Viscounts at Wadi Haifa
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Viscounts at Wadi Haifa
I have been asked if anyone knows if the CAA Viscounts routed through Wadi and if so was the strip dirt/sand or paved surface/asphalt?
if it is dirt/sand then would that have been a first for Viscounts to land on
unpaved surfaces
thanks very much
if it is dirt/sand then would that have been a first for Viscounts to land on
unpaved surfaces
thanks very much
I take it you mean Wadi Halfa in the Sudan.
I was only there once, en route for Southern Rhodesia in 1948 in a Viking, and I have no memory of it being unpaved then.
If it is important to you, I can ask my former boss who was with CAA in Salisbury in 1960ish and should know where he scheduled Viscounts to go.
I was only there once, en route for Southern Rhodesia in 1948 in a Viking, and I have no memory of it being unpaved then.
If it is important to you, I can ask my former boss who was with CAA in Salisbury in 1960ish and should know where he scheduled Viscounts to go.
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The Wadi Halfa Airport has a single unpaved "compacted sand" 2000m runway. Given the Viscount's English origins, I would guess it would have operated off turf runways.. Just a guess.
Here are links to the crash of a Central African Airways Viscount scheduled flight from Wadi Halfa to Libya on 9th August, 1958.
1958 Central African Airways plane crash - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ASN Aircraft accident Vickers 748D Viscount VP-YNE Benghazi-Benina International Airport (BEN)
Here are links to the crash of a Central African Airways Viscount scheduled flight from Wadi Halfa to Libya on 9th August, 1958.
1958 Central African Airways plane crash - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
ASN Aircraft accident Vickers 748D Viscount VP-YNE Benghazi-Benina International Airport (BEN)
Last edited by evansb; 20th Apr 2014 at 20:03.
Timetable of the CAA Viscount (called the Zambesi service) for 1959.
http://www.timetableimages.com/ttima...e59/ce59-3.jpg
Fares on the Viscount were about half what they were on the BOAC Britannia 100.
Note that the flight both ways operated through Wadi Halfa in the middle of the night, therefore it would have had full runway lighting.
http://www.timetableimages.com/ttima...e59/ce59-3.jpg
Fares on the Viscount were about half what they were on the BOAC Britannia 100.
Note that the flight both ways operated through Wadi Halfa in the middle of the night, therefore it would have had full runway lighting.
Different airfield?
Further to evansb and WHBM, my understanding has been that the original airfield at Wadi Halfa, Northern Sudan, as used by CAA (and perhaps Airwork or Hunting Clan) Viscounts was inundated by Lake Nasser after the neighbouring Egyptians built the Aswan Dam downstream on the Nile in the 1960s. (The Sudanese part of the lake is apparently called Lake Nubia.) It appears from Wiki that the town itself was abandoned, and a new settlement built on the east side of the lake.
The Aerad Supplement for Nov 1984 shows a "Wadi Halfa (Nuba [sic] Lake)" aerodrome, elevation 961 ft, at N2145 [sic] E3131, with an unpaved Rwy 06/24 of 6560 ft. Google Earth shows it nearly 20 miles east of the new town at a latitude of about N2148. The runway and taxiway look brown (possibly latterite?), partially contaminated with pale, drifting sand. It seems unlikely to be the same airfield.
After Alan Lupton's Vikings were phased-out around 1956 ***, CAA operated the Zambezi service, as WHBM shows, from Salisbury to London with the Viscount 748D, of which it bought 5. The "D" denoted "slipper" fuel tanks, but whereas from 1957 the rival BOAC Britannia 102 (and later 312) flew the Khartoum/Rome sector direct, the Viscount had to tech-stop at Wadi Halfa and Benina, where the crews may have slipped (?).
Yes, CAA's Coach class was indeed cheaper in 1958 than BOAC's Britannia, UAT's DC6B, and SAA's DC7B. Thereby hangs an off-topic tale involving a family friend: a young English policeman with the BSAP. He needed to return home suddenly, as his father had died. Funds were short, and air fares high in real terms, but he hurriedly booked a flight with UAT (meaning a flight change at Paris LBG), as CAA was presumably full. However, there must have been a cancellation, because the travel agent phoned late in the day, offering a cheaper seat on the Viscount, which was leaving earlier than UAT. When we heard on the Saturday morning that the Viscount had crashed at Benghazi, we had no idea that he was on board.
*** [EDIT]
CAA had suffered the loss of a Viking due to a main-spar failure en-route over Tanganyika in 1953, as a result of which the fleet was grounded. The problem necessitated redesign and replacement of the wing main-spars on the world Viking fleet. CAA was able to do the work in-house, and operations were soon resumed. The debut of the Viscount in CAA in 1956 more or less coincided with the transfer of airline operations in Salisbury from Belvedere, in close proximity to the city, to the present-day airport (originally referred to as Kentucky, although its RRAF base was known as New Sarum). The Vikings were retired soon after, the Viscount representing a sea change in speed and comfort.
The Aerad Supplement for Nov 1984 shows a "Wadi Halfa (Nuba [sic] Lake)" aerodrome, elevation 961 ft, at N2145 [sic] E3131, with an unpaved Rwy 06/24 of 6560 ft. Google Earth shows it nearly 20 miles east of the new town at a latitude of about N2148. The runway and taxiway look brown (possibly latterite?), partially contaminated with pale, drifting sand. It seems unlikely to be the same airfield.
After Alan Lupton's Vikings were phased-out around 1956 ***, CAA operated the Zambezi service, as WHBM shows, from Salisbury to London with the Viscount 748D, of which it bought 5. The "D" denoted "slipper" fuel tanks, but whereas from 1957 the rival BOAC Britannia 102 (and later 312) flew the Khartoum/Rome sector direct, the Viscount had to tech-stop at Wadi Halfa and Benina, where the crews may have slipped (?).
Yes, CAA's Coach class was indeed cheaper in 1958 than BOAC's Britannia, UAT's DC6B, and SAA's DC7B. Thereby hangs an off-topic tale involving a family friend: a young English policeman with the BSAP. He needed to return home suddenly, as his father had died. Funds were short, and air fares high in real terms, but he hurriedly booked a flight with UAT (meaning a flight change at Paris LBG), as CAA was presumably full. However, there must have been a cancellation, because the travel agent phoned late in the day, offering a cheaper seat on the Viscount, which was leaving earlier than UAT. When we heard on the Saturday morning that the Viscount had crashed at Benghazi, we had no idea that he was on board.
*** [EDIT]
CAA had suffered the loss of a Viking due to a main-spar failure en-route over Tanganyika in 1953, as a result of which the fleet was grounded. The problem necessitated redesign and replacement of the wing main-spars on the world Viking fleet. CAA was able to do the work in-house, and operations were soon resumed. The debut of the Viscount in CAA in 1956 more or less coincided with the transfer of airline operations in Salisbury from Belvedere, in close proximity to the city, to the present-day airport (originally referred to as Kentucky, although its RRAF base was known as New Sarum). The Vikings were retired soon after, the Viscount representing a sea change in speed and comfort.
Last edited by Chris Scott; 25th Apr 2014 at 23:29.
Hunting and Airwork, on their cheap-fare equivalent service, termed the Safari Service, also stopped at Wadi Halfa. Here's their 1959 timetable. Weekly to Salisbury and twice-weekly to Nairobi. The two operators merged at the end of the year to form British United.
http://www.timetableimages.com/ttima...c59/hc59-1.jpg
http://www.timetableimages.com/ttima...c59/hc59-2.jpg
Ethiopian Airlines were also making fuel stops with their Convair 340s on their Addis Ababa to Athens runs in 1956.
http://www.timetableimages.com/ttima...t56/et56-2.jpg
Someone's also put a photo (halfway down the page) on Facebook of a Trek Airways Viking at Wadi Halfa in 1955 which (if the caption is accurate) shows a remarkably paved and mainstream runway in the background
https://www.facebook.com/TrekAirways?v=app_2373072738
The Central African Viscounts were remarkably long-lived, of the basic five delivered new in 1956 (VP-YNA to YNE) the last (Z-YNB, the original VP-YNB) was withdrawn from Air Zimbabwe service in 1990, after 34 years use from the same base, most of them having been with Air Rhodesia along the way after CAA broke up. Obviously they weren't doing runs to London at the end ! One, YND, was the aircraft shot down by terrorists at Kariba in 1979, while YNE was the one lost at Benghazi in 1958. The fleet had been later topped up with odd secondhand examples.
http://www.timetableimages.com/ttima...c59/hc59-1.jpg
http://www.timetableimages.com/ttima...c59/hc59-2.jpg
Ethiopian Airlines were also making fuel stops with their Convair 340s on their Addis Ababa to Athens runs in 1956.
http://www.timetableimages.com/ttima...t56/et56-2.jpg
Someone's also put a photo (halfway down the page) on Facebook of a Trek Airways Viking at Wadi Halfa in 1955 which (if the caption is accurate) shows a remarkably paved and mainstream runway in the background
https://www.facebook.com/TrekAirways?v=app_2373072738
The Central African Viscounts were remarkably long-lived, of the basic five delivered new in 1956 (VP-YNA to YNE) the last (Z-YNB, the original VP-YNB) was withdrawn from Air Zimbabwe service in 1990, after 34 years use from the same base, most of them having been with Air Rhodesia along the way after CAA broke up. Obviously they weren't doing runs to London at the end ! One, YND, was the aircraft shot down by terrorists at Kariba in 1979, while YNE was the one lost at Benghazi in 1958. The fleet had been later topped up with odd secondhand examples.
Last edited by WHBM; 21st Apr 2014 at 21:09. Reason: Ethiopian Airlines/Trek addition
Looks like we can firm-up on a hard surface at the pre-1960 Wadi Halfa, then!
Yes WHBM, and YNE was replaced by YTE, if memory serves. Not sure it had slipper tanks, however. CAA (later Air Rhodesia) was a good outfit, I think, although the Viking problems got them off to a bad start.
As you know, those Airwork/Hunting-Clan Safari routes to West (coastal), East, and Central Africa formed the foundation of BUA's long-haul network from Gatwick in 1960. Fortunately, BUA's 300-series Brits (and later VC10s) to East and Central Africa didn't need Wadi Halfa! In fact, they normally flew Entebbe/Gatwick direct. Coincidentally, perhaps, CAA's one time boss, Max Stuart-Shaw, moved to BUA. He was later replaced as MD in 1968 by Alan Bristow, in an (unsuccessful) attempt to turn the airline to profitability.
Yes WHBM, and YNE was replaced by YTE, if memory serves. Not sure it had slipper tanks, however. CAA (later Air Rhodesia) was a good outfit, I think, although the Viking problems got them off to a bad start.
As you know, those Airwork/Hunting-Clan Safari routes to West (coastal), East, and Central Africa formed the foundation of BUA's long-haul network from Gatwick in 1960. Fortunately, BUA's 300-series Brits (and later VC10s) to East and Central Africa didn't need Wadi Halfa! In fact, they normally flew Entebbe/Gatwick direct. Coincidentally, perhaps, CAA's one time boss, Max Stuart-Shaw, moved to BUA. He was later replaced as MD in 1968 by Alan Bristow, in an (unsuccessful) attempt to turn the airline to profitability.
Last edited by Chris Scott; 22nd Apr 2014 at 14:10.
Good to know that my recollection of Wadi Halfa in 1948 may be right!
The Viking I was travelling in was not CAA, but Hunting Air Services and they had to arrange overnight accommodation in Wadi Halfa for us all as the scheduled night stop, Khartoum, was the other side of a sandstorm.
The Viking I was travelling in was not CAA, but Hunting Air Services and they had to arrange overnight accommodation in Wadi Halfa for us all as the scheduled night stop, Khartoum, was the other side of a sandstorm.
I believe that Wadi Halfa, on the banks of the Nile but in the middle of nowhere, was (and still is) at the end of one of the few railways in Sudan, and therefore bulk fuel could be brought in by tanker railcar from Port Sudan on the Red Sea. It started as a stop for fuelling on the Imperial Airways pre-war flying boat African service between Cairo and Khartoum, landing on the Nile itself (so no paved runway issue then !). It will be interesting to find if the old airfield was alongside the flying boat base.
Quote (why can't I get this to work automatically?)
Do you happen to remember roughly how far the aerodrome was from the town and/or the River Nile?
I can't say, but I do remember that the "hotel" was a boat on the Nile. The BOAC flying boat service certainly came that way then (I'm still miffed that father was too mean to use it!) and the use of a boat as an hotel seems to tie in.
Someone must have a pre-Lake-Nasser map with it all properly marked.
Do you happen to remember roughly how far the aerodrome was from the town and/or the River Nile?
I can't say, but I do remember that the "hotel" was a boat on the Nile. The BOAC flying boat service certainly came that way then (I'm still miffed that father was too mean to use it!) and the use of a boat as an hotel seems to tie in.
Someone must have a pre-Lake-Nasser map with it all properly marked.
Hi Allan and WHBM,
The current airfield seems to be at least 20 miles east of the old river course, and accessible allegedly only by 4WD vehicles. I guess you would have remembered if it was that far to your floating hotel, Allan?
Wiki confirms that a new town had to be created to prepare for the flooding of the old by the new Lake Nubia (or Nuba), which would not have filled until the mid-1970s. Oddly, no mention is made of the fate of the airfield. (BTW, I infer from elsewhere that there may have been a veicle ferry to cross the Nile, prior to the lake filling.)
Aswan Dam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[click on "Resettlement"]
The apron of the contemporary airfield was literally paved, as a super shot of a Hunting-Clan Viscount 700, taken probably by its skipper in 1955, confirms. (G-ANRR was written off in a fatal flight-test accident in December 1958, due to maintenance error.)
Wadi Halfa Airport | Online references | cyclopaedia.net
Here's a link to the specific photo:
G-ANRR - Hunting-Clan Air Transport Vickers Viscount at Wadi Halfa | Photo ID 84441 | Airplane-Pictures.net
My final link also includes a photo of the apron in 1955 - this time with Piston Provosts being ferried by the RRAF from the UK to New Sarum. Earlier, on their positioning flight on CAA to the UK, the crews had night-stopped at Wadi Halfa on a "river steamer":
The Third Royal Rhodesian Air Force Provost Ferry, No 4 Squadron, Rhodesian Air Force
It all looks very organised. But things were, in those days...
The current airfield seems to be at least 20 miles east of the old river course, and accessible allegedly only by 4WD vehicles. I guess you would have remembered if it was that far to your floating hotel, Allan?
Wiki confirms that a new town had to be created to prepare for the flooding of the old by the new Lake Nubia (or Nuba), which would not have filled until the mid-1970s. Oddly, no mention is made of the fate of the airfield. (BTW, I infer from elsewhere that there may have been a veicle ferry to cross the Nile, prior to the lake filling.)
Aswan Dam - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[click on "Resettlement"]
The apron of the contemporary airfield was literally paved, as a super shot of a Hunting-Clan Viscount 700, taken probably by its skipper in 1955, confirms. (G-ANRR was written off in a fatal flight-test accident in December 1958, due to maintenance error.)
Wadi Halfa Airport | Online references | cyclopaedia.net
Here's a link to the specific photo:
G-ANRR - Hunting-Clan Air Transport Vickers Viscount at Wadi Halfa | Photo ID 84441 | Airplane-Pictures.net
My final link also includes a photo of the apron in 1955 - this time with Piston Provosts being ferried by the RRAF from the UK to New Sarum. Earlier, on their positioning flight on CAA to the UK, the crews had night-stopped at Wadi Halfa on a "river steamer":
The Third Royal Rhodesian Air Force Provost Ferry, No 4 Squadron, Rhodesian Air Force
It all looks very organised. But things were, in those days...
Last edited by Chris Scott; 23rd Apr 2014 at 00:30. Reason: Extra link.
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once again pprune comes up trumps
many thanks most helpful ta
many thanks most helpful ta
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Wadi Halfa
I can confirm that there was a paved runway at Wadi Halfa in February1958.
I was travelling with my parents from Nairobi to LHR on home leave on a Clan Hunting Viscount - how I wish I had recorded the planes registration! I have all my other flights ( 1,392 and counting ) recorded with nearly all plane registration numbers. My first flight being on a Shorts Solent G-AKNO from Southampton to Lake Naivasha in 1949.
On that Viscount service we left Wilson Aerodrome Nairobi early on a Sunday morning and routed via Entebbe to Wadi Halfa. We had an overnight stop at Wadi Halfa and were taken by coach to a hotel on the banks of the Nile.
Anyone know the name of the hotel ? Does it still exist or was it flooded ?
We were up early the next morning for a 0700 departure to Heathrow, where we arrived in the late afternoon - typical London winters evening. There was smog and the smell of soot every where, most unusual and unpleasant to someone who had lived in the Tropics for the past 9 years !
I was travelling with my parents from Nairobi to LHR on home leave on a Clan Hunting Viscount - how I wish I had recorded the planes registration! I have all my other flights ( 1,392 and counting ) recorded with nearly all plane registration numbers. My first flight being on a Shorts Solent G-AKNO from Southampton to Lake Naivasha in 1949.
On that Viscount service we left Wilson Aerodrome Nairobi early on a Sunday morning and routed via Entebbe to Wadi Halfa. We had an overnight stop at Wadi Halfa and were taken by coach to a hotel on the banks of the Nile.
Anyone know the name of the hotel ? Does it still exist or was it flooded ?
We were up early the next morning for a 0700 departure to Heathrow, where we arrived in the late afternoon - typical London winters evening. There was smog and the smell of soot every where, most unusual and unpleasant to someone who had lived in the Tropics for the past 9 years !
Steve.........
Your Hunting Clan Vickers 732 Viscount would have been one of either G-ANRR, G-ANRS or G-ANRT. Did the flight really operate from Wilson (actually Nairobi West in 1958) ? More likely operated from Eastleigh, just before it closed to civil traffic. Embakasi opened in April 58.
Oh, how I envy you your flight on G-AKNO......
Planemike
Your Hunting Clan Vickers 732 Viscount would have been one of either G-ANRR, G-ANRS or G-ANRT. Did the flight really operate from Wilson (actually Nairobi West in 1958) ? More likely operated from Eastleigh, just before it closed to civil traffic. Embakasi opened in April 58.
Oh, how I envy you your flight on G-AKNO......
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I diverted to Wadi Halfa on May 16 1964 en route to Khartoum which had become significantly below limits due to a sand storm.
Wadi was also affected and we only just squeaked in after receiving some less than sanguine met reports. With commendable efficiency from local staff we refuelled under difficult circumstances and continued our journey to Khormaksar. There was a paved surface albeit very sandy!
If memory serves the airfield was flooded the following week and our fate would have been less than predictable had the flight been later. Weather and traffic information were always clearly compromised with rising sand!
Wadi was also affected and we only just squeaked in after receiving some less than sanguine met reports. With commendable efficiency from local staff we refuelled under difficult circumstances and continued our journey to Khormaksar. There was a paved surface albeit very sandy!
If memory serves the airfield was flooded the following week and our fate would have been less than predictable had the flight been later. Weather and traffic information were always clearly compromised with rising sand!
I took this photo of a Hunting Clan Viscount in April 1958, when we refuelled at Entebbe enroute from Kano to Nairobi (Eastleigh) in a Hastings. Some serious work going on at the airport terminal
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Like, er, building it, basically. I spent some time in that control tower under construction in the background. (I wonder what they did in the interim, with the original obscured?)