Post by flyboy on Apr 1, 2016 8:56:11 GMT
THE AIRSPEED AMBASSADOR
The Ambassador, which first flew on July 10th 1947 was a result of the Brabazon Committee 1943 report. This called for a short haul piston engine aircraft to fill requirements of emerging airlines following the end of the Second World War.This was to result in the design of the AS.57 Ambassador being submitted for consideration.The design was for a high wing, twin engine, triple fin aircraft powered by two Bristol Centurus engines. It would have a graceful, good looking appearance coupled with ease of access and passenger appeal inside and out.
In the capable hands of George Errington the first of three prototypes, G-AGUA (RT665) made it's first flight from Christchurch aerodrome in July 1947.
British European Airlines placed an order for 20 aircraft in September 1948 valued at £3 million and operated them between 1952 and 1958 calling them the 'Elizabethan Class' in honour of the newly crowned Queen Elizabeth II. The flagship aircraft G-ALZN named 'RMA Elizabethan' flew the first scheduled flight, Heathrow - Paris, Le Bourget, on March 13th 1952.
The use by BEA was, however, to be cut short with the introduction of the Vickers Viscount. The airline flew it's last Ambassador scheduled flight in August 1948 and the aircraft fleet was subsequently put up for disposal.
The retired aircraft were quickly snapped up by the emerging private airlines and Dan-Air was quick to start using them for scheduled and charter flights, many form Blackbushe. Other aircraft went to British operators such as BKS Air Transport and Autair while others went abroad to Globe Air Switzerland and Butler Air Transport in Australia. Military users also took aircraft including Jordan and the Moroccan Air Force.
Meanwhile the 2nd prototype Ambassador 2, G-AKRD was used by the Bristol Aetroplane Company from 1953 to test fly the Proteus 705 turbine engine and later in 1958 the Tyne turboprop.
G-ALFR the second Ambassador 2 was used for Napier Eland turbine engine trials in 1955.
The total number built including the 20 for BEA, the two prototypes G-AGUA (RT665) and G-AKRD (RT668) plus G-ALFR the pre-production aircraft, was 23.
Following introduction by BEA the aircraft had proved very popular due in particular to it's good sound proofing, and pressurised cabin, but this was soon to be outweighed as turboprop aircraft became available. The Viscount in particular offered higher speed and more reliable engines. The availability of the more modern aircraft, including the first pure jet airliners, plus the adverse publicity of two major crashes meant that the Ambassador fell out of favour with BEA and it was decided to re-equip the fleet.
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SPECIFICATION: THE AIRSPEED AMBASSADOR
Crew 3
Capacity up to 60 passengers.
Length 82' 00" (24.99m)
Span 115' 00" (35.05m)
Height 18' 10" (5.74m)
Weight Empty 35377lb (16047kg)
Weight Loaded 52500lb (23814kg)
Power 2x Bristol Centurus 661, two row sleeve valve
radial piston engines each 2625hp (1958kw).
Speed Maximum 312mph
Speed Cruise 260mph (418 km/h)
Range 550 miles (885 km)
Climb Rate 1250 ft/min (6.35m/s).
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CIVIL OPERATORS/USERS:
British European Airlines
Autair
BKS Air Transport
Dan-Air
Globe Air-Switzerland
Butler Air-Transport Australia
Norronafly- Norway ntu.
Overseas Aviation
Shell Aircraft Ltd
Rolls Royce Bristol
D.Napier & sons
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MILITARY OPERATORS:
Royal Jordanian Air Force
Moroccan Air Force
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I would like to thank the aviation enthusiasts of the 1950's and 1960's who recoded their aircraft sightings when visiting Blackbushe all those years ago. They provided their sightings to rj who has collated them and added other records found elsewhere to form a great source of information to which I am able to refer. This, however, only shows a small number of the aircraft that happened to be around when an enthusiast made a visit. I am certain that a great number of Ambassador movements took place that went unrecorded. The visitor list below reflects, therefore, only limited recorded movements.
I have included details of the remaining Ambassador aircraft produced, not known to have visited Blackbushe, which I hope the reader finds of interest and will help complete the Ambassador story.
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NB :- divn = diversion, LHR London Heathrow airport, bu =broken up, del = delivery, ct = crew training, wo = written off, FIDO = fog dispersal system,
G-ALZP 5213 BEA 12.51, 5.1.52, 4.12.57 & 6.12.57 LHR divns.
G-ALZS 5215 BEA 09.51.
G-ALZT 5216 BEA 00.51.
G-ALZU 5217 BEA 00.51.
G-ALZV 5218 BEA 00.51, 00.53, 00.54,14.6.57 ct.
G-ALZW 5219 BEA 13.3.55.
G-ALZX 5220 Dan-Air 9.2.60 del ex Cambridge, 23.4.60.
G-ALZY 5221 BEA 11.11.52 FIDO demonstration, 14.3.59,
BKS 11.4.60.
G-ALZZ 5222 BEA 27.1.52, 12.52, 24.10.54, 11.4.56.
G-AMAA 5223 BEA 27.8.57.
G-AMAB 5224 BEA 00.53, wo 8.4.55 stalled Dusseldorf.
G-AMAC 5225 BEA 07.53.
G-AMAD 5226 BEA 00.53.
G-AMAE 5227 BEA 00.54.
G-AMAG 5229 BEA 09.52, to Shell Aviation 25.2.60 del
ex Cambridge, 27.2.60, 28.2.60,
8.5.60.
G-AMAH 5230 Dan-Air 15.3.60 del, 23.6.60, 9.5.60.
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DAN-AIR OPERATED AMBASSADOR AIRCRAFT.
G-ALFR 5210 Purchased from Napiers 61, In service 64, Last Flight 11.4.66,
Scrapped Lasham 67.
G-ALZN 5212 Purchased from Overseas Avn & into service April 62,
Last flight 25.9.67, Scrapped Lasham May 68.
G-ALZO 5226 Purchased from Handley Page & in service 20.2.63,
last flight 26.9.71, donated to IWM Duxford - current.
G-ALZR 5214 Purchased from BKS. In service November 69,
Damaged when with BKS, nose wheel collapsed,
Never entered Dan-Air service & scrapped May 72.
G-ALZX 5220 Purchased from Butler Air Transport, In service Nov 59,
Last flight 14.4.66 following damage Beauvais.
G-ALZY 5221 Purchased from Handley Page & in service Feb 63,
Last flown 10.11.67. Scrapped Lasham.
G-AMAA 5223 Purchased from Shell Avn May 66, never put
into service.
G-AMAE 5227 Purchased from Butler Air Transport. In service Nov59,
Last flight 30.9.70. Scrapped Lasham 1972.
G-AMAG 5229 Purchased from Shell Aviation and into service May 66,
Damaged Manston 30.9.68, Scrapped Lasham.
G-AMAH 5230 Purchased from Butler Air Transport Nov 59,
Last flown 30.10.70, Scrapped Lasham May 72.
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ADDITIONAL AMBASSADOR NOTES
NB * = Noted at Blackbushe with airline (where known), but no date known.
G-AGUA 61 Prototype built 1946 & broken up 1957.
G-AKRD 62 2nd prototype, built 1948, first flight 26.8.48 , used by
Rolls-Royce, broken up 1969.
G-ALZP* 5213 BEA* believed 1950-1960, CN-MAK Moroccan A F, Jordanian A F
reg 109, Decca 1963, Broken up 1963.
G-ALZR 5214 BEA to BKS, broken up Paris after gear collapsed. Airframe to Dan-Air
as spares source.
G-ALZS* 5215 BEA* to BKS & written off after over ran runway at Luton in 1967.
G-ALZT* 5216 BEA* to BKS, broken up 1968.
G-ALZU* 5217 BEA* Munich air crash aircraft, 23 killed.
G-ALZV* 5218 BEA* , Global ( Switzerland ), Autair broken up 1968.
G-ALZW* 5219 BEA to BKS, broken up 1968.
G-ALZX* 5220 BEA to Butler Air Transport (Australia) as VH-BUZ, Dan-Air* 9.2.60,
withdrawn from use 1966.
G-ALZY* 5221 BEA to BKS* noted Blackbushe 11.4.60, Dan-Air broken up 1969.
G-ALZZ* 5222 BEA* prepared for Norronafly but not taken up, Overseas Aviation,
To Autair, broken up 1969.
G-AMAA* 5223 BEA* to Shell Aviation* 1960-1966, Dan-Air not in service
broken up 1969.
G-AMAB* 5224 BEA* crashed Dusseldorf, stall following engine problem.
G-AMAC* 5225 BEA* to BKS, broken up 1968.
G-AMAD* ? BEA confusion over construction number, various sources
quote as both 5211 & 5226.
G-AMAE* 5227 BEA* to Butler Air Transport* (Australia), as VH-BUK
on lease 1957, to Dan-Air.
G-AMAG* 5229 BEA* to Shell Aviation* 25.2.60, delivered ex Cambridge
and based.
G-AMAH* 5230 BEA* to Butler Air Transport* (Australia) as VH-BUJ,
to Dan-Air 15.3.60, Last Ambassador built.
Credit: The internet,
Wikipedia,
rj and his contributors. His book out soon.
PB for the photographs
rzjets flyboy 3.4.16.
Complete.
.