British Eagle Trooping Flight to Singapore 1965
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British Eagle Trooping Flight to Singapore 1965
I don't really expect a response to this memory of almost 52 years ago but PPRuNe has amazed me in the past so here goes. Today I started my New Year's Resolution of reducing the amount of memorabilia that I have collected but I got sidetracked by my diary for 1965.
As a newly qualified RN pilot, on Tuesday 31 August 1965 I flew on a British Eagle Britannia from Heathrow to Singapore to join HMS Ark Royal. The Flight Number was EGS 891 and we took off at 2145z.
As it was my first trooping flight I was wondering if anyone had a record of the Britannia's registration so I can see if the aircraft is in a museum somewhere.
As a newly qualified RN pilot, on Tuesday 31 August 1965 I flew on a British Eagle Britannia from Heathrow to Singapore to join HMS Ark Royal. The Flight Number was EGS 891 and we took off at 2145z.
As it was my first trooping flight I was wondering if anyone had a record of the Britannia's registration so I can see if the aircraft is in a museum somewhere.
The bad news is that Eagle had a couple of dozen in the fleet at various times.
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LHR-IST-BOM-SIN
January 05 1965 I left LHR on posting to Changi also by British Eagle Brit., transitting and departing IST on 06 January; In 1990 I was working for a cargo company on contract to Alitalia, and during an after duty soirée
, we, the crew, were swinging the lantern whilst sitting on our sandbags, I mentioned this flight and my Captain, Jack, seemed interested in it. Next time we flew together, Jack had one of his old Log Books which showed he had operated as First Officer on the IST-BOM leg of the flight I was on. Great guy, our Champagne Jack.
SNF
, we, the crew, were swinging the lantern whilst sitting on our sandbags, I mentioned this flight and my Captain, Jack, seemed interested in it. Next time we flew together, Jack had one of his old Log Books which showed he had operated as First Officer on the IST-BOM leg of the flight I was on. Great guy, our Champagne Jack.SNF
Have had SWMBNO's Aunt staying from Jo'burg for Christmas and NY. She mentioned that in 1962 she flew as a new "schoolie" on a Brit Eagle trooper UK to Nairobi, but via Aden to deliver urgent spares. Is this (very long) trip a memory for anyone? Was the start of her 55 years in Africa
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Democritus
Can't id the registration you flew on but its one of the following I would think.
G-AOVT, at Duxford, was operated by British Eagle from 13.09.63 to 10.05.74.
G-AOVF at Cosford now purporting to be a RAF Brit was also with Eagle as a freighter
G-ANCF at Speke, was with Eagle from 16.01.64 but converted to freighter between that date and going to Monarch 08.12.68
The Brit at Kemble XM497? is ex RAF so not likely.
Other Brits in use with Eagle in August 65 were G-AOVA, VH, VC,VG, VL,VM,VN,VR,VS -possibly, G-APPY, G-ARKB
Hope that help.
Can't id the registration you flew on but its one of the following I would think.
G-AOVT, at Duxford, was operated by British Eagle from 13.09.63 to 10.05.74.
G-AOVF at Cosford now purporting to be a RAF Brit was also with Eagle as a freighter
G-ANCF at Speke, was with Eagle from 16.01.64 but converted to freighter between that date and going to Monarch 08.12.68
The Brit at Kemble XM497? is ex RAF so not likely.
Other Brits in use with Eagle in August 65 were G-AOVA, VH, VC,VG, VL,VM,VN,VR,VS -possibly, G-APPY, G-ARKB
Hope that help.
N4790P
It did. I lost my job, along with many others that year thanks to the labour government of the time when the Bermuda routes were taken away.
Last edited by ZFT; 9th Jan 2017 at 21:22.
Bristol 175 Britannia 312 - Monarch Airlines | Aviation Photo #0105875 | Airliners.net
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Dixi188
You are right of course and I should have spotted that. My source was Airliner Production Lists for 1980/81.
I was on board VT at Duxford this summer and can report its in reasonably good nick. It appears, at last, that Monarch's apprentices visit regularly as part of their training to do relevant work.
The beer pump attachment, for a well known TV comedy show, has been removed as has the the master engine start switch!!
You are right of course and I should have spotted that. My source was Airliner Production Lists for 1980/81.
I was on board VT at Duxford this summer and can report its in reasonably good nick. It appears, at last, that Monarch's apprentices visit regularly as part of their training to do relevant work.
The beer pump attachment, for a well known TV comedy show, has been removed as has the the master engine start switch!!
Gnome de PPRuNe
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G-AOVT is currently inside at Duxford getting a fresh coat of paint.
I was on board VT at Duxford this summer and can report its in reasonably good nick. It appears, at last, that Monarch's apprentices visit regularly as part of their training to do relevant work.
The beer pump attachment, for a well known TV comedy show, has been removed as has the the master engine start switch!!
The beer pump attachment, for a well known TV comedy show, has been removed as has the the master engine start switch!!
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Was intrigued by the date of this flight because, from memory, I came HOME from Singapore at about the same time, courtesy of British Eagle. Checking the diary I kept, my actual flight date home was 7 Sep 65, the Brit was G-AOVT, and we flew out of Paya Lebar. Lovely airline!
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Thanks for all the replies and it looks as though tiny fireburn possibly has given me the answer to my query with G-AOVT. However, we arrived at Paya Lebar at 0515 on 2 September '65 so maybe it is too long a stopover until his departure on 7 September.
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Hi Democritus
Brit Eagle Britannias are indeed an interesting thread subject. May I ask what you were flying on and off Ark Royal? Tales from then would make a great subject, although perhaps on the mil forum.
Brit Eagle Britannias are indeed an interesting thread subject. May I ask what you were flying on and off Ark Royal? Tales from then would make a great subject, although perhaps on the mil forum.
N4790P
Was intrigued by the date of this flight because, from memory, I came HOME from Singapore at about the same time, courtesy of British Eagle. Checking the diary I kept, my actual flight date home was 7 Sep 65, the Brit was G-AOVT, and we flew out of Paya Lebar. Lovely airline!
Thread Starter
Zip29 - I flew the venerable Wessex helicopter from Ark. I always thought that in respect of flying from aircraft carriers it was better to stop and then land rather than the fixed-wing way of doing things of landing and then trying to stop. Much safer! You may find this PPRuNe thread HERE about the Wessex of interest.
Just came across this thread. Though not strictly about British Eagle trooping I flew from Heathrow to Singapore December 1959 by Hunting Clan Britannia, with stops at Istanbul and Bombay (as it was then). I returned by RAF Britannia in 1962 with stops at Gan and Malta ( due to land in Libya but weather conditions caused the diversion). Would I be right in saying that Hunting Clan trooping was only around for a short time?