hadley page herald and f27

[wub]

My first ever flight was in BEA Herald G-APWC, Turnhouse to Renfrew. Cost 13/-

[Georgeablelovehowindia]

The Irving Beak!

OK, so hands up all those who got the Herald ARB exam paper which had the "What is the Irving Beak" question? Yours truly's response to reading this was: "The Irving ******* what??!!"

The Irving Beak is an aerodynamic mass balance in the leading edge of the rudder - that notch-shaped discontinuity which shows well in the photo of G-CEAS, above the rose. I'd never come across it before, or since, so perhaps it's unique to the Herald. The technical manual mentioned it once, in passing, but needless to say some bright spark at the ARB seized upon it with glee!

[Planemike]

JRFD

Any chance we could have the spelling corrected to Handley Page?
This great Company at least deserves to be recognised with the correct name!

Yes please, can someone put an "n" in, to make it Handley-Page. Sir Fredrick must be turning in his grave !!!!

Planemike

[mustbeaboeing]

G-APWA HP Herald 100 series

I used to work for a company that used to handle BAF. 1977/78

The groan/moan that used to come from the refuelling company when they were advised of it's arrival.

Over-wing refuelling. Boy, did they 'Love It'

[Georgeablelovehowindia]

G-APWA

Apart from the major drawback of the lack of single-point pressure refuelling, 'WA was non-standard in other important respects. The engine fire extinguishers were operated by big red buttons in a panel above the centre windscreen, instead of the internally lit handles either side of the CWS panel on the front coaming. A short differences course was necessary in order to get checked out on it, which I managed to avoid, somehow.

This was the aircraft that HRH Prince Philip took on a sales tour of South America, and there was a commemorative plaque on the rear cabin bulkhead. Unfortunately, it mis-spelled his name - 'Phillip' - tut, tut. I wonder if it's still there?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

In 1966 Autair purchased three Heralds from The Ministry of Aviation.
G-APWB/C/D. They had been used by BEA on their Highlands and Islands network and were in very bad nick. At the time of their purchase they were not cleared for pressurised operation and on their arrival at Luton spent months sitting outside our hangar before eventually undergoing extensive maintenance and being put to work on the Scheduled Services. However we were a resourceful lot at Autair and during this fallow period these wrecks very occasionally took to the skies. I do recall the coldest 'Joyride' of my life when on a very cold winter's night one of our 748s (Pete Hogg) burst a tyre at Glasgow and Len Prudence together with a gaggle of engineers and me took a Herald up to Glasgow with the spare wheel. There were no seats in the cabin, no pressurisation and naturally enough no heating. Brass Monkeys indeed!

Incidentally both G-APWA and G-ASKK saw service with Autair in 1963.

I well remember G-ASKK having a lousy serviceability record during my time with BIA (73-78) she certainly kept my grey matter in good working order. To me it is ironic but nevertheless pleasing to know that she survived to be preserved today at Norwich not thirty minutes away from my home.

[pigboat]

I just recieved a short video on the now-defunct Nordair. Nice little tribute, but fast forward to the 5:46 mark and there's an in-flight shot of an MCA Herald with what looks like some passengers being heaved out the door.

[bigal1941]

At about 5 min in there is a crew shot, and the gentleman in the P1 seat whose name was totally unpronouncible, crewed a Dakota from Bari to somwhere near Peenamunde on the Baltic in WW2 to collect a V1/V2 liberated by the Polish Resistance. The Dakota got stuck in the mud and with the occupying forces becoming aware of a Dakota at full power, the crew calmly dug it out. Fuller details can be found in an Obituary from the Daily Telegraph of a few weeks ago. He was apparently chief pilot with Nordair and in WW2 a brave man indeed. Alan

[Wander00]

Bigal - I think that incident forms part of a feature film made either during or just after the war - it might also featrure in the film "Operation Crossbow", but I am not sure on that later one.

[om15]

G-ASVO and G-BAVX

G-ASVO operated as a freighter with Channel Express with that registration until early 1997, following a taxi accident at Bournemouth it was declared as unrepairable and withdrawn from service.



G-BAVX became G-DGLD and again operated with Channel Express until 1996 when it was withdrawn from service due to the condition of the aircraft.

The ex BAF aircraft that were bought by Channel Express were generally re registered to prevent any liens in Europe from being applied when operating to European destinations.

br om15

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

From an old Postcard of Luton Airport - with its then new Terminal

[oldandbald]

Nice postcard ! Bringing back memories of my first years in ATC at Luton. Question.. When Autair retired the Heralds we were treated to a short formation "display" by all three aircraft at Luton, does anyone have photos of this event ?

[OUAQUKGF Ops]

Herald Fly-Past

The only photo I have seen is on page 68 of the book 'Colours in the Sky' (History of Autair and Court Line) by Graham Simons. Out of print and prices now asked for it are often exorbitant. Your best bet a well-known internet auction site. I think that Capt Jimmy Gross was Red 1 !

[Level bust]

I managed to get 4 trips in Autair's Heralds when my Dad worked for them. One of which was an epic day trip to Jersey that he scrounged a family trip on. The only trouble was it went via Hull! But as the flight was full out of Hull we had to be coached to RAF Leconfield as it couldn't depart from Hull with a full load, because of the chimneys at the end of the runway I believe. I seem to recall we didn't get long in Jersey. My log book shows we spent a total of 4 hours 45 minutes in the air.

[koreafan]

Hi all

Just came across this thread while researching data for a book on the Herald.

I hope you don't mind me asking for data, photos and info here as I have quite a few unanswered questions, particularly surrounding some aircraft that flew with BIA/Air UK/Chan Ex.

Please feel free to send me a PM if you'd like to contact me directly.

Thanks
Martin

[Phildm]

My Mum worked at Handley Page

I was posting about my Grand parents who died in the June 1967 Air Ferry crash and I thought I would take a look at Handley Page as my mum used to work there, and this thread about the Dart Hearald came up,which was what she worked on.

Mum, named Margaret worked there between 1960 and 1964 in the design offices (though not as a designer) and at the time was taken up to take photos of the plane, how it performed and that sort of thing. I wonder if any one remembers her. Sadly it was her mum and dad that were in the Air Ferry plane.

[Mr Oleo Strut]

The end is nigh....no, its not, its here now!

Forgive them, Sir Fred - they really do mean Handley Page. Shortly before the big crash of the company the old chap came down to Woodley to talk to us apprentices, and said that he was going to offer us the chance to take flying lessons. We all volunteered to a man but it was too late. I worked on WA and the Woodley Heralds, Hasting main-spar renewals, and Victor bits and pieces and it was all good fun while it lasted. At Woodley there were memories and the ghost of Miles everywhere, and I can still hear the 'miaowww' of the Darts on taxiing even though its more than fifty years ago. But its history now, just part of the archives, like this good, old thread, but many thanks to all for having revived such pleasant memories of a different age. Now its back to the degreasing tank for me and the whiff of trico...
PS: We firmly believed that the Herald won hands-down against the 748 at the Martlesham rough/short field trials, but we would, wouldn't we!

[Sir Niall Dementia]

748s (Pete Hogg)

Same Pete Hogg who spent a few years as a guest of Her Majesty for not disposing of his late wife well enough?

SND