RAF Andover replacement

If anyone’s interested the Andover (XS641) and JP in TMN’s photo are now up for disposal. See the Tenders section of the DSA website : http://www.edisposals.com/

for details, closing date is 23rd June I think, would be good if someone managed to save at least the Cockpit!!

Two Andovers, ex Zaire were purchased by a Belgian company based at Antwerp a few years ago. One was sold and flies again in Africa, the other one is still stored in the open at Antwerp airport.
If someone is interested in the registration and/or the c/n, please rvert or drop me a note on my pm.

Webpilot,

The Andover and the Hercules were introduced into the RAF at approximately the same time, the Andover role was simply abandoned in 1976 so it’s not really accurate to say the Hercules took over, it was just what was left!

31 Andover C1’s joined the RAF at RAF Abingdon with 46 Squadron and the Andover Training Squadron in 1966. They also went to 52 Squadron in FEAF and 84 Squadron in MEAF.
With the withdrawal from East of Suez 52 Sqn and 84 Sqn folded up in 1969 and 1971, by which time 46 Sqn had moved to Thorney Island and the ATS had joined 242 OCU at the same station.
When 46 Sqn folded in 1975 the surplus Andovers were used to replace the calibration Argosy E1 fleet on 115 Squadron and 10 were sold to the RNZAF. Some of the aircraft were stored at Kemble after being withdrawn from Squadron use as 46 did not use the whole fleet after 52 and 84 disbanded, hence some old Sqn badges appeared at Brize Norton when aircraft from store were used to convert 115 Sqn and RNZAF crews.

To say that the Hercules replaced the Argosy is really not true, the Argosy was simply withdrawn as part of the withdrawal of overseas forces and because it had proven to be a very disappointing underpowered load carrier.

Nice shots Martin, thanks. I loved the VIP scheme (blue and white) it really gave the Andover a special look. But then it looked great in any sheme.

The first time I saw an Andover was when I was 9 years old, in April 1980. I was on holiday with my parents and sister and some friends at Norfolk Island, and one flew in. I think Dad must have seen it approaching the island because we drove down to the airport for a look. It was just taxiing in and then did the famous squat. That was the first Air Force plane I ever saw on the ground close up. I never knew then that I’d later fly in them as an airman.

I remember in 1990 before the first Gulf War we had Andovers with the UN in Iran (Tehran in fact). As it was strictly a dry country, when engines and parts were shipped over cans of beer and dirty magazines were apparently secreted into every orifice, nook and cranny for the Kiwi boys over there!

two RNZAF Andovers from my HDD

I believe XW750 is still operating. The nose of G-ARAY was in a scrapyard down south last I heard. Think I read it in W + R. Does anyone remember a few years back a group that advertised in the national aviation monthly mags about pleasure flights throughout the summer as a member of th e 748 club? I remember it being a b and w photo of an ex-dan air machine I think.

J man

Is the REA’s 748 XW750 still active?
It is surprising that only one is in a museum so far. Emerald still have one 748 srs1, hopefully this aircraft, G-BEJD, will be saved, as well as some others. I was amazed & disappointed when the prototype G-ARAY was scrapped during 1990. I would have hoped that preserving commercial aircraft of some significance would have been taken seriously by then, after all the first production Herald G-APWA, had been saved.

A number of Andovers still operate in Africa. Can be seen in the Congo and in South Africa. Usually appear in South Africa for maintenance, since a number of HS748’s are maintained in South Africa. Ex-RAF machines but would not be surprised if some came from New Zealand.

Great photo FlyingKiwi – do you know the year per chance? I was there for Wings and Wheels 91 and 92.

The HS748 operated in New Zealand too with Mount Cook Airlines for many years, and I saw the odd Aussie RAAF one visiting here. I don’t think the type has half as much charm as the Andover personally. It doesn’t even have a name! (does it?)

I am really curious as to whether the ex-RNZAF examples that were flying for the UN are still being operated anywhere. Anyone know?

Another prime candidate for preservation on its way to a slow death then perhaps? Only one Andover preserved in the UK and no 748’s? Unbelievable really. I just hope Emeralds series 1 gets preserved.

J man

IIRC the stored Andover at Cosford was bought at Auction by someone who turned up and tried to fly her out (after many years of it being parked on the airfield). He got as far as engines running before the plan went wrong. Lack of a civil registration may have been one of the reasons I have been told!

For what it’s worth, here’s a shot of one of the RNZAF Andovers performing at Wigram (Christchurch) years ago:

Put that particular shot on a custom calendar I made up for my (ex-RAF, ex-RNZAF) father this year.

Richard.

Neither of the Cosford Andovers are really visable at the moment, the museum one is hidden away over the far side of the RAF base along with the Varsity, and the stored one is sitting beyond the runway by one of the hangers, not in the best of conditions – see background of attached photo taken 12/3/05

This ex RAAF HS748 along with two others are now at Southend (Rochford) awaiting onward sale.

As said, the dark earth/sand with black undersides was standard for tactical transports, also Beverlies, Argosies, Twin Pins received it. The white over the cockpit was designed to have a reflective quality to prevent overheating in the Arabian sun.
All were returned to the UK in 1970 , I doubt if 46 Squadron went further than Germany in the remaining years, though a detachment was maintained in Cyprus to support the NEAF Vulcan force – they may have gone desert bound a few times.
3 still remain active in the UK – XS606 and 646 with the Empire Test Pilots School/QUINETIC and XS596 is the UK “Open Skies” aircraft, all based at Boscombe Down.
Only preserved one is an E3 calibration variant at Cosford, though there is a PR version in storage there as well. Neither have the lovely “desert” scheme.
Only UK and NZ used the Andover though the HS748 from which the Andover originated, has seen widespread service.

The desert camo used to be the standard camo scheme for transport command; even the early Herks wore it – Nermal

Cheers for the info. So Kodak, did our ten not come directly from the Middle East then? They arrived in desert camo, a snd/brown scheme with reflective white above the cockpit.

How many did the RAF use in total? I knoe the Empire Test Pilots School had at least one, and there were some at Farnborough, weren’t there?

Did anyone else use them other than the UK and NZ? Did anyone buy any when we got ours?

I wonder what became of all ours in the end. One is at Wigram. I think at least one was broken up, and last I herd three had gone to a Belgian {?} company contracting to the UN back in about 1994/95. I’ve seen nothing of any apart from the Wigram museum one since. Does the RAF have one of their’s in or earmarked for preservation?

They were brilliant aircraft, and never seemed outdated even in the 1990’s. I really liked their practicallity and I loved seeing them do that squat they could do. We never properly replaced our’s either.

Andovers were based with 52Sqn, Seletar and 84Sqn Sharjah until 1969 then all returned to 46sqn based at Abingdon and 242OCU,Thorney Island until 1975. Their retirement came with the massive mid-70s transport cuts due to the shrinking overseas RAF commitments. During that time we lost the Comet, Brittania, Argosy, Andover and Belfast, leaving just the Herc and VC10. Andovers did remain in service as calibration aircraft and the VIP/comms fleet until 1991.

There was no Andover replacement, as such, but the C130 fleet took over the duties from a wide range of types operated in the early 60s – Andovers, Argosies, Hastings etc.

The Kiwi Andovers were ex-RAF but had spent a lot of time in places like Aden…