Qantas 707 (Merged)
Originally Posted by Georgeablelovehowindia
Two Conway powered 707s were lost in BOAC service.
G-APFE, a -436 near Mt. Fuji on 05 March 1966
G-ARWE a -465 (ex Cunard Eagle) at LHR on 08 April 1968
G-APFE, a -436 near Mt. Fuji on 05 March 1966
G-ARWE a -465 (ex Cunard Eagle) at LHR on 08 April 1968
Weren't the BA Conway 707s all in the G-APFx range? The other BA 707s being P&W?
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'WE was indeed a Conway powered -465. Source: G-INFO.
G-ARWD and WE were inherited from Cunard Eagle when BOAC took them over.
Boeing 707-465 translates as:
707-465 - (300 series with Conway engines). '65' was the Boeing Cunard customer number - hence -465.
For reasons best known to themselves Boeing customer numbers started at -20. Therefore the first basic model became a -20, then -120, -220, -320 if you follow my drift.
Therefore the basic 707 long range aircraft was designated a 707-320. The first customer was Pan Am so their aircraft became 707-321s. BOAC was customer number 36 so their aircraft became either 707-336s (P&W) or 707-436s (RR Conway).
When they ran out of numbers having got back to -19, then Boeing had to use number/letter combinations.
I don't often put my anorak on (especially in this weather) and I shall take it off again immediately.
Boeing 707-465 translates as:
707-465 - (300 series with Conway engines). '65' was the Boeing Cunard customer number - hence -465.
For reasons best known to themselves Boeing customer numbers started at -20. Therefore the first basic model became a -20, then -120, -220, -320 if you follow my drift.
Therefore the basic 707 long range aircraft was designated a 707-320. The first customer was Pan Am so their aircraft became 707-321s. BOAC was customer number 36 so their aircraft became either 707-336s (P&W) or 707-436s (RR Conway).
When they ran out of numbers having got back to -19, then Boeing had to use number/letter combinations.
I don't often put my anorak on (especially in this weather) and I shall take it off again immediately.
Back in the mid 70's, aged about 11, I flew on holiday Gatwick to Dubrovnik in a British Airtours 707 (from the pictures I took with my Kodak Instamatic, I'm pretty sure it was a Conway-engined -400)
We landed hard in heavy rain and lost a nosewheel - remember to this day some pax laughing and others shreiking as the wheel went bouncing past us.
Anyone going to own up to remembering this?
We landed hard in heavy rain and lost a nosewheel - remember to this day some pax laughing and others shreiking as the wheel went bouncing past us.
Anyone going to own up to remembering this?
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Mid 70s and a 707, then definitely a -436. Airtours took over all the survivors from BA to replace their ex BEA Comet 4s as I recall.
Ah memories! Back in the good old days before the Dead Sea was even ill, I used to service the BOAC B707s transiting SYD. The Cunard -465s were the usual a/c on the run. As I recall it, there were 4 of them - ARWD, ARWE, AWOG and ???? The B707-400 series were a bit of a mish-mash systems wise, sort of a B707-120 and B707-320 mix. The Conway engines on the B707 were reliable but a bitch to work on if there was a problem - all those tiny screws!!!
JW411, I seem to recall that the basic B707 with the P&W JT3C (stovepipe) engines was the -100 and when the fan was hung on the front to make the JT3D, the series was renamed -120. That's when the rudder system became a dog's breakfast to set up and rig!!
It will be great to see one back on the QF base for a while. JT's B707 has been somewhat modified from the original, maybe this one will be closer.
JW411, I seem to recall that the basic B707 with the P&W JT3C (stovepipe) engines was the -100 and when the fan was hung on the front to make the JT3D, the series was renamed -120. That's when the rudder system became a dog's breakfast to set up and rig!!
It will be great to see one back on the QF base for a while. JT's B707 has been somewhat modified from the original, maybe this one will be closer.
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A/C has been washed and looks much improved already. If anyone out there knows those involved with it can they find out any of the project dates as I missed the last 707 ex SEN and do not want to miss this one. Perhaps they could tie in with the Vulcan and do some engines runs on August Bank Holiday?
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<<ah memories! Back in the good old days before the Dead Sea was even ill, I used to service the BOAC B707s transiting SYD. The Cunard -465s were the usual a/c on the run. As I recall it, there were 4 of them - ARWD, ARWE, AWOG and ???? The B707-400 series were a bit of a mish-mash systems wise, sort of a B707-120 and B707-320 mix. The Conway engines on the B707 were reliable but a bitch to work on if there was a problem - all those tiny screws!!!
JW411, I seem to recall that the basic B707 with the P&W JT3C (stovepipe) engines was the -100 and when the fan was hung on the front to make the JT3D, the series was renamed -120. That's when the rudder system became a dog's breakfast to set up and rig!!>>
We only had two -465's - RWD,RWE - the rest were all 436's, although we did have a -365C ATZD - never flew 'RWE before it's accident at LHR but flew the others more than frequently!!
The original 'stove-pipe' 707's were 120/320 series - when the fan engine was fitted they became 120B's or 320B's and C's - the C's being convertable from pax to freight and vice versa and were quite superb aircraft to fly and operate - I spent many thousands of hours sat in the front seats for 14 years.
JW411, I seem to recall that the basic B707 with the P&W JT3C (stovepipe) engines was the -100 and when the fan was hung on the front to make the JT3D, the series was renamed -120. That's when the rudder system became a dog's breakfast to set up and rig!!>>
We only had two -465's - RWD,RWE - the rest were all 436's, although we did have a -365C ATZD - never flew 'RWE before it's accident at LHR but flew the others more than frequently!!
The original 'stove-pipe' 707's were 120/320 series - when the fan engine was fitted they became 120B's or 320B's and C's - the C's being convertable from pax to freight and vice versa and were quite superb aircraft to fly and operate - I spent many thousands of hours sat in the front seats for 14 years.
N4790P
I was working for British Eagle at that time. 1st redundancy experience!!
If I recall correctly and it really was a long time ago only G-ARWD was actually operated by Cunard Eagle. The other aircraft ordered by Cunard Eagle, G-ARWE, G-ATZC & G-ATZD were delivered directly to BOAC-Cunard.
(G-ARWE was involved in the tragedy at LHR in 1968)
If I recall correctly and it really was a long time ago only G-ARWD was actually operated by Cunard Eagle. The other aircraft ordered by Cunard Eagle, G-ARWE, G-ATZC & G-ATZD were delivered directly to BOAC-Cunard.
(G-ARWE was involved in the tragedy at LHR in 1968)
The Conway B707s I remember had BOAC-Cunard on the side of the fuselage.
I especially remember G-AWOG since my leading hand was an Italian - referred to in Oz in those days as "wogs"!!
I especially remember G-AWOG since my leading hand was an Italian - referred to in Oz in those days as "wogs"!!
This is getting out of hand! G-AWOG was a Piper PA30 Twin Comanche and it was originally owned by Prince William Of Gloucester who obviously swung his own personalised registration.
The affectionate Italian nickname you are striving for is "Wop".
G-ATZC and ZD were not Conway powered but were 707-365s. G-ATZC went to Airlift and then Caledonian and was not operated by BOAC.
The other BOAC Conway powered 707s were 707-436s registered G-APFB-FP and G-ARRA-RC.
With reference to G-AWOG; I think you might be thinking of G-AWDG? She was one of two ex-Qantas 707-138s (ex-VH-EBG) operated by British Eagle. The other one was G-AVZZ (ex-VH-EBD). Both of them ended up with Laker when I was there.
The affectionate Italian nickname you are striving for is "Wop".
G-ATZC and ZD were not Conway powered but were 707-365s. G-ATZC went to Airlift and then Caledonian and was not operated by BOAC.
The other BOAC Conway powered 707s were 707-436s registered G-APFB-FP and G-ARRA-RC.
With reference to G-AWOG; I think you might be thinking of G-AWDG? She was one of two ex-Qantas 707-138s (ex-VH-EBG) operated by British Eagle. The other one was G-AVZZ (ex-VH-EBD). Both of them ended up with Laker when I was there.
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I was booking out from Southend last Saturday (July 1) when a couple of engineers working on HZ123 came in and asked if there was a VHF COM test frequency they could use.
Sounds like progress is being made. It would be nice to see that old lady fly again.
Sounds like progress is being made. It would be nice to see that old lady fly again.
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I'm wondering where it's going?
There is no space available at the Qantas Founders Museum at Longreach, although the airport owners, Longreach Council are trying to obtain $5 mill funding but as far as I know, that is all for airstrip lengthening.
Anyone have any idea where this aircraft is headed? It's going to be an expensive exercise for QF getting the aircraft serviceable and back to Australia?
VH-XBA still does not come up on the CASA registration web site.
There is no space available at the Qantas Founders Museum at Longreach, although the airport owners, Longreach Council are trying to obtain $5 mill funding but as far as I know, that is all for airstrip lengthening.
Anyone have any idea where this aircraft is headed? It's going to be an expensive exercise for QF getting the aircraft serviceable and back to Australia?
VH-XBA still does not come up on the CASA registration web site.
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Only gossip but it is believed to be going first to Boeing Field for publicity exercise and some additional work. I have no doubt that it will fly as SEN has a very good recird in getting a/c away after they have sat for years, in this case since 1999.
JW411, I've read that stuff about the good prince using the rego G-AWOG on his a/c, but I'm here to tell you that a BOAC B707 of that rego - G-AWOG - was regularly in SYD during 1969. I was a member of the crew who used to service the Conway a/c during transit. Prior to the B707s it was Comets and after the VC10 and VC15.
The term "wog" in Oz in those days was used to refer to almost anyone of non-Anglo Saxon heritage.
The term "wog" in Oz in those days was used to refer to almost anyone of non-Anglo Saxon heritage.
Originally Posted by mustafagander
The Conway B707s I remember had BOAC-Cunard on the side of the fuselage.
British Eagle and Cunard Shipping formed a joint company called Cunard Eagle to operate from London to the Caribbean in the days when independents were allowed very little worthwhile work. 707s were ordered for the operation. BOAC negotiated behind the scenes with Cunard over this in a very un-nationalised industry fashion and one day, hey presto, Cunard dropped the arrangement and got into bed with BOAC instead. The 707 fleet on order was divided between Cunard (who passed them on to BOAC) and British Eagle (who struggled to find enough work for them).
As part of the agreement I believe that some long-serving Cunard Shipping stewards were able to transfer to BOAC as the ship fleet ran down, possibly maintaining their seniority.