Argosy

Yeah would be great to have one of the civvie Argosy’s undercover, possibly two, however at Cov money is a big factor, you’d need one heck of a huge building to get the Argosy undercover, and at East Midlands Aeropark they can’t build a building because the residents would complain – probably the same people who complain about jet plane noise even though they moved next to an airport

Unless an Argosy fan happens to win the lottery there is absolutely no chance of one of the U.S examples coming home . Far more sensible to try
and get another undercover in the U.K.

Oops sorry, should have read the thread all the way through before replying. Any chance of them coming home? Would be nice to have more Argosy’s

In the UK – none. The only ones left in the UK are the two civil DHL ones at Midland Air Museum and East Midlands Aeropark, as well as the RAF one at Cosford, and i think a civilian one at a dump in Scotland (?)

As far as i know, all the foreign Argosy’s are civilian as well

RL see post 42 two of the three Argosies in the USA are ex-RAF
Roger Smith

In the UK – none. The only ones left in the UK are the two civil DHL ones at Midland Air Museum and East Midlands Aeropark, as well as the RAF one at Cosford, and i think a civilian one at a dump in Scotland (?)

As far as i know, all the foreign Argosy’s are civilian as well

Out of interest, apart from the example at Cosford how many RAF survivors of the type are there?

Best you come and visit Paul Davidson and the boys with ZK-SAF

http://www.classicfighters.co.nz/aircraft/argosy.htm

sorry another case of us Kiwis doing a better job than the poms on their own types…oops who said that 🙂

I think the Argosy cockpit at Newark Air Museum is from an RAF example

Roger Smith.

Instrument Panel Argosy

Hi I’m trying to rebuild an instrument panel for a RAF Argosy, the RAF Museum research centre at Hendon are unable to help with regards to the layout of instrumentation, has any one got any pictures or drawings of the RAF Argosy cockpit. I believe that this was a different layout to the civil version. I am aware of the 2 RAF cockpit photos on www.airliners.net but unfortunately the displayed aircraft seem to have most of their instruments missing. Thanks!

Just seen on avsim.com that a virtual Argosy is about to be released for MS Flight Sim. Clcik for details:

http://cbfsim.co.uk/cbfsimv4/cbfsbb/viewtopic.php?t=3822

Glyn

You’re quite right. I’ve corrected my typing error!

SOHC750,

Thanks for the information but areyou sure about the reg N1304Z. My Aerodata have N1430Z as do air-Britain in their Turboprop Airliners 1948-2000?

Glyn

Here is a picture of XR143 taken at Lincoln Nebraska 15/05/93. I have recorded it as N1403Z but I do not know why. I also have it in 1994 as G-BFVT still at Lincoln. I believe that this is the one that went to Sioux City.

Glyn

Both the Argosies in question were owned by Duncan Aviation of Lincoln Nebraska.

N1403Z, formally XP447(c/n6779), was a T.2, part of the RAF’s cancelled Varsity replacement project. It was used by Duncan Aviation from 1976 to 1991. In December 1991 it was donated to the Museum of Flight, Santa Monica, , where the intention was to maintain it in operational condition. It was Later moved to Fox Field where it remains (latest photo on Airliners.net is dated 10/06/05).
G-BFVT, formally XR143(c/n6798), was an E.1. It was aquired by Duncan Aviation in 1978 for spares, and was therefore never given a US registration. It remained at Lincoln until a couple of years ago when it was transferred in several large pieces slung beneth large military helicopters, to Sioux City.

The third Argosy preserved in the US is as has already been stated the original prototype, N896U, formally G-AOZZ(c/n6651). It’s original owner was BEA who operated it until 1965. In 1968 it was sold to Universal. In 1971 it was leased to Duncan Aviation who bought it 1973. They operated it until it’s retirement in 1991, when it moved to it’s current location at Willow Run

The Argosy enjoyed fame as a movie star as well. One makes a brief appearance in the Beatles spoof movie: `Rutles:All You Need is Cash´.

On the DVD commentary track, Eric Idle defines the Argosy as a “very strange plane.”

Jan

Another Movie role was the brief yet spectacular blowing up of XR137(c/n6792) in 1982, for the opening sequence of the James Bond film, Octopussy.
This was filmed at Northolt, where it had arrived 10/01/78. It’s last remains were scrapped in 1987.

There is one (was one at least 7 years ago, oh how time flies) in poor condition on the dump at RAF West Freugh. The Battalion I was serving in at the time did an airborne assault on exercise, a tactical landing at West Freugh in Hercules’s “Brace, Brace, Brace”!

I wonder if it’s still there?

SoG

Yes, it’s still there! This is XN817, the last Argosy to fly in UK, which was operated by A&AEE Boscombe Dowbn. it crash-landed there with an undercarriage problem, I believe, and was found not worth repairing.

There is one (was one at least 7 years ago, oh how time flies) in poor condition on the dump at RAF West Freugh. The Battalion I was serving in at the time did an airborne assault on exercise, a tactical landing at West Freugh in Hercules’s “Brace, Brace, Brace”!

I wonder if it’s still there?

SoG

The second Argosy built ‘PRL was retained by AWA for trials (one MAM member, an ex AWA Test Engineer I think has a wonderful set of colour transparencies he took on “hot and high” trial in Africa) that included having a beaver-door rear end fitted that was to be standard on the examples to be supplied to the R.A.F.

Roger Smith.

Here is a photo of the beaver tail Argosy, the nose did not open.

Here is G-APRN at Farnborough in Sept.1959. You were very observant to spot the ‘VH’ on the nose, as G-AOZZ, G-APRM,’RN and ‘VH were all originally painted in the same Sir W.G.Armstrong Whitworth scheme as seen here.
I was very lucky to fly in two Argosies when I was in the RAF.

As a kid growing up on USAF bases, I’d see Riddle contract (LOGAIR…for Logistics Airlift) flights coming into the base, so I developed a real affection for the Argosy.
Last year i bought on ebay a factory desk model of one in Riddle /LOGAIR markings.
The stand is marked that it was given by AW to the US FAA office in Paris.

I’m thinking of selling it (or maybe donating it to the YAM to help them rebuild their displays lost in the fire). Anyone interested in the UK? If so, send a PM.

Well there’s a spooky co-incidence Glyn. My aeroplane is registered G-BVFT!