Air Bridge Carriers

[hatton]

Anyone remember Air Bridge Carriers?

[JW411]

I would imagine that quite a lot of people might remember Air Bridge Carriers.

[dixi188]

Sagittair, Air Bridge Carriers, Hunting Cargo Airlines, Air Contractors.
Argosy, Herald, Vanguard, Electra, B727, A300, F27, B737.

Nope! Don't remember a thing!

[Gibair]

https://farm1.staticflickr.com/900/41035539442_04a52de35e_o.jpgG-APEJ Glasgow 4-4-1988 by Lewis Grant, on Flickr

[jensdad]

Never really saw them at my local, Newcastle, in 'Air Bridge' guise. We do get Air Contractors' ATR42s in here doing the FedEx run between GLA and CDG - never knew they were linked to Air Bridge. Thanks for that info, dixi188.


Going a bit left-field here, but I do remember a story about one of the Merchantmen being haunted?

[Stan Woolley]

Christmas Day 1988. Heathrow

[Stan Woolley]

Going a bit left-field here, but I do remember a story about one of the Merchantmen being haunted?

I do, though the memory is quite vague. :)

I remember one of the engineers telling me he’d gone to an aeroplane (cant remember which one) on the ramp that he’d supposed was empty, he’d noticed someone sitting in the Captains seat who he guessed hadn’t heard his greeting. He did what he needed to do in the ‘cabin’ and had nipped in to the flight deck to say goodbye. There was no-one there. It had a big effect on him and he was loathe to enter another ‘empty’ aircraft.

Sorry it’s a bit vague, but I think this is the gist of what he told me.

[canberra97]

But in reality that engineer was seeing things because as we all know 'haunted' doesn't really exist in the real world, it's a matter of opinion and there is always a sensible reason behind it.

[Stan Woolley]

But in reality that engineer was seeing things because as we all know 'haunted' doesn't really exist in the real world, it's a matter of opinion and there is always a sensible reason behind it.

No, let’s not hijack the thread. It doesn’t matter.

[Mooncrest]

Was Fields, the engineering outfit at East Midlands and Heathrow, a sister company to ABC ?

The company had a handful of Viscount 800s in the late 70s/early 80s which spent at least some of their time operating for Dan-Air. BCZR, BGLC and CSZA/B.

[Jhieminga]

One engineer did describe to me how he found a complaint in the log about 'ghostly sounds from the airstairs'. He signed it off with 'airstairs lubricated and excorcised'.

Can't be sure if that involved a Vanguard, but I suspect it did.

[rog747]

was air foyle part of ABC?

[Discorde]

IIRC ABC was started by two ex-BEA captains - Arnold(?) Boakes(?) and ??? Carter, so the acronym deriving from their names also suited the new company.

[happybiker]

[QUOTE=Mooncrest;10101969]Was Fields, the engineering outfit at East Midlands and Heathrow, a sister company to ABC ?

Field Aircraft Services & ABC were both subsidiary companies of the Hunting Group. Jack Capstick was the senior director of both companies and he was very supportive of these aviation subsidiaries.

Cyril Stevens became involved with ABC when the company bought their first Merchantman from BEA/BA

[Midland 331]

Dick Gilbert has written an excellent book on the company:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Air-Bridge-Carriers-Dick-Gilbert/dp/B00TQTK862

His collection on Flickr contains many photos of aircraft and staff from ABC, plus many other outstanding historical shots.

https://flic.kr/p/iy5CPb

Hearing one of the Merchantmen rumble up Amber One above Castle Don. around midnight on the Luton-Glasgow papers, is an abiding memory.

[Mooncrest]

[QUOTE=Mooncrest;10101969]Was Fields, the engineering outfit at East Midlands and Heathrow, a sister company to ABC ?

Field Aircraft Services & ABC were both subsidiary companies of the Hunting Group. Jack Capstick was the senior director of both companies and he was very supportive of these aviation subsidiaries.

Cyril Stevens became involved with ABC when the company bought their first Merchantman from BEA/BA

Thankyou happybiker. I knew there was some connection. I believe Fields was something of a Viscount maintenance centre.

[mikemmb]

Were Air Bridge linked to Channel Air Bridge?

I remember as a lad their Bristol Freighters and ATL Carvairs trundling across to France from Southend.

[JW411]

rog747:

I am pretty certain that Chris Foyle had nothing to do with Air Bridge but we ended up with a lot of their ex-Vanguard drivers on the TNT contract.

[gooneydog]

Remember a j/s ride to GLA on a mins night Cappy grabbed a/c as we broke out just above mins after a perfect ILS by the co-jo

[Krystal n chips]

I was once privy to a CV from an engineer who claimed he was a "Director Designate " for ABC no less....alas.

Unfortunately, for him, his rapid departure from the UK and equally rapid departure from his then M.E bolt hole was well known, as was his capacity "to be economical with the truth "....along with a certain lack of attention to details when it came to the dates and content of his "impressive qualifications " as glowingly provided on his CV.

Used to meet, in passing, a genuine ABC engineer quite often however. This was in the 80's / 90's, an elderly guy with a beard is the best description I can give, but always a nice guy and always working alone. Which mustn't have been much fun on the then elderly Merchantman

[Stan Woolley]

Hearing one of the Merchantmen rumble up Amber One above Castle Don. around midnight on the Luton-Glasgow papers, is an abiding memory.

Can’t say I particularly enjoyed flying it but I really loved standing next to one as it fired up the sixteen foot diameter props and the RR Tyne’s. Awesome!

[Discorde]

Can’t say I particularly enjoyed flying it but I really loved standing next to one as it fired up the sixteen foot diameter props and the RR Tyne’s. Awesome!

I thought the props were bigger than that but this article in 'Flight' (https://www.flightglobal.com/FlightPDFArchive/1958/1958-1-%20-%200187.PDF) gives the prop diameter as 14'6".

On the ground (prop pitch in beta-range), advancing the throttles from ground idle resulted initially in an RPM reduction - a weird sensation until you got used to it.

[happybiker]

[quote=happybiker;10102203]

Thankyou happybiker. I knew there was some connection. I believe Fields was something of a Viscount maintenance centre.

Yes Fields carried out maintenance on Viscounts for BMA, Alidair, GB Airways and the Ministry of Aviation, I think that they were one of a small number of MROs that were able to carry out the re-sparring of the Viscount wings. The other main types that came through the hangar in the 1970s include the Argosy, Herald, Merchantman as well as the occasional DC-3, DC-4 and many HS 125 types from Series 1 through -600. Fields also completed 6 Shorts Skyvans for the Singapore Govt, 3 configured for search and rescue and 3 for general transport.

Fields EMA included a comprehensive design office which carried out design services for aircraft being maintained in house and for third parties including Airline Engineering (Monarch), Britannia and Short Brothers.

Fields were also selected as the completion centre for the BAe Jetstream 31 & 41 in the 1980s delivering several hundred of the type. From this you can see that Fields were more than just an MRO but sadly that expertise and service is no more at EMA.

[Mooncrest]

[quote=Mooncrest;10102241]

Yes Fields carried out maintenance on Viscounts for BMA, Alidair, GB Airways and the Ministry of Aviation, I think that they were one of a small number of MROs that were able to carry out the re-sparring of the Viscount wings. The other main types that came through the hangar in the 1970s include the Argosy, Herald, Merchantman as well as the occasional DC-3, DC-4 and many HS 125 types from Series 1 through -600. Fields also completed 6 Shorts Skyvans for the Singapore Govt, 3 configured for search and rescue and 3 for general transport.

Fields EMA included a comprehensive design office which carried out design services for aircraft being maintained in house and for third parties including Airline Engineering (Monarch), Britannia and Short Brothers.

Fields were also selected as the completion centre for the BAe Jetstream 31 & 41 in the 1980s delivering several hundred of the type. From this you can see that Fields were more than just an MRO but sadly that expertise and service is no more at EMA.

Makes good reading. Shame it's history now. I assume Fields did the Viscount stuff that was beyond BMA.

[happybiker]

[quote=happybiker;10102399]

Makes good reading. Shame it's history now. I assume Fields did the Viscount stuff that was beyond BMA.

Fields often carried out the maintenance and work required to bring the BMA aircraft onto the UK register as well as specialist jobs such as the resparing. BMA were able to carry out most of the work on their in service aircraft but Fields were able to assist if they had a capacity conflict.

[Mooncrest]

Quite a handy arrangement. Makes me wonder if Fields got involved when G-AZLT was badly damaged at Leeds Bradford and was reincarnated as G-BMAT at East Midlands. A replacement set of wings was involved.

[happybiker]

Cannot help with info on G-AZLT I'm afraid. I had moved on from EMA by the time that accident occurred.

[Mooncrest]

Cannot help with info on G-AZLT I'm afraid. I had moved on from EMA by the time that accident occurred.

Nae bother. I'm just speculating.

[rog747]

i seem to recall after our second LBA big prang no.2 that ZLT was reunited with spare wings from G-BAPD and was done at LTN
she went by road from LBA - don't think the work was done at EMA but such a long time ago

[Mooncrest]

i seem to recall after our second LBA big prang no.2 that ZLT was reunited with spare wings from G-BAPD and was done at LTN
she went by road from LBA - don't think the work was done at EMA but such a long time ago

I expect someone knows but I fear I've caused thread drift.

I have only ever seen one Air Bridge Carriers aircraft that I clearly remember. That was a Merchantman at Manchester about thirty years ago. It parked on the Fairey apron and it struck me how much the engines sounded like Darts, even though they were Tynes !

I did once see an Argosy at Leeds Bradford one Sunday morning in about 1979/1980. It could well have been an ABC aircraft but I don't remember. Coincidentally, there was an ABC Viscount there the same morning, sporting full Dan-Air livery and operating a Jersey rotation.

[DH106]

I did once see an Argosy at Leeds Bradford one Sunday morning in about 1979/1980. It could well have been an ABC aircraft but I don't remember. Coincidentally, there was an ABC Viscount there the same morning, sporting full Dan-Air livery and operating a Jersey rotation.

Saw Argosy G-BEOZ at LBA in the late 70's, shortly followed by BAF carvair (probably G-ASHZ). I think they were transporting horses - must have been a big race on :)

[Mooncrest]

Saw Argosy G-BEOZ at LBA in the late 70's, shortly followed by BAF carvair (probably G-ASHZ). I think they were transporting horses - must have been a big race on :)

Quite likely for York Ebor. The BAF Carvairs are another that probably eluded me - I could well have seen one without realising, given my tender years back then.

[barry lloyd]

Dick Gilbert has written an excellent book on the company:-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Air-Bridge-Carriers-Dick-Gilbert/dp/B00TQTK862

His collection on Flickr contains many photos of aircraft and staff from ABC, plus many other outstanding historical shots.

https://flic.kr/p/iy5CPb

Hearing one of the Merchantmen rumble up Amber One above Castle Don. around midnight on the Luton-Glasgow papers, is an abiding memory.

Unfortunately, it's 'currently unavailable'

[Rocket Pants]

There's a new copy for sale on EBay for £16, free p&p.

[barry lloyd]

There's a new copy for sale on EBay for £16, free p&p.

Ordered. Thanks RP

[WHBM]

I remember seeing one on the cargo ramp at Cork in the 1990s, next to an Electra. Both were operating night cargo flights.

I always thought until then the two contemporary types were comparable. Only on seeing them trogether did I realise the Vanguard towered over the Electra.

[ZeBedie]

Going a bit left-field here, but I do remember a story about one of the Merchantmen being haunted?

Did this not start with a Merchantman strangely releasing its parking brake one night, resulting in a loss of life?

It seems that sometimes, both pilots and engineers were intimidated by the guardsvan.

[lotus1]

Last time saw merchant man G APES Was a cold night at Luton around 82 .What amazed me was the lights on the aircraft lit the whole place up lovely old sounds of engines

[Blackfriar]

I used to load and unload the Vanguards at BFS in 1984-1986. TNT, general freight and newspapers, horses. Lovely machines. DHL had a Herald and when loads got too big it was changed for a whistling wheelbarrow.
Load planning was tricky as TNT would send us three igloos of varying weights with no indication of how heavy the next three would be, so there was a skill in popping the in, in the right order and leaving enough trim range to accommodate whatever came next on the container from Belfast. I've still got a copy load sheet and could quote the empty weights without the manual after a while.
Standing under the nose for startups with those four huge props turning was great, opening the front hold with the props running to chuck in some forgotten paperwork was nerve-wracking.

[evansb]

ABC Argosy at Prague with some Skodas: (note the TELEX number)

https://i.imgur.com/OI9azRr.jpg?4

[barry lloyd]

Ah - the telex! Whatever happened to them? :D

[lotus1]

I may be wrong but when the Falklands war was on the MOD did charter a number of cargo companies to move supplies .Tradewinds heavy lift and I Believe Airbridge was involved as well was this true.

[pppdrive]

Lotus 1, They sure were involved, I was working for them at Luton at the time and we did carry some 'interesting' cargo. Wasn't flown to Falklands though but transhipped elsewhere to eventually reach the required destination.

[Stan Woolley]

G-APEM in Belfast during base training with Captain Mike Grace, a real gentleman.

4597

4598

Don’t know why this is inverted??? Also don’t know how to delete it, so I’ll leave it there.

[Midland 331]

https://flic.kr/p/GeyeTN

[tiny fireburn]

Yep, I remember the ABC Merchantmen visiting Gibraltar during my time there from 1980-83. Lovely aeroplane which, in my opinion, should have been developed into a maritime patrol platform in competition to the P-3 Orion. The similarities in spec are extraordinary!

[lotus1]

My eldest brother saw G apes at Las palmas said it was a great surprise could have been 86 He was on the ramp spoke to crew believe captain was a gentleman by the name of Kellard He was a very pleasant gentleman.

[happybiker]

There's a new copy for sale on EBay for £16, free p&p.

The book about ABC is also directly available from Dick Gilbert at Skyline Aviation Books (http://www.skylineaviation.co.uk/books.html)

[SPIT]

We used to get a LOT (I mean every night)of ABC aircraft at Liverpool (SPEKE) Airport in the 70s, I think there was an Argosy based there "they did the paper flights to Ireland" There was a Captain "I think his name was Mike Sprule who used to fly with his BLACK LABRADOR DOG named SALLY ???:ok::ok:

[1+F]

Was that Ian Whitton in post #45? I was with Air Bridge 89-92 what memories.

[Midland 331]

Yes. It's from Dick Gilbert's photo collection on Flickr. It's worth taking a look as there are quite a few from Air Bridge days.

[seer557]

Video on youtube of last ex ABC Merchantman (under Hunting Cargo Airline colours) flown into Brooklands.
See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmakSwlYLs0

Quite hairy.

Seer

[Discorde]

A Merchantman aircraft features as one of the characters in the novel 'The Damocles Plot' by Julien Evans. Here's a couple of excerpts:

Tonight the autopilot was behaving itself (it frequently didn't). Zulu Charlie rode out the turbulence well enough, the flight deck 'nodding' in the way peculiar to Merchantmen freighters. Converted from Vanguard passenger airliners in the early seventies, the Merchantmen had had their floors strengthened to withstand loading with cargo pallets, but a side effect was that the modified fuselage structure was more rigid. In rough air the floor bounced like a diving board.
'Glideslope.'
'Check,' responded Park. 'Gear down, approach flap. Final checks.'
Zulu Charlie intercepted the glideslope and both pilots heard the altitude lock disengage.
'Land flap,' called the copilot.
Jagger moved the lever, watching the gauge. It was slightly blurred. Must go to the optician tomorrow.
'Land flap you have,' he said. 'Checks complete.'

For a propeller-driven aircraft the Merchantman was quite a mover. Its four Rolls Royce Tyne turboprop engines dragged the sixty ton freighter through the air at three hundred and thirty-five knots, almost four hundred miles per hour. At full blast each engine turned its propeller with the power of five thousand horses. Even when throttled back in the cruise the huge props spun fast enough for the blade tips to nudge the speed of sound. In the time it took for Sarah to say, 'There goes Santiago. Next track is two two zero', the aircraft had put another half mile behind it.