Jorge46 said,
Not trying to get into arguments, but the Vanguard was designed and built as a 3 man crew airplane. TCA did not want to utilize a 3rd crew member so they covered over that part of the overhead panel that was accessible by the 3rd man and removed the seat. Later, a few instruments were exposed so they could be read 'inflight'. It was flown by two pilots for the time it was in the company, not by design but by desire!
G
I hate to contradict you, BUT, Our aircraft is at the home of Vickers Armstrongs. There is one of the design team on our crew looking after G-APEP. It was designed as a two crew operation after the success of the Viscount, also two crew.
The overhead panel has nothing on it that is needed in flight being mainly fire bottle indicatore Tail deicing information, Oxygen contents etc.
I will take a picture tomorrow & post it for you to see.
The only reason for three crew in the UK, prior to ABC/Hunting Clan buying them in 1980 was the BEA crew insisting on the third man, even when they were converted to freighters in 1970. In fact after they were converted he actually got a job because the coffee urn was behind him so he got to serve it!!!!
tristar 500
Edited for double cut & paste!!