Post by flyboy on Mar 23, 2016 13:29:27 GMT
THE BRISTOL 170 FREIGHTER
G-AHJD parked at Airworks Blackbushe base.
The Bristol Freighter
The aircraft was designed to be operated for freight or passenger use, or a combination of both in the military or civilian role.
In 1944 General Orde Wingate of 'Chindits' fame was operating in the Far East and was keen to acquire an aircraft capable of flying army troops, vehicles and supplies under his command into rough jungle strips and had made this requirement known. This called for a very robust transport aircraft and the Bristol Aeroplane Company who had previously produced the Bristol 130 Bombay, which had been selected, and introduced into service in 1939 by the RAF as a troop transport /bomber aircraft, expressed an interest in designing and building an aircraft to fill this requirement. The company, who at this time were involved with the initial development of the Bristol Brabazon, were looking to find work to keep the company workforce employed.
There was therefore a proposal made for a high winged, twin engine monoplane with a large capacity fuselage which soon attracted the interest of the British Air Ministry. They quickly ordered two prototypes against specification 22/44 (later C9.45) on the understanding that modifications would be made to the design to permit a 3 ton Army truck to be carried. Financial assistance from the Government in the form of an order for two prototypes plus money to set up the project allowed construction to progress smoothly.
Clamshell doors replaced the original trap door design in the nose, to allow direct access into the large square section fuselage which was kept clear of obstructions. A ladder mounted on the internal side section in the hold permitted entry to the flight deck which was positioned above the level of the opening nose doors. A fixed, strong, non - retracting undercarriage was incorporated which would help to reduce production and maintenance costs. In addition it was felt that a retractable undercarriage would have added weight to the project. The design was to be powered by a pair of Bristol Hercules engines and would have an all up weight of 35000lb. A passenger only version was later proposed to be known as the Bristol Wayfarer which was to be capable of carrying 36 passengers and would lack the unwanted clamshell doors.
The first flight of the prototype Freighter, G-AGPV took place from Filton aerodrome in the capable hands of test pilot Cyril Unwins on December 2nd 1945. On landing he pronounced the flight a success but that some modification was called for to the tailplane.
The first 34 seat Wayfarer flew on April 30th 1946 and was soon giving proving flights with Channel Islands Airways who were seen to be the most likely first airline to put the aircraft into service. Large side windows were installed giving an almost unobstructed view under the high wing and the proving flights were indeed a success as 10000 passengers were carried in the first six months.
G-AGVC known as the Freighter 1, was the 3rd prototype, and the first to have the clamshell doors fitted. Following a worldwide sales tour great interest was shown in the aircraft which was quickly put into production. Around this time a Freighter would cost £33000 and a Wayfarer about £47000.
Military Air Forces and civilian firms were soon placing orders, with Silver City Airlines being one of the first companies flying cars and passengers to Europe and Jersey. What were known as "Air Ferry" flights proved popular as the aircraft was so much quicker than the previous, only available sea ferry crossing.
A route was commenced from Lympne Airport in Kent to Le Touquet in France on July 14th 1948 and was not only to prove very popular but also initially very profitable. In the following year a sister airline SCAL was set up to operate flights from the other side of the Channel with a number of Silver City Aircraft being transferred to the French register.
Being a major Silver City maintenance base Blackbushe saw numerous aircraft of the airline visiting for overhaul and conversion.
Meanwhile production was moved to Weston-Super-Mere in 1953 and an improved and lengthened version, the Freighter 32
42' 3" long (12.88m) long began to roll off the production line. This model was capable of carrying three 14 feet (3.3m) long cars and 20 passengers or two longer cars with 12 passengers. This aircraft was known as the B170 Super Freighter by Silver City who introduced it operating from their own airfield at Lydd, Kent in 1955. It was easily recognised by its additional length and longer slightly drooping nose plus a fin fillet and rounded wing tips.
One of these Mk.32's G-AMWA was modified to high density seating and known as the Super Wayfarer carried 60 passengers
- quite a step forward from the 36 seat early variants.
There were 214 Freighters of all marks built which served throughout the world with an amazing safety record. The final Freighter built was delivered to another local Blackbushe operator, Dan-Air, in March 1958.
One non-standard role the Silver City Freighter G-AIFV undertook was as a film star. Featuring in the film " The Man in the Sky" it included in the cast, Lionel Jeffries, Donald Pleasance and Jack Hawkins as the test pilot.
*********************************************
SPECIFICATION B170 BRISTOL FREIGHTER MK.32.
Crew 2
Length 73' 4" (22.4m)
Wingspan 108' (32.92m)
Height 25' (7.62m)
Weight Empty 29950 lb (13404kg)
Weight Gross 44000 lb (19958kg)
Power 2x Bristol Hercules 734 14 cylinder sleeve valve radial piston engine of
1980 hp (1476 kW) each engine.
Speed maximum 225 mph (362 km/h)
Range 820 miles (1320 km )
Ceiling 24500 feet ( 7470m)
*********************************************
CIVIL OPERATORS:
Argentina Argentine Civil Aeronautics Board
Australia Air Express, Ansett-ANA, Ansett-MAL, Australian National Airways,
Brain & Brown Airfreighters, Jetair Australia, Trans Australia Airlines.
Belgium Avions Fairey, SABENA
Brazil Real Transportes Aereos.
Canada Associated Airways, Central Northern Airways, Hawkair, Lambair, Maritime Central Airways,
North Canada Air, Norcanair, Pacific Western Airlines, Transair, Trans Canada Airlines,
Trans Provincial Airlines, Wardair.
Ecuador Shell Company of Ecuador.
Ireland Aer Lingus, Aer Turas.
France Air Atlas, Air Djibouti (Somaliland), Air Fret, Air Outremer, Cie Air Transport,
Cie des Transportes Aeriens Intercontinentaux, Corse Air, Societe Aerienne du Littoral,
Societe Indochinoise de Transport Aeriens, Transportes Aeriens Reunis.
Germany LTU, Panavia Ltd.
India Bharat Airways, Dalmia Jain Airways, Indian National Airways.
Italy Societe Avio Transporti Torino.
Laos Air Laos.
Lebanon Middle East Airlines.
New Zealand SAFE Air
Nigeria West African Airways Corporation.
Rhodesia Central African Airways.
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Spain Aviaco, Iberia.
South Africa Suidair.
Sweden Trafik-Turist-Transportflyg.
United Kingdom Air Charter, Air Ferry, Air Kruise, Airwork, Autair, Aviation Traders, BKS Air Transport,
Britavia, British Air Ferries, British European Airways, British United Air Ferries,
Channel Air Bridge, Channel Airways, Channel Island Airways, Dan-Air,
Hunting Aerosurveys, Instone Airlines, Manx Airlines, Midland Air Cargo,
Ministry of Civil Aviation, Silver City Airways, Trans European Aviation.
Vietnam Air Vietnam.
.......................................................
MILITARY OPERATORS:
Argentina Argentine A.F
Australia Royal Australian Air Force.
Burma Burmese A.F
Canada Royal Canadian Air Force.
Iraq Iraqi A.F.
New Zealand Royal New Zealand Air Force.
Pakistan Royal Pakistan Air Force.
United Kingdom A&AEE Boscombe Down, Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE).
*********************************************
BRISTOL 170 FREIGHTERS VISITING BLACKBUSHE.
It should be noted that aircraft details shown below are of individual aircraft listed in alphabetical order with dates that they were seen at the airfield. Where dates are shown in a block (ie 1.2.51- 3.5.56) it indicates that the aircraft was noted at dates various dates between the opening and closing dates shown and not that the aircraft was present all the timeI have also tried to indicate the reason the aircraft was present : del = delivery, rr =re-registered, inc =including, flts = flights, Flt = Flight,
retd = returned, Corp = Corporation, mods = modifications, chtr = charter, at = air test, Regn = registration,
c/n = construction / number, oh = overhaul, ntu = not taken up, sch = schedule.
Regn c/n Operator Dates Noted/Comments
9696 12829 Royal Canadian Air Force 8.9.53.
9697 12830 ------------//---------- 11.5.55, 29.3.57, 12.9.59, code GC, 137 Flt.
9699 13219 ------------//---------- 10 & 11.9.55,7 & 8.9.56,10.9.56,7.9.57,
code GC, 137 Flt.
9700 13249 ------------//---------- 3.8.58, code GC, 137 Flt.
9850 13253 ------------//---------- 11.5.55, code GC 137 Flt.
D-AHOI 12791 LTU 10.5.57-11.5.57, 1.6.57 del ex G-AIMA.
EC-ADH 12776 AVIACO 24.1.58.
EC-WHN 10375 AVIARCO 23.12.52,
EC-AHN 10375 AVIARCO 21.4.57,25.4.57, EC-WHN rr ?
F-BCJM 12787 SCAL 17.6.49-3.4.57, inc 27.9.49 & 30.5.56
M.Boussac race horses, 12.1.50 divn
ex Northolt, 30.6.56 ex Le Bourget.
F-BECT 12798 Air Fret 12.51.
F-BEND 12773 ? 24.9.51 Silver City horse chtr.
F-BFUO 13076 Marcel Boussac 11.6.57-27.3.60 numerous flts.
F-BHVB 12731 Compagine Air Transport 16.2.58 ex G-AGVB of Silver City to
22.3.58.
F-DABI 12741 Air Channel 21.12.55 to be rr G-AHJI.
F-DABK 12773 Air Outre Mer 29.12.55-21.1.56 to be rr G-AIFM.
F-OAUJ 12748 Gyrafrique 5.11.56, 16.11.56.
F-OBDP 12801 Trans Gabon 19.5.58 to Wymeswold.
F-OBDR 13140 SCAL 20.7.58 & 10.1.59 to Wymeswold.
G-791 12808 Pakistan Air Force 21.7.50-22.7.50 del.
G-798 12823 ------//------- 27.7.51-28.7.51 del.
G-804 12931 ------//------- 09.52
G-809 12936 ------//------- 25.5.53- 26.5.53 del.
G-AGPV 12730 R A Short 6.3.58 to Eagles for overhaul.
15.4.58-26.4.59 to Short Cut Aviation,
various visits.
G-AGUT 12733 R.A Short 6.3.58,27.5.58 reassembled from
VR382 parts, later scrapped.
G-AGVB 12731 Silver City 13.11.48 to Berlin Airlift, 29.1.49
retd for oh, 13.12.49 to EL Adam to
collect crashed Dove G-AIWF, retd
17.12.49, 4.3.50 at, 11.5.50-25.8.50,
27.8.50 Alfa Romeo chtr, 28.8.50,
5.10.50 horse chtr, 10.11.50 at and
ships crew to Alexandria, 14.11.50,
21.11.50 RAF chtr Gibraltar,
23.11.50-20.3.51, 27.3.51 at,
18.7.51-21.7.51, 21.7.51 horse chtr,
22.7.51, 23.7.51 horse chtr,
27.6.52-8.12.53, 19.12.53 BEA chtr,
4.9.55.
G-AGVC 12732 Silver City 1.3.51-25.5.52, 25-27.5.52 horse
chtrs, 29.5.52-2.1.53, 2.1.53 to Oran,
4.9.55.
G-AHJC 12735 -----//----- 8.7.48-17.7.48 retd loose engine cowl,
9.9.48.
G-AHJD 17326 Airwork 10.11.48 to Berlin Airlift,
13.10.51 Anglo-Iranian Oil chtr,
6.11.51 to West African Airways Corp.
following mods by Airwork, 15.9.56
to Eagles via Southend,
5.11.56 -22.2.60, 26.3.60.
G-AHJF 12738 Bristol Aircraft 19.3.47.
G-AHJI 12741 Air Channel 29.12.55 to Air Kruise
8.3.56 - 5.9.57.
G-AHJO 12747 Silver City 1.5.49- 09.51.
G-AHJP 12748 ? -----//----- 24.3.51, 26.5.51 car chtr, 17.6.51,
18.6.51 to Wadi Haifa, 25.6.52,
11.7.52 at, 18.7.52-6.7.53.
G-AICM 12756 -----//----- 12.10.51, 8.7.52 at, 9.7.52-14.9.53.
G-AICR 12761 ? 20.4.49 ex HC-SBM to VH-INL ntu.
G-AICS 12762 Silver City 1.5.49 ex HC-SBS, 1.5.49 Airwork chtr,
3.6.52-1.11.52, 30.3.53 Berlin Airlift,
3.4.53-13.12.53, 24.12.53 at with
ILS Filton, 24.12.53 BEA chtr,
25.12.53- 10.8.55.
G-AICT 12763 ? 1.5.49 Silver City chtr.
G-AIFM 12773 Silver City 12.51, 15.5.52, 18.11.52 to Berlin,
16.12.52 retd, 17.12.52, 25.12.52.
G-AIFO 12775 Channel Airways 22.5.57, 7.4.60, 10.4.60.
G-AIFV 12781 Silver City 29.9.50 horse chtr, 17.1.51 at,
27.3.51,9.4.51,04.51 chtr lettuces,
10.4.51 car chtr,11.4.51-12.9.51,
10.6.52 at, 14.3.53-7.9.55,
26.11.57 & 30.12.57 ex Air Kruise,
7.1.58-15.2.58.
G-AILW 12878 ----//---- 17.5.57-11.6.57 ex F-BCJM.
G-AIMA 12791 Eagle Airways 15.9.56 del ex Southend,
5.11.56-14.3.57, 3.4.57-17.4.57
overhaul for LTU.
G-AIME 12795 Silver City 4.9.50 Pepsi chtr, 9.10.50 RAF chtr
to Karachi, 21.10.50 retd,
3.12.50, 22.10.50 RAF chtr Delhi,
9.1.51 from Port Sudan with
2x helicopters, 10.1.51-10.3.51,
10.3.51 at, 18.5.51 & 28.6.51
horse chtrs, 10.8.51, 8.12.53 at,
9.12.53-6.9.55, 7.1.56-26.11.57
Air Kruise, 14.7.59 retd Silver City.
G-AIMH 12798 ----//---- 5.4.52-15.10.52, 16.10.52 to Basrah,
6.11.52 to Nicosia, 10.11.52,
30.3.53 ex Berlin, 27.2.54-28.4.54,
28.4.54 horse chtr, 30.4.54-7.4.56,
30.12.57 ex Air Kruise, 7.1.58,
15.2.58 to Manx Airlines.
G-AIMK 12801 ? 8.2.58 to F-OBDP.
G-AINL 12827 Dan-Air 1.7.57 del, 5.7.57-3.4.60.
G-AMLL 13074 ----//---- 10.8.59 ex Jersey Airlines,
14.8.59-6.9.59.
G-AMLP 13078 Air Charter 13.6.59 ex Le Bourget,
14.6.59-15.6.59,9.9.59.
G-AMSA 13142 ----//---- 28.5.55, 22.6.57, 24.6.57, 16.7.59.
G-AMWA 13073 Silver City 18.7.53, 14.9.53 & 22.9.53
RAF chtr El Adam, 25.9.53-3.11.58.
G-AMWB 13127 ----//---- 9.9.53 RAF chtr El Adam, 17.9.53,
29.9.53 RAF chtr El Adam,2.10.53,
2.1.54 & 17.1.54 sch car ferry flts,
11.2.54, 13.2.54 sch car ferry flts,
21.2.54 chtr to Hamagiur, Algeria,
6.3.54 rtn, 14.3.54 chtr to Oran,
17.3.54 retn, 20.3.54 chtr to Oran,
9.4.54, 24.4.54 ex Oran, 23.4.55,
23.6.56, 18.7.56 to Greenland with
S.51 G-AJHW, 16.2.57-15.2.58.
G-AMWC 13128 ----//---- 9.53, 7.4.54-1.12.57.
G-AMWD 13131 ----//---- 00.53, 6.2.54 sch car ferry flts,
7.2.54 chtr Oran, 11.2.54-3.12.57.
G-AMWE 13132 ----//---- 30.10.58-3.11.58.
G-AMWF 13133 ----//---- 7.4.54-1.8.58.
G-ANMF 13216 Air Charter 29.2.56-1.6.57, 23.6.57 Silver City,
24.6.57-11.9.59.
G-ANVS 13252 -----//----- 06.55, 17.6.57-23.6.59.
G-ANWG 13211 Silver City 29.7.55-14.12.57, 30.12.57
ex Air Kruise, 15.2.58-20.7.58.
G-ANWH 13212 ----//---- 15.5.55- 15.11.57.
G-ANWI 13213 ----//---- 10.8.55-19.2.56.
G-ANWJ 13254 ----//---- 07.56, 1.6.59.
G-ANWK 13259 ? ----//---- 18.4.59.
G-ANWL 13260 ? ----//---- 22.7.57.
G-ANWM 13261 ----//---- 27.12.56, 2.9.57
G-ANWN 13262 ----//---- 29.8.57-27.5.58.
G-AOUU 13257 Air Charter 7.6.58.
G-APAU 13256 ----//---- 15.6.58.
G-APLH 13250 Dan-Air 4.4.51, 31.3.58 del, 3.4.58-26.8.59.
HC-SBM 12761 Shell Ecuador 26.2.49.
HC-SBZ 12762 Shell Ecuador 11.6.50-20.9.50 retd for sale.
HZ-AAA 12790 Saudi Arabian Airways 09.52.
HZ-AAD 12767 ---------//---------- 09.52.
SA-AAA 12790 Saudi Arabian Airlines 4.8.49-6.8.49, 6.8.49 del Jeddah, 06.52.
SA-AAB 12783 ---------//---------- 28.6.49 del Jeddah.
SA-AAD 12767 ---------//---------- 29.8.49, 30.8.49 del Jeddah.
SA-AAE 12794 ---------//---------- 26.9.49, 27.9.49 del Jeddah.
VR382 12733 Royal Air Force 21.3.58-26.4.58 Eagles ex G-AGHT
being scrapped.
VT-CID 12781 Indian National Airways 20.4.49 retd to become G-AIFV.
XF662 12793 Silver City 12.9.53, G-AIME trooping serial.
XF663 12798 ----//---- 14.9.53, 09.54, trooping serial G-AIMH.
ZK-AYH 12828 SAFE Air 6.5.51 del.
ZK-AYG 12826 ----//---- 6.5.51 del.
ZK-BMA 12937 ----//---- 20.11.55 del.
ZK-BVM 13255 ----//---- 20.2.58, 23.2.58 del, last B170 del.
****************************************
Thanks to:
The internet
Wikipedia
rj and all who supplied the movement dates.
And of course PB for the photographs.
Don't forget the rj book out soon.
G-AIMA receives attention at it's home base outside the company hangar.
COMPLETE