BOAC Stratocruiser "Canopus"
Reply to postt #29
Regarding the note about one of the C-97 "B-377 HI-481" crashing on Mexico City.
I actually flew in this aircraft!!!. 4 months prior to the crash.
I was on a personal aviation Photo. tour in the USA March/April 1987.
I pre arranged as part of the tour a free "Hitchhike" out of Miami to San Juan
with Aerochago who then operated the three KC-97 freighters out of Miami.
The reason for trip was to photograph the Aerochago "Connie". L-749(F)
HI-422
I had a night flight in the C97 out of Miami 0400 departure, sitting upfront for the flight to Santa Domingo. One of the most fantastic Flights of my life.
On arrival at Santa Domingo I was then stranded for 36 hrs, the events/situation I was left in is another very involved "adventure"
The next day I not only photographed the "Connie" , it was to my amazement and pleasure that I then flew in it to San Juan, the most fantastic experience, again too much to cover in this post.
I do have load of Pics of these flights and aircraft, but on "Slides".
As and when I get the quality nikon scanner I want, then I will put Pics. on this thread .
OPF
I actually flew in this aircraft!!!. 4 months prior to the crash.
I was on a personal aviation Photo. tour in the USA March/April 1987.
I pre arranged as part of the tour a free "Hitchhike" out of Miami to San Juan
with Aerochago who then operated the three KC-97 freighters out of Miami.
The reason for trip was to photograph the Aerochago "Connie". L-749(F)
HI-422
I had a night flight in the C97 out of Miami 0400 departure, sitting upfront for the flight to Santa Domingo. One of the most fantastic Flights of my life.
On arrival at Santa Domingo I was then stranded for 36 hrs, the events/situation I was left in is another very involved "adventure"
The next day I not only photographed the "Connie" , it was to my amazement and pleasure that I then flew in it to San Juan, the most fantastic experience, again too much to cover in this post.
I do have load of Pics of these flights and aircraft, but on "Slides".
As and when I get the quality nikon scanner I want, then I will put Pics. on this thread .
OPF
Last edited by Old Photo.Fanatic; 4th Dec 2012 at 16:39.
KC-97 Pics from last year 2011
Quick follow up to my last post.
Here are some pics. of KC-97 aircraft I took at Greybull Wyoming July 2011.
Old ex Hawkins and Powers aviation inc aircraft.
The one on the ramp N1365N still looks in good condition, its an ex WI. ANG
Milwaukee, aircraft. (It was up for sale at the time)
Others were out in the grassed "Storage" area.
OPF
Here are some pics. of KC-97 aircraft I took at Greybull Wyoming July 2011.
Old ex Hawkins and Powers aviation inc aircraft.
The one on the ramp N1365N still looks in good condition, its an ex WI. ANG
Milwaukee, aircraft. (It was up for sale at the time)
Others were out in the grassed "Storage" area.
OPF
Last edited by Old Photo.Fanatic; 5th Dec 2012 at 13:02.
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Here's a tin Strat...Made in Germany (GAMA)...from the early days of ebay
Pan American Stratocruiser by A30yoyo, on Flickr
Pan American Stratocruiser by A30yoyo, on Flickr
Last edited by A30yoyo; 4th Dec 2012 at 22:53.
O P Jones
Able to answer my own question about O P Jones but only in part.
Oscar Philip Jones 1898 - 1980 CVO, OBE; blimey he would have been 114 had he still been with us.
However, there is very little about his flying career available on the web that I could find and apparently no biography.
Ah Well!
Old Duffer
Oscar Philip Jones 1898 - 1980 CVO, OBE; blimey he would have been 114 had he still been with us.
However, there is very little about his flying career available on the web that I could find and apparently no biography.
Ah Well!
Old Duffer
Old-duffer, he is featured in most (if not all) of the BOAC Junior Jet Club logbooks:
Apart from that I have a mention of him with an anecdote in this story: Testing and early days
That is all I can supply, but I've seen him mentioned in various books. Unfortunately I cannot give you a direct link or any concrete info right now but I can look out for stories about him if you want. Mostly they will be little tidbits of info, nothing substantial.
I thought that he flew VC10s as well but the bit I posted earlier may well be correct, in that he retired from the Stratocruiser. It might be interesting to split these posts off from this topic and see what we can find out about this gentleman!
Apart from that I have a mention of him with an anecdote in this story: Testing and early days
That is all I can supply, but I've seen him mentioned in various books. Unfortunately I cannot give you a direct link or any concrete info right now but I can look out for stories about him if you want. Mostly they will be little tidbits of info, nothing substantial.
I thought that he flew VC10s as well but the bit I posted earlier may well be correct, in that he retired from the Stratocruiser. It might be interesting to split these posts off from this topic and see what we can find out about this gentleman!
I decided to create a seperate thread about O.P. Jones: http://www.pprune.org/aviation-histo...o-p-jones.html
It is an interesting subject in its own right and although he is probably connected to many Stratocruiser stories, this way we can focus on the planes in this thread!
It is an interesting subject in its own right and although he is probably connected to many Stratocruiser stories, this way we can focus on the planes in this thread!
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"Actually didn't James Robertson Justice once play a Stratocruiser pilot in a 1950's film?"
Yes, he did, in "Out of the clouds," made in 1955. And here is a clip from it, featuring him:
Yes, he did, in "Out of the clouds," made in 1955. And here is a clip from it, featuring him:
Death Cruiser Flight Crew
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Out of the Clouds
The film itself is in colour, and despite several liberties with accuracy, is worth watching for the sight of those Strats, Connies, Argonauts, etc. I first saw it in 1956, in an open air cinema in Accra, Gold Coast - as it was then - and decided that when I grew up, I wanted to be a B.O.A.C. captain and marry a B.O.A.C. stewardess.
Fifty-six years on (a) I still haven't grown up (b) I never got to be a B.O.A.C. captain but (c) I did get to marry a BOAC stewardess, by which stage there were no dots between the letters.
Fifty-six years on (a) I still haven't grown up (b) I never got to be a B.O.A.C. captain but (c) I did get to marry a BOAC stewardess, by which stage there were no dots between the letters.
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Brilliant, never seen that film before. Perfect for Sunday afternoon tea and cake.
Big river have it as part of a collection of Ealing films, looks like it's going to be a late addition to my Xmas list
Big river have it as part of a collection of Ealing films, looks like it's going to be a late addition to my Xmas list
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I've only just found this thread - in fact I've only just joined PPRuNe.
My JJC logbook shows I flew G-AKGK Lagos-Kano-Rome-Frankfurt-London on 15-16/1/59. 15h 25m, and 3,746 miles.
Not my first Strat flight, I had already flown Lagos-London and London Lagos at the beginning and end of 1958,both in G-ANTZ.
Strat still remains my favourite aircraft of all time.
My JJC logbook shows I flew G-AKGK Lagos-Kano-Rome-Frankfurt-London on 15-16/1/59. 15h 25m, and 3,746 miles.
Not my first Strat flight, I had already flown Lagos-London and London Lagos at the beginning and end of 1958,both in G-ANTZ.
Strat still remains my favourite aircraft of all time.
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Awakening G-AKGK Canopus thread!
G-AKGK 'Canopus' Royal Tour of Canada 1951
I was handed some vintage 'AEROPLANE' magazines a few days ago and finally got around to reading them yesterday. Imagine my surprise and delight to find the photo of G-AKGK and more importantly one of the pilot that unknowingly gave me a very strong push into aviation. I remember him telling me to join the ATC as soon as I could - which I did the day I was 14!
I instantly recognised him even though it is 60 years ago since my flight on 'GK!
Royal Tour of Canada 1951
F/O Geoff Slocombe 1951
So here he is as a young F/O on the tour.
I think he told me he flew Lancasters during WW2. Not absolutely sure.
FW
I was handed some vintage 'AEROPLANE' magazines a few days ago and finally got around to reading them yesterday. Imagine my surprise and delight to find the photo of G-AKGK and more importantly one of the pilot that unknowingly gave me a very strong push into aviation. I remember him telling me to join the ATC as soon as I could - which I did the day I was 14!
I instantly recognised him even though it is 60 years ago since my flight on 'GK!
Royal Tour of Canada 1951
F/O Geoff Slocombe 1951
So here he is as a young F/O on the tour.
I think he told me he flew Lancasters during WW2. Not absolutely sure.
FW
Last edited by Fokkerwokker; 25th Jun 2018 at 12:54.
