Daily Mail Trans- Atlantic Air Race 1969
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Daily Mail Trans- Atlantic Air Race 1969
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Would anyone be able to help or direct me to where I could find a list of competitors please. XV741 win the London to NYC leg but there were contestants such as clement Fred who won his section on an airliner, and Sheila Scott flew a Comanche.
Would anyone be able to help or direct me to where I could find a list of competitors please. XV741 win the London to NYC leg but there were contestants such as clement Fred who won his section on an airliner, and Sheila Scott flew a Comanche.
I'm told that when the Phantoms landed at Wisley, they invariably burst one or two tyres. Don't know why, did FAA Phantoms not have brake chutes maybe? The runway was (and still is) just under 7000ft(Thanks Kieron) and didn't have arrestor cables.
Last edited by chevvron; 3rd Nov 2017 at 12:43.
Google Earth agrees, there's no way a 9,000 runway could have been shoehorned into the space available.
I've never seen a photo of an F-4K with a brake chute, so I doubt they had them fitted - given that every carrier landing is a potential bolter, that's probably the last thing you'd want trailing behind you!
I've never seen a photo of an F-4K with a brake chute, so I doubt they had them fitted - given that every carrier landing is a potential bolter, that's probably the last thing you'd want trailing behind you!
They had to build a substantial earthwork at the western end just to get 6,700ft; you can still see it from the A3.
I've amended my previous message.
Found the possible explanation in the article posted by Dave Reid; to save time they only landed easterly ('straight in') at Wisley hence there was possibly a tailwind component for some landings.
I was one of the co-pilots on the BOAC Super VC10 G-ASGH which took part in the Daily Mail Transatlantic Air Race on 4 May 1969. The captain was Mike O'Sullivan, the other co-pilot Dave Martin and the flight engineer Alan Harmer.
The aircraft was chartered by a prominent business man (I forget who) taking a full load of businessmen and a runner from Heathrow to New York. We didn't win anything but I remember we crossed the Atlantic flying well above the normal Mach No. in a flight time of 6 hrs 41 mins. When we arrived in New York our runner disappeared on a motor bike while over 100 bowler hatted businessmen, all in pinstriped suits, carrying briefcases and twirling furled umbrellas marched down the steps and across the tarmac into the terminal. It was a sight to behold!
Our passengers enjoyed it all so much they asked for the same crew to take them back to London, which we did on 11 May in G-ASGI with a flight time of 6 hrs 35 mins.
The aircraft was chartered by a prominent business man (I forget who) taking a full load of businessmen and a runner from Heathrow to New York. We didn't win anything but I remember we crossed the Atlantic flying well above the normal Mach No. in a flight time of 6 hrs 41 mins. When we arrived in New York our runner disappeared on a motor bike while over 100 bowler hatted businessmen, all in pinstriped suits, carrying briefcases and twirling furled umbrellas marched down the steps and across the tarmac into the terminal. It was a sight to behold!
Our passengers enjoyed it all so much they asked for the same crew to take them back to London, which we did on 11 May in G-ASGI with a flight time of 6 hrs 35 mins.
I remember hearing a local west London resident of the time saying how the Harrier taking off from the coal yards caused a fine coal dust cloud to fall all over a wide area covering all the washing hanging out to dry on the many streets. The hours spent hand scrubbing everything back then were for nought and the mothers of the area were on the war path!
Also I think that the RAF did a practice run the day before the race to iron out any kinks before the big day, although that probably didn't include the St Pancras coal yards ;-) The 'practice' was a complete sortie across the Atlantic with all associated tankers etc.
Also I think that the RAF did a practice run the day before the race to iron out any kinks before the big day, although that probably didn't include the St Pancras coal yards ;-) The 'practice' was a complete sortie across the Atlantic with all associated tankers etc.
Last edited by SpringHeeledJack; 3rd Nov 2017 at 15:44. Reason: Wrong 'P' in the coal yards
Does anyone know of similar information for the 1959 London-Paris race?
I am aware that a French AF aircraft overran the runway upon landing at RAF Kenley, but other than that I don't know who else competed, in what, and what were the results.
I am aware that a French AF aircraft overran the runway upon landing at RAF Kenley, but other than that I don't know who else competed, in what, and what were the results.
Biggin Hill was still RAF so RAF competitors used that (Hunter from Villacoublay) along with a Bristol Sycamore to Chelsea Reach then motorbike.
One competitor used a Piaggio P136 amphibian between the Thames and the Seine.
Last edited by chevvron; 4th Nov 2017 at 17:08.
Always thought the ingenious run on London to New York was the guy at the start point (top of Post Office Tower) with nothing, no money or ticket. He went down, asked a garage if he could wash a car, with the money earned he phoned round from a public telephone and got various sponsorships and commissions, enough to buy a ticket (at 1969 walk-up prices) to New York.
Was possibly all arranged beforehand, including his BBC coverage, but nevertheless quite clever.
Was possibly all arranged beforehand, including his BBC coverage, but nevertheless quite clever.
There was an Alcock family connection, however, with Sir John's 18-year-old niece Anne Alcock as one of the competitors:
Last edited by DaveReidUK; 6th Nov 2017 at 17:36.