Sir Giles Guthrie cancelled Super VC10s for the cheaper B707's.
Not quite. The big batch of BOAC 707-436s were delivered mostly in 1960, coincident with the last of the Comet 4s, with a few a couple of years later. Vickers hadn't even started cutting metal on the first VC10 when these 707s were mostly all in service; not until 1964 did Sir Giles cut the Super VC10 order back from 35 to 17, and the big Boeing order a couple of years later, in 1966, was actually for the first 747s. Meantime BOAC just bought a few of the 707 freighter version, with Pratt engines, in penny numbers, one or two every couple of years. Vickers developed a Combi VC10, but never developed a full freighter version with the strengthened floor throughout. The first standard VC10 came on line in 1964, and the first Supers were delivered in 1965, it being this batch which had been cut back. Incidentally, Sir Giles, onetime test pilot, captained a number of the VC10 proving flights himself; I'm not aware he was ever current on the 707. But he did know a financial basketcase when he saw one (BOAC at the time). He talked the government into funding the huge depreciation loss made by the retirement of the Britannias and Comet 4s after only a few years of service.
Originally Posted by scotbill
The unintelligent use of [Trident] autothrottle de-stabilised many approaches
Ah yes, those approaches over West London. Power up - throttle back - power up - throttle back ...... when the 757 came along it was a surprise that automatic approaches didn't have to be like that.
Scotbill, I'm sure that wasn't your handling up front !
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