 1971, Cardiff-Bristol-Belfast-Bristol-Cardiff, then withdrawn from use. Final flight, 12th April 1972 as CS 1972 was flown by Capts GA Perrott and J Nelmes routed Rhoose-Heathrow-Liverpool for static exhibition at Liverpool by the newly formed Viscount Preservation Trust (VPT). It had recorded a total time of 38,299 hours, 35,938 landings and had flown an estimated 800,000 passenger nearly 7 million miles in a 19 year career. She was then, and still is, also the oldest original turbine-engine powered aircraft in existence. With free hangarage provided by the Corporation of Liverpool, she was officially opened to the public by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool on 5th December 1972. However tightening of security regulations at the Airport during 1973 public access to the hangar was banned, even to the preservationists. The outer wings were removed to keep two other Viscounts (G-AMOG & G-AMON) in service. In 1975 the Duxford Aviation Society (DAS) acquired the aircraft to add to their expanding collection at Duxford. After a lengthy dismantling process during the winter months, the fuselage eventually set out for Duxford on 21st February 1976, with the wings and components following a week later. At Duxford it has been completely rebuilt and on public exhibition since. Adapted from 'Vickers Viscount and Vanguard' Peter W Davis, published by Air Britain, 1981. More on: www.vickersviscount.net/index/VickersViscount005History.aspxdas.org.uk/vickers-v701-viscount-g-alwf/
|
|
|
Post by viscount on Apr 18, 2018 8:26:43 GMT 1
Since posting the photos of the VPT opening event, have come across two articles in the M.A.S. magazine for December 1972 that go well with those photos. Re-typed here without any editing. First a light hearted piece from the MAS editor, then another that describes well what is going on in the b&w photos by one of the guests.HOW TO CLEAN A VISCOUNT Ken Ellis When you're feeling out of sorts, there's only one thing to recommend ......drop whatever you are doing and take a trip around t o the Cambrian hangar and clean, polish and generally tart-up a Viscount. Not a series 800 - no, we couldn't have you go to those lengths - try a 700 for size. After this task we guarantee that you will feel a different person (at least!) With the official opening of Viscount g-ALWF to the Great British Public looming ever nearer it became clear that the old girl would need a face-lift. This would involve not only cleaning but also polishing, waxing and the creation of a suitable display around the airframe. So it was that in the month before the opening, bands of volunteers (I stress volunteers) gave up their Saturdays and Sundays, their long kept vows about not swearing, a lot of elbow grease, the odd finger or toe, and their sanity (although this must be open to question anyway), to bring 'Whiskey Fox' (although during the period she was called many other, totally unprintable, names) up to her normal splendour. Picture the scene, one lone Viscount and a team of dedicated men and even more dedicated (and brave) women pitting their wits against time. To the strains of Jethro Tull and Cat Stevens they worked, pausing only to break into song (very popular was the Lumberjack song and 'Spam' lament from a well known TV epic) or break into a run for the bar at opening time. Not content with confining their efforts to the Viscount some individuals were observed making a gallant, but futile, attempt to wash the hangar down. Balanced precariously on the tail-plane trying to remove the evidence of a pidgeon somewhere in the rafters, rubbing away with bits of rag on the bare metal of the fuselage until their faces could be seen in it, sitting side-saddle on a Dart to bring back its shine or cleaning the wing down with a bucket and mop, such were the tasks of the gallant crew. Inside the carpets went up, went down again, only to come up again for the continued fight against mildew. The windows were cleaned both outside and in and the props dusted down. On top of the fuselage power-mad cleaners liberally coat the more earth-bound polishers with alternate layers of dirty and no-so-dirty water. Safe step areas on a Viscount are easy to find and they worked with precision techniques to find them - "If it twangs don't stand on it" - was the rule of the day. 'LWF no doubt appreciated the care and attention she has recently been getting, but there's a lot more people who enjoyed every minute of 'Operation Clean-up', despite the hard work, most people put in incredibly long hours on 'LWF, everybody involved has a lot of fun and a great deal of satisfaction out of the job. 'Whiskey Fox' is an exhibit to be proud of and to all involved in her restoration in the last month a big vote of thanks is owed. KE. THE OFFICIAL OPENING George Jones The Viscount was declared open by the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Alderman Robert Meadows, before an audience of invited guests at a small, but nonetheless impressive, ceremony in No.1 hangar on Tuesday 4th December. In his welcoming address the Chairman of the Viscount Preservation Trust, Mr Paul St. John Turner, praised the efforts of aviation enthusiasts for their help in establishing the Trust and thanked Liverpool Corporation, BAC, BAS and Cambrian Airways for their co-operation and assistance in making the project possible. Mr Cyril Herring, Group Director of BAS and Chairman of the Advisory Board of the VPT, also gave an address in which he stressed the continuing importance of the Viscount in the BAS fleet and the historical importance of the preserved aircraft. The Lord Mayor having declared the Viscount open, went on to cut a tape across the rear door of the aircraft and he and the Lady Mayoress were then escorted through the cabin and around the supporting exhibition. The exhibition is of a very high standard and features items of equipment and photographs from BAC and Cambrian. A newly serviced Dart engine was on display, but ultimately it is hoped to display a sectionalised Dart. SGJ.
|
|
|
Post by acklington on Apr 18, 2018 10:04:42 GMT 1
Nice interesting thread, but one correction if I may; the third photo on the 23rd March 2018 post shows G-ALWF at Isle of Man/Ronaldsway, definitely not Cardiff/Rhoose.
The angle of the photo shows that it was taken from the old HMS Urley Control Tower, looking past the (then) airport cargo shed and fire station, with the Martin Baker ejection seat factory beyond on the left. The small round hill beyond was christened "Bishops Belly" by the Navy pilots, it is actually a glacial 'Drummond'. And in the distance is North Barrule with the Iron Age hill fort on top.
The vehicles in the photo seem to date the shot to the late 1960s?
|
|
|
Post by viscount on Apr 18, 2018 11:10:30 GMT 1
Many thanks 'Acklington'. My error based on the assumption that a quality publicity print of a Cambrian aircraft would be at their base airport. Glad to have the record put so absolutely straight. The colour scheme (with darker blue tail) certainly places the date as late '60s but still worn by 'WF just into the early 70s as the rest of the fleet became orange.
To mildly get my own back, in a totally irrelevant (to an aviation website) way, the hill is surely a glacial Drumlin; 'basket of eggs' topography - although I gather the term drumlin has now largely been dropped by geomorphologists.
|
|
|
Post by acklington on Apr 18, 2018 17:55:24 GMT 1
Oh dear, dear dear me, a "Drumlin" it is. Complete and utter case of senile dementia, time to retire to a wheelchair.
I did get 'A' level Geology, so I have no excuse.
|
|
|
Post by donboy on Apr 18, 2018 20:28:30 GMT 1
When I was working in the sales department of a BICC offshoot I took a call from a Cambrian Airways engineer who was wanting to order some multiway connectors. Told him of my involvement with the Viscount Preservation Trust to which he mentioned that there was a sectioned Dart engine lying round the back. That initiated the Trust receiving the sectioned Dart engine on a stand which became part of the display in Hangar 1. What subsequently became of the engine? Did it go to Duxford with the airframe?
|
|
|
Post by Airbus A346 on May 28, 2020 16:08:07 GMT 1
Some photos taken during the dismantling process adjacent to Banks Road, the first four were taken on misty winter morning from memory ......
Scanned from 45 year old K25 slides.
|
|
|
Post by viscount on Aug 3, 2021 14:32:03 GMT 1
This is by way of a 'bump-up' of the G-ALWF thread which has now had the photos replaced. A few photos of G-ALWF at Duxford to complement those at Liverpool. Major deep overhaul and preservation work in progress summer 2005. Very smart, this 2011 photograph shows G-ALWF returned to same original BEA colours as painted in initially following the complete overhaul during re-build after the move to Duxford by road in early 1976.
|
|
|
Post by vanguard on Aug 4, 2021 11:41:28 GMT 1
|
|