British Eagle Trooping Flight to Singapore 1965
 

I don't really expect a response to this memory of almost 52 years ago but PPRuNe has amazed me in the past so here goes. Today I started my New Year's Resolution of reducing the amount of memorabilia that I have collected but I got sidetracked by my diary for 1965.

As a newly qualified RN pilot, on Tuesday 31 August 1965 I flew on a British Eagle Britannia from Heathrow to Singapore to join HMS Ark Royal. The Flight Number was EGS 891 and we took off at 2145z.

As it was my first trooping flight I was wondering if anyone had a record of the Britannia's registration so I can see if the aircraft is in a museum somewhere.

Can't help with your registration, but the good news is that three of the four surviving complete Britannias served with British Eagle at one time or another (the Duxford and Cosford examples, plus the one being restored at Speke).

The bad news is that Eagle had a couple of dozen in the fleet at various times.

When the country was three weeks old !

LHR-IST-BOM-SIN
 

January 05 1965 I left LHR on posting to Changi also by British Eagle Brit., transitting and departing IST on 06 January; In 1990 I was working for a cargo company on contract to Alitalia, and during an after duty soirée:p, we, the crew, were swinging the lantern whilst sitting on our sandbags, I mentioned this flight and my Captain, Jack, seemed interested in it. Next time we flew together, Jack had one of his old Log Books which showed he had operated as First Officer on the IST-BOM leg of the flight I was on. Great guy, our Champagne Jack.:ok:
SNF

Have had SWMBNO's Aunt staying from Jo'burg for Christmas and NY. She mentioned that in 1962 she flew as a new "schoolie" on a Brit Eagle trooper UK to Nairobi, but via Aden to deliver urgent spares. Is this (very long) trip a memory for anyone? Was the start of her 55 years in Africa

Democritus

Can't id the registration you flew on but its one of the following I would think.

G-AOVT, at Duxford, was operated by British Eagle from 13.09.63 to 10.05.74.

G-AOVF at Cosford now purporting to be a RAF Brit was also with Eagle as a freighter

G-ANCF at Speke, was with Eagle from 16.01.64 but converted to freighter between that date and going to Monarch 08.12.68

The Brit at Kemble XM497? is ex RAF so not likely.

Other Brits in use with Eagle in August 65 were G-AOVA, VH, VC,VG, VL,VM,VN,VR,VS -possibly, G-APPY, G-ARKB

Hope that help.

falcon 12,

"G-AOVT, at Duxford, was operated by British Eagle from 13.09.63 to 10.05.74."

I thought British Eagle Airways ceased in 1968.

It did. I lost my job, along with many others that year thanks to the labour government of the time when the Bermuda routes were taken away.

There is a website [www.britisheagle.net] - perhaps they may have some records....

After Eagle, it flew for Monarch for a few years (including at least one Transatlantic trip), which of course is why it's in their colours at Duxford.

Bristol 175 Britannia 312 - Monarch Airlines | Aviation Photo #0105875 | Airliners.net

Dixi188

You are right of course and I should have spotted that. My source was Airliner Production Lists for 1980/81.

I was on board VT at Duxford this summer and can report its in reasonably good nick. It appears, at last, that Monarch's apprentices visit regularly as part of their training to do relevant work.

The beer pump attachment, for a well known TV comedy show, has been removed as has the the master engine start switch!!

G-AOVT is currently inside at Duxford getting a fresh coat of paint. :ok:

...and the outside toilet, I would hope! :)

Was intrigued by the date of this flight because, from memory, I came HOME from Singapore at about the same time, courtesy of British Eagle. Checking the diary I kept, my actual flight date home was 7 Sep 65, the Brit was G-AOVT, and we flew out of Paya Lebar. Lovely airline!

Thanks for all the replies and it looks as though tiny fireburn possibly has given me the answer to my query with G-AOVT. However, we arrived at Paya Lebar at 0515 on 2 September '65 so maybe it is too long a stopover until his departure on 7 September.

Hi Democritus

Brit Eagle Britannias are indeed an interesting thread subject. May I ask what you were flying on and off Ark Royal? Tales from then would make a great subject, although perhaps on the mil forum.

Umm. 1st employer. Such a long time ago, yet only fond memories. So yes, lovely airline.

Zip29 - I flew the venerable Wessex helicopter from Ark. I always thought that in respect of flying from aircraft carriers it was better to stop and then land rather than the fixed-wing way of doing things of landing and then trying to stop. Much safer! You may find this PPRuNe thread HERE about the Wessex of interest.

ex Eagle aircraft
 

No one seems to have mentioned (in the listing of aircraft rego , the ex Al Al aircraft, G-ARXA.



pjac