Airspeed/D.H. Ambassador.
As for the Airspeed Ambassador... 'Behind the Cockpit Door' by Arthur Whitlock has some great descriptions of operating the type with BKS. I need to reread it soon I'm thinking....
Re the Jordanain Air Force Ambassador above.
We got the occasional interesting aircraft at Renfrew bringing Avon engines to Rolls Royce for overhaul.
I remember seeing a Sabena CV-440 on the approach when the Jordanian Ambassador appeared underneath the Convair resulting in much shouting on the radio.
I was surprised to see G-ALZP at LaGuardia in 1964.
We got the occasional interesting aircraft at Renfrew bringing Avon engines to Rolls Royce for overhaul.
I remember seeing a Sabena CV-440 on the approach when the Jordanian Ambassador appeared underneath the Convair resulting in much shouting on the radio.
I was surprised to see G-ALZP at LaGuardia in 1964.
Following the British Open Golf championship final playoff in 1963 between Bob Charles and Phil Rodgers, the BBC decided to replay the match for BBC TV. Henry Longhurst, a well known golf commentator was making a lengthy speech when in the distance came the beautiful sound of the Airspeed Ambassador which had just departed Blackpool on the Autair service to Luton. The sound got louder and louder until eventually Henry Longhurst gave up, waited for the noise to pass, and then had to record the whole piece again.
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Gnome de PPRuNe
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Reminds me that when Bond is playing golf with Goldfinger (at Sandwich?) there is a glorious sound of a twin passing in the background. Always used to fancy it was a Mosquito but these days I think more realistically it was actually something like a Twin Bonanza or Queenair with augmentor exhausts...
Re the Jordanain Air Force Ambassador above.
We got the occasional interesting aircraft at Renfrew bringing Avon engines to Rolls Royce for overhaul.
I remember seeing a Sabena CV-440 on the approach when the Jordanian Ambassador appeared underneath the Convair resulting in much shouting on the radio.
I was surprised to see G-ALZP at LaGuardia in 1964.
We got the occasional interesting aircraft at Renfrew bringing Avon engines to Rolls Royce for overhaul.
I remember seeing a Sabena CV-440 on the approach when the Jordanian Ambassador appeared underneath the Convair resulting in much shouting on the radio.
I was surprised to see G-ALZP at LaGuardia in 1964.
Thread still going !!
Pleased to see many memories of the Ambassador still lingering after a few years, and confirming my post of 12 07 17, that it was an amazing site to stand overlooking the departure stand at Gatwick and seeing and hearing those 'Cents' wind up with associated copious smoke screen. Dan Air certainly gave them an excellent 'final run' before the Turbo Props arrived. Todays mobile phones would have made a great addition then.
Airspeed/D.H.Ambassador
Absolute, true, nostalgia. I can add, a bit;
Moreton's DO at Gatters around 1967. The "Central finger" was the only finger and DO Office was tucked in one corner with glorious views.Dan would stop all Duty Officer tasks as, honestly, what looked like ordinary farm tractors pulled up a Lizzie and lots of preflight activity held all of us in the office spellbound.
Tommy Gun would leave his adjoining office and tell us ;"ok, ok, tea break while we watch the fun". Fun it was as, eventually, the engines would be started. Lots of noise, lots of smoke. LGW went from 'Calm, CAVOK' to viz, zero, overcast, cat111 only within minutes. Aviation fuel/smoke smell filled our office. No-one complained.
And off she would taxi, trailing thick black smoke and everything returned to boring normal as phones on hold were switched back and Hosties called in looking for Friday night swops.Pure joy..
Having got into the pointy end quite quickly, I did have the absolute pleasure of Serving Art Whitlock as his FO. Not a book reader but obtained and read his offering "Behind the Cockpit Door". Lent it to someone else and didn't get it back, but, hey, what a read.
Moreton's DO at Gatters around 1967. The "Central finger" was the only finger and DO Office was tucked in one corner with glorious views.Dan would stop all Duty Officer tasks as, honestly, what looked like ordinary farm tractors pulled up a Lizzie and lots of preflight activity held all of us in the office spellbound.
Tommy Gun would leave his adjoining office and tell us ;"ok, ok, tea break while we watch the fun". Fun it was as, eventually, the engines would be started. Lots of noise, lots of smoke. LGW went from 'Calm, CAVOK' to viz, zero, overcast, cat111 only within minutes. Aviation fuel/smoke smell filled our office. No-one complained.
And off she would taxi, trailing thick black smoke and everything returned to boring normal as phones on hold were switched back and Hosties called in looking for Friday night swops.Pure joy..
Having got into the pointy end quite quickly, I did have the absolute pleasure of Serving Art Whitlock as his FO. Not a book reader but obtained and read his offering "Behind the Cockpit Door". Lent it to someone else and didn't get it back, but, hey, what a read.
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The Airspeed Ambassador was pivotal in flying many IT Package Holiday charter flights to Europe and the Med Sunspots.
UK and foreign charter airlines used them for IT's such as Overseas Aviation, Dan Air, BKS, Autair and Globe Air with seating for 48-55 seats.Ambassadors replaced the older Vickers Vikings and DC-3's, and they provided a far more comfortable and, on longer routes, a speedier trip, for example, shaving more than an hour off the London to Rimini or Perpignan service.
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Around 1966 my eldest sister booked a holiday in Spain. It was with Autair and supposed to be flying in a brand new BAC1-11. My dad was a senior inspector at the Hurn factory and said they hadn't delivered the first aircraft yet. She flew out in an Ambassador but the return flight was in a BAC 1-11.
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Around 1966 my eldest sister booked a holiday in Spain. It was with Autair and supposed to be flying in a brand new BAC1-11. My dad was a senior inspector at the Hurn factory and said they hadn't delivered the first aircraft yet. She flew out in an Ambassador but the return flight was in a BAC 1-11.
My first flight in an aeroplane, London to Germany (Munich?) in 1957. Sat opposite my brothers on a four-seat table complete with linen tablecloth, fine china and stainless-steel knives. My father in a suit with a hat and Mum dressed to the nines, including white gloves up to the elbow. As kids we wore identical outfits which included a tie! Addressed as 'Master' by the cabin crew and treated like royalty. Talk about changing times. Beautiful looking aeroplane too.
Last edited by By George; 16th Jan 2024 at 21:49.
My first flight in an aeroplane, London to Germany (Munich?) in 1957. Sat opposite my brothers on a four-seat table complete with linen tablecloth, fine china and stainless-steel knives. My father in a suit with a hat and Mum dressed to the nines, including white gloves up to the elbow. As kids we wore identical outfits which included a tie! Addressed as 'Master' by the cabin crew and treated like royalty. Talk about changing times. Beautiful looking aeroplane too.
12 a/c were in the fleet in 1957, with just 7 in 1958.
The Viscount 800 was coming onstream and would soon take over these routes from the Ambassador.
in turn these would go to the new Comet 4B's and Vanguards.
Art though accurate oh shredded memory
As a 9/12 year old my favourite place was hugging the 2 strand wire fence that separated Snape's Wood from the Rolls Royce Flight Test Establishment airfield at Hucknall, Dim memory tells me that huddled in a defensive heap on the distant pan lay a mouldering row of flying test beds their duty done, all, no doubt, awaiting the scrap mans cutters. Vague memory suggests that an Ambassaor/Elizabethan and I think an Avro Tudor amongst them. Then I could be wrong! Anyone know the history?
At the time the Vulcan test bed was active before its loss at Syerston so it must be pre that accident.
At the time the Vulcan test bed was active before its loss at Syerston so it must be pre that accident.
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As a 9/12 year old my favourite place was hugging the 2 strand wire fence that separated Snape's Wood from the Rolls Royce Flight Test Establishment airfield at Hucknall, Dim memory tells me that huddled in a defensive heap on the distant pan lay a mouldering row of flying test beds their duty done, all, no doubt, awaiting the scrap mans cutters. Vague memory suggests that an Ambassaor/Elizabethan and I think an Avro Tudor amongst them. Then I could be wrong! Anyone know the history?
At the time the Vulcan test bed was active before its loss at Syerston so it must be pre that accident.
At the time the Vulcan test bed was active before its loss at Syerston so it must be pre that accident.
Last edited by Planemike; 18th Jan 2024 at 13:00.
Not forgetting the Royal Jordanian Air Force example (ex G-ALZP) - not sure if it ever actually got to Jordan, pic looks like Heathrow:
https://www.airlinefan.com/airline-p...r/107/5170550/
https://www.airlinefan.com/airline-p...r/107/5170550/