From the Net
 

In the internal-security fit in 1963 XN814 was modified to accommodate external bomb racks (for 14 bombs) on each side of the lower fuselage; the nose window was equipped as a bomb aimer's position. After successful trials with the "Argi-bomber" the aircraft used in Aden and the Far East were given this modification. There is no evidence that they were operationally used in this offensive role.

I asked the question about bomb racks on the Argosy because as a result of an office clear out I acquired a copy of the A&AEE report on the trials of the EMC aspects of the installation and I'd never of it being used in service. I had though noticed that the Argosy in the RAF Museum at Cosford still has the fittings for them so it must have been a mod carried out on a number of aircraft in the fleet.
And JW411, the report does contain photos of 6 x 1000 pounders.

USAF argosy...... Well almost
 

The Argosy was used for some time by Zantop International Airlines of Willow run Detroit on the long running Logair USAF contract.

The contract was a logistical one moving cargo for the USAF around the southern USA.

A few of the Zantop captains that I know operated on the Logair contract and said that the Argosy was ideal with the aircraft having doors at both ends the ongoing cargo was fed in at one end as the off going cargo was fed out of the other end, the turn around time being limited by how quickly you could get the fuel on for the next sector.

The Argosy was eventually replaced by the Lockheed L188 Electra, an aircraft that could move much more load, much further, much faster.

The Electra was the basis for the Lockheed P3 Orion ......... Sub hunter turned airliner.....Airliner turned Sub hunter.......Is this thread going around in circles ?

You're thinking on the Belfast, which used the Britannia wing (and tailplane) design, albeit with new engines.

And of course, the unbuilt Belfast SC5/41, with wings from a C-141



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...hortsSC545.jpg


You do begin to wonder if ion their spare time the designers played mix and match with Airfix kits!

variants
 

Looks like an IL76 , did Ruski's steal the plans or did we just give them up like a lot of other aviation treasures ? PH.

bomb racks
 

During my time on 105 (flying boat Squadron !) when Radfan was on we didn't fit the bomb racks in anger but did drop leaflets advising of raids up country, we were accompanied by the Twin Pins of 78 with the loudspeakers under the sponsons (anyone remember the Sunday morning tests !) to warn of the upcoming raids, was good to start with breaking open the bundles & scattering the leaflets far & wide just like confetti, then dissent took over & we just threw them out the back and out of the side doors in bundles, oh what fun we had, then waited for the Shacks Hunters and Bucaneers to come and play with their guns and rockets, life was never dull, PH.

special pax plans
 

When I joined the Vs in 1966 I' pretty sure we were told about a plan, first thought about during confrontation, to bring our ground crew out of Singers on benches in the bomb bay.

It seems the plan was kept on the back burner to freight the spanner boys with us if needed to wherever we might go

In my early training I think we were told each operational role had an extra job and maritime aircraft were expected to double as troop transport when needed. To this end troops were often given air rides for the edification of all. Numerous interesting leg pulls went along with the brown jobs

Sub hunters/transports
 

Shack and Argosy Majunga


http://i1299.photobucket.com/albums/...psbzyvmh4o.jpg