Believe it or not, some major bases actually had lubricating oil bowsers in the 1950s !
The Merlin was probably the principal in-line engine through the prop era, most others favoured radials, the US especially but also Bristol Siddeley with the Hercules, Centaurus, etc. By the design of the radial, with the crankshaft in the centre and the pistons all around, it was just not possible to make it oil-tight as it expanded and cooled, and on the ground lube from the crankshaft would seep into the lower pistons, to be burnt off on startup, hence the (sometimes huge) smoke cloud. "LVPs for five minutes after starting".
The York was a favourite for a "rescue" aircraft for the major British airlines, BOAC especially, who kept a couple (at least) chartered from Skyways and others employed well into the Britannia and jet era of the early 1960s just ferrying large AOG components, principally engines, out to wherever they were grounded. They were actually based at BOAC's Heathrow maintenance area all ready to go wherever with whatever.
The last York in service was G-ANTK with Dan-Air, withdrawn in May 1964, the aircraft now in the museum at Duxford.
Last edited by WHBM; 14th Nov 2015 at 06:23.