Much is made by Handley-Page devotees, and rightly so, of the company’s unbroken record of RAF service. From the formation of the RAF in 1918 until the retirement of the Jetstreams, there had always been an HP aircraft in service.
The last article I read said something along the lines of an unmatched record. Idly thinking a while later, I thought about DH, as I would. I think I read the Dominies were retired (is that right?) but the Chipmunk’s still in service with the BBMF.
I agree the Chipmunk was a Canadian design but it was a wholly owned subsidiary. If anything, IMHO that’s less of a difference to the Jetstream as the model ordered by the RAF was developed by Scottish Aviation, after HP had gone broke.
I haven’t done any in depth research, just glanced at a couple of books, but it seems to me there’s always been a DH aircraft in RAF service and there still is.
Discuss…
By: topgun regect - 28th August 2005 at 11:29
I think I read the Dominies were retired (is that right?)
The RAFs Dominies are still in service with 55(R) Sqn at RAFC Cranwell
By: Flood - 28th August 2005 at 10:56
Last Varsitys left the RAF in 1976, the VC.10 came into service in the early 1960s.
WL679 served until 1992, before being preserved at Cosford. Ok, it was with the RAE, but it was still under the roundel…
Flood
By: Slipstream - 28th August 2005 at 08:01
RAF got it’s first VC10’s direct from the factory in the early 60’s, but the remaining ex-BA super VC10 airframes went to the RAF when retired from BA service in 1982(?) and after conversion probably came into squadron service around 1987.
The RAF got it’s first VC10 K2 in 1983, K3’s ( super VC10 ) started to arrive late 1984 iirc. 101Sq reformed in April 1983 without any a/c. The Official reformation was in May 1984. I remember the day well as I lost my front teeth falling down the steps in front of the mess after the celebratory party 🙁
Steve
( ex 101 Sqn )
By: ALBERT ROSS - 27th August 2005 at 21:07
Weren’t there 4 Valiants kept in flying condition until 1968 ? wasn’t the one at Hendon in a Bomber Command flypast when the Command was disbanded ? If so this could give an unbroken record for Vickers.
Only Valiant XD816 was flying in 1968, which appeared at Abingdon in June that year for the RAF’s 50th anniversary. XD818 at Hendon was grounded in 1965 and put on display at Marham before moving to Hendon.
By: Firebird - 27th August 2005 at 21:00
Ahah cheers, when i was looking it up it said the RAF didn’t get VC 10’s until 1987
RAF got it’s first VC10’s direct from the factory in the early 60’s, but the remaining ex-BA super VC10 airframes went to the RAF when retired from BA service in 1982(?) and after conversion probably came into squadron service around 1987.
By: Rlangham - 27th August 2005 at 20:27
Ahah cheers, when i was looking it up it said the RAF didn’t get VC 10’s until 1987
By: steve_p - 27th August 2005 at 19:30
Last Varsitys left the RAF in 1976, the VC.10 came into service in the early 1960s.
By: Slipstream - 27th August 2005 at 19:26
Weren’t there 4 Valiants kept in flying condition until 1968 ? wasn’t the one at Hendon in a Bomber Command flypast when the Command was disbanded ? If so this could give an unbroken record for Vickers.
By: steve_p - 27th August 2005 at 19:24
The Varsity and VC.10 overlapped. I think that the FB.19 served with both the RFC and the RAF, finally disappearing in 1919.
By: dhfan - 27th August 2005 at 19:18
Yes, the D.H.125 is what I meant. 🙂
Originally referred to within DH as the “Jet Dragon”. I rather like that.
By: RobAnt - 27th August 2005 at 19:09
The HS125 Dominie is still in service, if that’s what you mean.
There was a static at Culdrose, and I was present when a bigwig from Yeovilton came up and asked them to attend Yeovilton’s show next month.
I tried to persuade them to get it airborne during the show too. It might not be very dramatic, but what is these days?
By: Bruggen 130 - 27th August 2005 at 19:09
I could be wrong but i think the Varsity was still in service when the RAF first got the VC10 in 1966.
Phil.
By: dhfan - 27th August 2005 at 19:00
Gunbus? No idea of actual years, was it obsolete before 1918?
By: Rlangham - 27th August 2005 at 18:37
Vickers didn’t have their own aircraft until the Vimy, but that didn’t enter proper RAF service until after the formation of the RAF, unless aircraft they designed like the FB5 count. I believe there was a gap between the Varsity’s being retired and the entering into service of the VC10’s as well
By: steve_p - 27th August 2005 at 18:26
What about Vickers? Can’t think of any period when they did not have something in service.
By: Seafuryfan - 27th August 2005 at 18:09
dhfan, trust a cantankerous old git like yourself to spot something like this.
Heres to cantankerousness!
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August 27, 2005 at 1:39 pm