Kiwithrottlejockey
25th Feb 2023, 07:11
Here is a blast from the past, an airline which disappeared in 1954………
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/1500x1000/bcpa_dc6_vg_brf_1500x1000_a77ff25d7ce2bd20d3bfd0d719977bc568 106507.jpg
Kiwithrottlejockey
25th Feb 2023, 08:01
Super Photograph !
I discovered that photograph last year, archived on the State Library of NSW website.
There is a Facebook group about British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines and even though the airline was wound up almost 69 years ago, we are still discovering fresh images that nobody has seen before.
That is a heavily-cropped image showing one of BCPA's sleeper transport DC-6s about to touch down at Sydney's Mascot Airport sometime in the early-1950s.
If you are interested, here is where to find the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/britishcommonwealthpacificairlines
rog747
25th Feb 2023, 08:20
British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines or BCPA was an airline registered in New South Wales, Australia in June 1946 with headquarters in Sydney.
It was formed by the Governments of Australia (50%), New Zealand (30%) and the United Kingdom (20%) to pursue trans-Pacific flights.
BCPA was later to be taken over by Qantas.
Flying the Pacific with BCPA - another Pprune thread from 2015 (https://www.pprune.org/aviation-history-nostalgia/557153-flying-pacific-bcpa-2.html)
BCPA was formed by treaty through an 'Agreement between the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom for the Formation of British Commonwealth Pacific Airlines Limited' with an initial capital of 10,000 Australian Pounds.
The initial agreement was signed on August 04, 1947.
The original BCPA route was Sydney - Auckland - Fiji - Canton Island - Hawaii HNL - San Francisco - Vancouver, and later included Melbourne,
also known as the 'Southern Cross Route'.
Initially, BCPA chartered all flights to Australian National Airways and TAA which used its Douglas DC-4s.
The inaugural flight departed from Sydney on September 15, 1946.
In late 1948 BCPA took delivery of the first of four new Douglas DC-6 aircraft, outfitted as Pullman-type with Sleeper Berths.
Each aircraft was named after one of the four sailing vessels of used by Captain James Cook - 'Resolution', 'Discovery', 'Adventure' and 'Endeavour'.
These 4 were ordered and built for SAS but were NTU.
The airline had ordered six de Havilland Comet jet airliners in 1952 for delivery in 1954.
In 1953 it had agreed to buy three Comet IIs for delivery at the end of 1956 and retain two of the DC-6s for Tourist-class carriage.
In October 1953 discussions were held by the three governments to allow the airline to be taken over by Qantas Empire Airways.
In 1954 it was announced that Qantas Empire Airways would take over the BCPA services between Australia and North America and it would also take over the order for three Comets. The remaining Douglas DC-6 aircraft were transferred to Tasman Empire Airways Ltd (TEAL), New Zealand.
The proposed Qantas order for the De Havilland Comet did not proceed.
Although Qantas never bought the British Comet, they wet-leased from BOAC six of their Comet 4 model from 1959 to 1963 for varying lengths of time to boost its Sydney-Singapore-London 'Kangaroo Route’.
The Comets retained their basic BOAC paint livery with ‘QANTAS’ titles on the upper fuselage, and on the wing slipper tanks, with a 'Roo' replacing the Speedbird on the tail.
The loss of BCPA Flight 304
crash of the resolution (https://www.check-six.com/Crash_Sites/BCPA_Flt_304.htm)
The ill-fated DC-6 VH-BPE Resolution
Accident Date 29 October 1953
Controlled flight into terrain, San Mateo County, 3 miles WSW of Woodside, on the San Francisco Peninsula.California.
The landing gear was down and locked at the time of impact.
There was no evidence of mechanical or structural failure prior to the impact.
The accident site was between the Half Moon Bay Fan Marker and the San Francisco ILS Outer Marker, and it appeared that the flight had not maintained at least 500 feet on top of clouds between those points but had descended in weather.
The flight had reported being over the Half Moon Bay Fan Marker at 8:39 am and then "Southeast, turning inbound" at about 8:42 am.
In this time interval it would not have been possible for the flight at normal speed to have flown from the Half Moon Bay Outer Marker to the ILS Outer Marker then make the required turn and return to the site of the crash in accordance with the approved instrument approach procedure.
Thus it was likely that when the pilot reported he was "Southeast, turning inbound", he was in fact Southwest of the airport.
The investigation then stated it was probable that the Captain, after reporting he was over Half Moon Bay, either saw the terrain momentarily through an unreported break in the overcast foggy conditions or because of a radio navigational error, became convinced his position was farther northeast and then started to descend over what he believed was the proper area.
The probable cause was the failure of the Crew to follow prescribed procedures for an instrument approach.
Flight origin Sydney, Australia
1st stopover Fiji
2nd stopover Canton Island, Kiribati
3rd stopover Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Last stopover San Francisco, California, United States
Destination Vancouver, BC, Canada
Passengers 11
Crew 8
Fatalities 19, including the American pianist William Kapell.
In 1985, University of Maryland named its annual piano competition and festival "The William Kapell International Piano Competition & Festival", in honor of William Kapell.
The event, once held annually, now occurs every four years, and is hosted by the 'Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at Maryland'.
Authorities had to clear paths through the thick undergrowth the recover the bodies, and much of the shattered wreckage still remains today scattered nearby.
Many of the paths are now hiking trails, and a small monument has been placed near the center of recovery operations.
Today, the crash site is part of the "El Corte de Madera Creek Open Space Preserve", which now includes the "Resolution Trail", named after the plane.
Debris from the plane can still be seen beside this trail.
Hiking to the Resolution (https://www.natureoutside.com/an-air-disaster-and-historical-hike/)
This Bay Area hike to a crashed plane site is equal parts incredible and unsettling (https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/El-Corte-de-Madera-Resolution-Trail-crash-hike-15430169.php)