Vickers Viking G-AGRW in Austria

[tarrant]

When the Viking G-AGRW was moved to the Macdonalds site a company called Neuwerth took the aircraft apart for transportation, repair and reassembly. They had some photos of the move on their then website. The website seems to be no longer available. Does anyone have any of the photos that they had on their site. I would be very keen to get a set.
Thanks for any help

[thiago]

Hi, i found your post accidentally.

Take a closer look here:

Austrian Aviation Museum (http://www.austrian-aviation-museum.com/aktuelles.htm)

here:

Austrian Aviation Net • Thema anzeigen - McDonalds Flieger in Schwechat (http://www.austrianaviation.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=8261&view=previous)

or here:
McDonalds Schwechat | Austrian Wings (http://www.austrianwings.info/aw/tag/mcdonalds-schwechat/)

the viking is now at the airfield Vöslau Kottingbrunn - (LOAV)

cheers

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Can anybody tell me what will become of this grand old Aeroplane. I ask because she appears to have been dismantled in the autumn of 2011.
In Autair the Viking was fondly known as The Pig. Happy Days!

[Talkdownman]

Believe it...if you will.... (http://derbosoft.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=history&action=display&thread=9110)

[lakerman]

Talkdownman, what is the point of the link, I cannot access it unless I join a site I do not know.

[sunnybunny]

Link now works for me, web site talks about the viking flying again posted 31/3 11:56 but next post infers it was posted early , April fool?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

April Fool For Sure. Perhaps we can have some positive / negative news on G-AGRW before too long?

[thiago]

You can see it here if you zoom to maximum resolution:

47.967526,16.260479 - Google Maps (http://g.co/maps/rrwzy)

[Owlet]

G-AGRW is at serious risk of being destroyed by the so called "Austrian Aviation Museum". It has been towed to a far corner of Bad Voslau to await its fate ! A crowd funding resource has been organised to rescue the airframe, but the donations to date only amount to £465.00. Her future does not look promising.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1440x829/75293_1568014135_29fb7cde8f8431cfc91056bc01895c8cc6e7170b_rw _1ea21cfc62556c70486d2e8fa8b55979477020cf.jpg
G-AGRW photographed 2019.

[Barry L]

It's safe, folks - sure, the crowd-funding appeal has attracted only a very modest collection (so far), but that's set to change very soon.
The threatened scrappage has been stopped, though, and we have a six-month time set in which to collect it, but there is already an agreement in place to extend that time as required to gather the funding.
Transport is being negotiated, plans are still being made for it's return to the UK, complete... :ok:

[DaveReidUK]

Transport is being negotiated, plans are still being made for it's return to the UK, complete...

If true, that's very good news.

[Barry L]

If true, that's very good news.

As true as it can be, Dave, under negotiations...

All in good time... :)

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Barry, good news indeed. I'll keep my fingers crossed. If the project comes to fruition what Livery will be chosen ? I posted a few images of Romeo Whisky which you may or may not have seen - go to post #296 - www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/354789-raf-bovingdon-1960s-15.html

[Barry L]

Barry, good news indeed. I'll keep my fingers crossed. If the project comes to fruition what Livery will be chosen ? I posted a few images of Romeo Whisky which you may or may not have seen - go to post #296 - www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/354789-raf-bovingdon-1960s-15.html
No firm ideas, yet - just focussing on getting it home safe, first of all...

[Brizeguy]

Getting her home is the easy bit, it’s what happens from there that matters but confident it’ll be home next year for sure.

[SWBKCB]

I happened to be driving past (as you do) on the day when they were moving it from the McDonalds at Schewchat in 2011. Some pics on the link below if anybody is interested

https://www.flickr.com/photos/swbkcb/albums/72157627293824735

[chevvron]

Getting her home is the easy bit, it’s what happens from there that matters but confident it’ll be home next year for sure.
Any room left at Blackbushe? It was a mecca for Vikings prior to its unseemly 'closure' by the MTCA in May 1960..

[rog747]

Bit of history on G-AGRW - one of a large number of these aircraft built for BEA after the War.

G-AGRW Vickers 639 Viking 1 Bristol Hercules 630 engines - last flew for Autair International Airways Luton
G-AGRW Converted to Viking 1 Hunting Aviation Services Ltd
G-AGRW Built 1946 as Type Viking 1A for BEA - British European Airways

Autair was an Inclusive Tour charter airline. Its main customer was Clarksons Travel Group and they flew 7 Vikings.

The Viking was pivotal in early IT package holiday flights used by many UK, German, and French charter airlines and tour companies -
Eagle, Channel, LTU, Aerotransport, Overseas, Deutsche Flugdienst/Condor, Air Ferry, Invicta, Tradair, AirNautic, Independent Air Transport, Balair, Air Safaris and many more small UK and early German charter airlines.
They seated around 36 passengers. Sadly both Eagle and AirNautic suffered serious accidents.
Overseas Aviation lost a Viking at Lyon after take-off during a forced landing after a double engine failure en-route stop from Palma to LGW.

[DaveReidUK]

G-AGRW is a hybrid, but no less interesting for that.

Its wings aren't the the production Viking 1 ribbed/skinned ones, instead its original Viking 1A geodetic wings have been retained, but with the fabric removed and replaced with metal skins.

[Jhieminga]

Another part of G-AGRW's history is available here: https://www.vc10.net/History/vikings_of_soesterberg.html

[Brizeguy]

An update for those interested…….

A trust has been set up to organise the recovery and restoration of G-AGRW, with a wider remit to cover the heritage of Blackbushe Airport and the various independent operators and aircraft that were there over the years. A growing band of volunteers are forming an enthusiastic team from various areas of aviation, we’re open to any offers of support and guidance as we pick our way through the process. Feel free to PM me if you can assist.

Now funds are required! Initially just to recover the aircraft to the UK,
https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/blackbushe-heritage-1?utm_term-K2W7gKeA

Many thanks

[Brizeguy]

Progress is slow but we’re making progress for sure, for updates you can register your interest in G-AGRW on our website. We are now a registered charity and have a mobile exhibition unit to help raise the required funds.
https://www.blackbusheheritagetrust.com/

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/828x1043/0de2ec13_3532_4c1d_a3c3_f97c1302b6b8_49eb106fafdc794e163116e c2df15d59ce3a8bcb.jpeg

[Brizeguy]

Latest news on G-AGRW, initial funding is now in place and recovery is being planned.
https://bacommunityfund.co.uk/p/the-return-of-vagabond/comments#start
https://www.blackbusheheritagetrust.com

[Brizeguy]

https://www.key.aero/article/stop-press-vickers-viking-its-way-blackbushe
No longer in Austria, currently on its way across Germany, last seen at Nuremberg.

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Well, this is very good news !

[DaveReidUK]

BBC South News has just shown a clip of Vagabond trundling along the autobahn on its low-loader(s), together with some archive footage.

[Liffy 1M]

Some still images here of arrival at Blackbushe: G-AGRW (https://www.flickr.com/search/?user_id=132294337%40N04&view_all=1&text=agrw&sort=relevance)

[Senior Paper Monitor]

and here ...
https://blackbusheairport.proboards.com/thread/3/photo-day?page=293&scrollTo=18470

[Wycombe]

Duplicate below of a post I've also made on the "Aviation History & Nostalgia" Forum - bearing in mind the subject matter, can I suggest that's the best place for future correspondence......
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Despite my moniker, I have almost lifelong links to Blackbushe and have been volunteering with Blackbushe Heritage Trust for just under a year now.

A year ago, we never thought we'd have the aircraft back at Blackbushe so soon, but thanks largely to generous corporate support (how often do you hear that these days?), including the Airport itself, she is now here and the harder/longer-term work begins.

I was lucky enough to be part of the Team of volunteers and trustees that travelled to Bad Voslau a couple of weeks ago to take her apart, and witnessing how tricky some parts of that were leaves me in no doubt that the reconstruction won't be easy.

But, we have a fantastic Group of people involved (most with either a current or past professional or non-professional link to aviation, the Airport, or the aircraft itself), and a great team spirit.

If you feel motivated to get involved you can respond here (or DM me), or submit your details here https://www.blackbusheheritagetrust.com/ (see Volunteer sign-up link)

Finally, a link to BBC News website article from covering Tuesday's events: Rare 1940s aircraft arrives in UK for restoration (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-65456811?fbclid=IwAR3GU9O3jZLFhwBGrFtj3-jJCa0NoHbVaQgBtG2cqtYpibDwuSPH3KedRpo)