Hi all, Anyone know the registration of the Air Charter, Bristol Freighter that carried the fleet name ‘Versatile’??
Overshot the runway at Southend in August 1957, on a flight from Calais, nearly ended up on the railway line.
Thanks in anticipation, Chumpy
By: Banupa - 20th October 2012 at 12:04
Or City of Edinburgh as it was when it finally died.
By: garryrussell - 19th October 2012 at 18:33
A bit of extra detail
In 1962 Channel Air Bridge were getting Carvairs and Silver City had lost G-ANWL at Guernsey in November 1961. Not a problem in the winter as many machines were laid up, but all were needed in the summer
Short of a Superfreighter for the 1962 season and CAB presumably able to spare one, G-APAU was transferred to Silver City in time for the 1962 peak season in full SCA livery as City of Edinburgh. This was ahead of the merger which took place efective at the end of the year.
Odd thing is that three of the CAB Superfreighters were modified internally and sported a narrow rear pax door and G-APAU was one of them (G-ANVR and G-APAU were the other two), so not fully compatible with the SCA aeroplanes, where as the other three may have been closer.
By: WJ244 - 29th August 2012 at 13:46
The railway line has proved quite popular with airliners over the years usually with far more expensive results!
By: chumpy - 28th August 2012 at 23:28
Nice one..the usual super ‘Forum’ service.
Was an old press clipping that I was looking at, the Freighter stopped just a few feet from the railway line and overhead cables. No visible damage to the aircraft..probably just a change of undies required!
Thanks, Chumpy.
By: viscount - 28th August 2012 at 23:12
According to ‘British Independent Airlines since 1946’ Tony Merton Jones, LAASI/MAS 1976 (and more recent reprint by TAHS), Air Charter Bristol 170 Freighter Mk.32 named “Versatile” was G-APAU, delivered 6.57 and transferred to Channel Air Bridge 2.59. There is no mention of your incident, so presumably there was little damage to the aircraft.
Air Charter operated 3 B.170 Freighter Mk.31 G-AMLP 2.53, G-AMSA 2.54 & G-ANMF 8.54 (the 1st 2 later converted to Mk.32)
and 6 longer nose Freigher Mk.32s: G-ANVR 3.55, G-ANVS 4.55, G-AOUU 12.56, G-AOUV 12.56, G-APAU 6.57 & G-APAV 4.57.
Date is that of delivery quoted in BIAL. All 9 of their Freighters had individual names begining with ‘V’.
‘Piston Engined Airliner Production List’, J.Roach & A.Eastwood, TAHS 2007 (and other sources);
G-APAU was one of the last Bristol Freighters to be built.
First flight 5.6.57 (date given must be incorrect) as G-18-203.
Now regd. G-APAU, del to Air Charter Ltd “Versatile” 6.6.57
Sub-leased to Sabena 11.59-5.62 in Sabena colours (during this time Air Charter Freighters had transferred to Channel Air Bridge 2.59, while Air Charter had disappeared into British United 6.60)
Returned to Channel Air Bridge 5.62 and operated with Silver City “City of Edinburgh”
During 7.62 the Channel Air Bridge and Silver City operations merged and re-named British United Air Ferries 1.1.63, renamed British Air Ferries 1.10.67. Individual name “City of Edinburgh”.
Purchased by Midland Air Cargo Ltd 2.3.71
Withdrawn & stored Lasham, Hampshire .73, broken-up 5.75.
Sign In
August 28, 2012 at 10:48 pm