What colour was the first Vickers Vanguard?
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What colour was the first Vickers Vanguard?
I am doing some research for a model of the prototype Vickers Vanguard, G-AOYW, but cannot find any COLOUR photographs anywhere!
This aircraft flew from Wisely on 20th January 1959 but does not appear to have gone anywhere to be photographed. The first Vanguard seen in public was G-APEA that appeared at the Paris Air Show in June 1959 in the early BEA peony red livery. BEA then changed their livery and G-APEB made its debut in this new scheme at Farnborough in September 1959.
But what of G-AOYW? She ended up being scrapped at Wisely in 1964 but surely SOMEONE has a colour photo of her and Vickers must have taken some? I believe the trim was black and the belly and wings were in a duck-egg blue colour, but I need a colour photo to define this colour - can you help?
This aircraft flew from Wisely on 20th January 1959 but does not appear to have gone anywhere to be photographed. The first Vanguard seen in public was G-APEA that appeared at the Paris Air Show in June 1959 in the early BEA peony red livery. BEA then changed their livery and G-APEB made its debut in this new scheme at Farnborough in September 1959.
But what of G-AOYW? She ended up being scrapped at Wisely in 1964 but surely SOMEONE has a colour photo of her and Vickers must have taken some? I believe the trim was black and the belly and wings were in a duck-egg blue colour, but I need a colour photo to define this colour - can you help?
It was indeed duck-egg blue. My primary school was on the extended centre line of the Wisley (easterly) final approach path and the aircraft frequently flew overhead. Although only a nipper then I always took a keen interest as father was a BEA Viscount co-pilot at the time.
I also remember that there were a couple of Viscounts painted in the same colour "experimentally" and if I remember rightly one was later written off.
Sadly, the colour of the cheat line escapes me in the mists of time.
I also remember that there were a couple of Viscounts painted in the same colour "experimentally" and if I remember rightly one was later written off.
Sadly, the colour of the cheat line escapes me in the mists of time.
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vanguard colour scheme
Flightwatch, come to Brooklands and see us on G-APEP we have a picture of the prototype on board. I cannot remember the colours at the moment but will check tomorrow when I am in.
tristar 500
www.vickers-vanguard-merchantman
tristar 500
www.vickers-vanguard-merchantman
Thanks for your replies Flightwatch and Paper Tiger.
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"This aircraft flew from Wisely(sic) on 20th January 1959 but does not appear to have gone anywhere to be photographed."
Is this perhaps due to the fact that it was actually built at Weybridge, then flown to Wisley?
Is this perhaps due to the fact that it was actually built at Weybridge, then flown to Wisley?
Last edited by RETDPI; 8th Nov 2008 at 10:20.
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Together with Tristar 500 I looked at the model of the prototype in the Brooklands gift shop yesterday {saturday]and we took pictures and will post them as soon as possible but the lower fuselage was painted Duck egg blue with a thin Gold stripe a thicker black stripe and a thin Gold stripe cheat line .and the rest was white above that.
any help?
any help?
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From what I'm hearing, that sounds like a really accurate model, so pics would be appreciated. Thanks. I'm still VERY surprised that no official Vickers colour photos have emerged!
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Vanguard prototype colours.
This is an overview
Close up of the cheat line
This is a Vickers promotional model in the Brooklands shop & is not for sale.
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The model does look similar to the 1959 ad, from the b/w photos that I have seen there would appear to have been at least three different paint schemes.
Ciarain.
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The shot at the head of this thread was certainly not taken during the initial flight trials. Both the scheme and (more importantly) the structure are significantly different.
But of course the registration was the same...........
But of course the registration was the same...........
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Have a look at 1958 | 1- - 0968 | Flight Archive (Interesting comment re the last BEA Viscount!) and http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchi...20-%00389.html which show the scheme on first flight and confirm the duck egg blue.
The photo which heads the topic is, I think an airbrushed pic which was done some time ago for a flight sim using the actual duck egg blue, navy blue, gold and white colours but in a format that was never applied.
In the only photos I've ever seen - and when I saw the aircraft in 1961 - it was eactly as shown in the photos shown in the links and that of the of the model, i.e. as first flown and there was a photo (possibly in Air Pic, maybe in Flight)taken around 1963 showing the aircraft in the same old scheme,without engines - though I can't lay my hands on the copy.
The photo which heads the topic is, I think an airbrushed pic which was done some time ago for a flight sim using the actual duck egg blue, navy blue, gold and white colours but in a format that was never applied.
In the only photos I've ever seen - and when I saw the aircraft in 1961 - it was eactly as shown in the photos shown in the links and that of the of the model, i.e. as first flown and there was a photo (possibly in Air Pic, maybe in Flight)taken around 1963 showing the aircraft in the same old scheme,without engines - though I can't lay my hands on the copy.
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Vanguard Prototype
Sorry for the size I cannot get it to resize to the smaller picture!!
This is a promotional shot for Vickers, it`s black & white but I think we know the colours.
This shot was taken by one of my (deceased) collogues of the aircraft on the flight line ay Brooklands (I think!)
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First Vanguard at Heathrow
In 59 or 60 I looked over what I thought was YW in the old BEA colours.
However it may have been EA.In 61 did the course and was on the crew that delivered EP from Wisley to LHR.Then took EF to Indonesia as PK-MVJ.
Good to see photos of the old girl again.
However it may have been EA.In 61 did the course and was on the crew that delivered EP from Wisley to LHR.Then took EF to Indonesia as PK-MVJ.
Good to see photos of the old girl again.
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There is no record of 'YW in BEA colours so it must have been 'EA.
The Vanguard was the first airliner I flew in after a number of Chipmunk and an Anson flights in the ATC.
At the age of 15 I visited the 1963 Biggin Hill Air Fair unaccompanied. This entailed getting from home in Stockport to relatives in Virginia Water on a Friday night after school, followed by the return trip to Biggin on the Saturday then a day at Heathrow on the Sunday and a late afternoon trip home.
The trip to and from the south was achieved by means of BEA followed by bus and train journeys. The air fare was £2.50 (£2/10/-) each way student standby.
The 20.00 flight that Friday night was operated by G-APED which also, to my disappointment (as I wanted another example), operated the return leg on the Sunday.
The flight back was notable for two reasons. As we started our take off roll on 28R a sharp hail shower hit the mid point of the runway and the crew rejected the take off after around 5 seconds, followed by a turn off the runway and a return to the queue.
At the time BEA were conducting an experiment with the Tyne engines by which, at the top of climb, the engines were momentarily de-synchronised in pairs leading to a worrying noise in the cabin and a strange feeling that the aircraft had become inert. The crew at least mentioned this on the PA before it happened though the looks on the faces of the passengers around me was "interesting".
I made many flight on the Breadvan to and from Heathrow throughout the 1960s - a concept well engineered and perfect for the job - had it been built in 1948 rather than 1958. As it was ten years too late Vickers were unable to capitalise on its cost effectiveness, although their advertising made much of the low operating costs which cut little ice with airlines looking forward to short haul jets and passengers wanting a vibration free ride.
The Vanguard was the first airliner I flew in after a number of Chipmunk and an Anson flights in the ATC.
At the age of 15 I visited the 1963 Biggin Hill Air Fair unaccompanied. This entailed getting from home in Stockport to relatives in Virginia Water on a Friday night after school, followed by the return trip to Biggin on the Saturday then a day at Heathrow on the Sunday and a late afternoon trip home.
The trip to and from the south was achieved by means of BEA followed by bus and train journeys. The air fare was £2.50 (£2/10/-) each way student standby.
The 20.00 flight that Friday night was operated by G-APED which also, to my disappointment (as I wanted another example), operated the return leg on the Sunday.
The flight back was notable for two reasons. As we started our take off roll on 28R a sharp hail shower hit the mid point of the runway and the crew rejected the take off after around 5 seconds, followed by a turn off the runway and a return to the queue.
At the time BEA were conducting an experiment with the Tyne engines by which, at the top of climb, the engines were momentarily de-synchronised in pairs leading to a worrying noise in the cabin and a strange feeling that the aircraft had become inert. The crew at least mentioned this on the PA before it happened though the looks on the faces of the passengers around me was "interesting".
I made many flight on the Breadvan to and from Heathrow throughout the 1960s - a concept well engineered and perfect for the job - had it been built in 1948 rather than 1958. As it was ten years too late Vickers were unable to capitalise on its cost effectiveness, although their advertising made much of the low operating costs which cut little ice with airlines looking forward to short haul jets and passengers wanting a vibration free ride.
