Dan air's Lancastrian.

Re: York?

Originally posted by British Canuck
It is an unique look?

Anyone know how many of the Yorks? were build and when the last one was flown?

According to Putnam etc. 265 were built by Avro and 1 by Victory Aircraft. No specific date for the last flight but into the late fifties in Canada at least.

I remember the York,Ambassador, and Dak well at Lasham while witnessing the destruction of Comets and 707’s in the 70’s.
The York and Ambassador left for Duxford leaving the Dak for a couple of years. The Dak(G-AMSU) went to Euro Disney(still in basic DA scheme) and sat unused and in now in a museum in Holland.
I am glad the York is in DA scheme and not a military scheme. Would be nice to see the Ambasador in the BEA scheme though.

Follow the link below for an excellent web page which deals with the theories and possible interpretations of the word ‘STENDEC’…

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/vanished/sten_theories.html

Starlight sounds more like it.
The programme was broadcast on “Council Telly” then repeated on one of the cable channels about a year ago.

“I think its name was “Starlight”.

The Lancastrian was “Stardust”,and she crashed into the top of Mount Tupangato on August 2nd 1947 when bound for Santiago. According to a letter in ‘Aeroplane’ a few years ago,the ‘STENDEC’ message was some sort of weather report,which was only half finished when the broadcast cut out,suggesting that the wireless operator was broadcasting at the moment of impact.I’ll try and dig out the copy of Aeroplane that the letter was in,but it was quite some time ago and I can’t garauntee i’ll be able to find it. :rolleyes:

York?

It is an unique look?

Anyone know how many of the Yorks? were build and when the last one was flown?

Oi, who glued those lovely Lancaster wings to that bloomin’ ‘orrible square fuselage then?! 😉

I think the Air Scouts used to have this Comet at Lasham

G-APDK which was broken up in Sept of 1980

A picture of the York in 1978 prior to moving to Duxford…

Looking through the Putnam British Civil, etc. last night and it said there was only one York left, at Skyfame. Which one didn’t he know about? Or, where was it hiding?

Nice to see it survived. 🙂

I’d always thought it had got the chop, as so many things did around that time. Any idea what happend to the Dan-Air Comet, and Dakota from Lasham?

I alway popped in when it was an open airfield, as I used to drive from Alton to Basingstoke, a lot in those days, and there was always interesting stuff there. One day I saw a B17 which was refuelling after doing a tribute flight over Aldershot. It was the one and only time I’ve been on a real B17, just a shame I had no camera with me.:(

To this day there is that collection of old planes at the end of the field, but most of them are not in very good condition.:(

Originally posted by chuck yeager
changing the thread a little does anyone remember the lancastrian that hit a mountain in south america? apparently the last message heard from it was S.T.A.N.D.E.C. has anyone ever figured out what this means?

It was STENDEC if I remember-and there are theories about what it meant, but no definitive answer.
There was a documentary on about this a while back. It started its descent to the airport a little early because of a navigational error, bored into a glacier and eventually disappeared under the ice.As the ice moved, it carried the remains with it until bits of aeroplane started coming out of the bottom of the glacier.I think its name was “Starlight”.

Originally posted by mmitch
The Avro York restoration must be one of the ‘epics’ of the British restoration scene. For about 20 years now there has been steady work going on every time I have been to Duxford. I believe that the aircraft that were moved from Lasham (including the York) were dismantled so they could pass through the Dartford tunnel on their way to Duxford. The fusalage is now restored and stored in a corner of hangar 1 by Concorde, while work goes on the wings. I expect that lack of space while the Space and Air building is completed will mean that the wings will not be attatched for a while.
mmitch.

Have to admit that what is on show at present is looking good though

The Avro York restoration must be one of the ‘epics’ of the British restoration scene. For about 20 years now there has been steady work going on every time I have been to Duxford. I believe that the aircraft that were moved from Lasham (including the York) were dismantled so they could pass through the Dartford tunnel on their way to Duxford. The fusalage is now restored and stored in a corner of hangar 1 by Concorde, while work goes on the wings. I expect that lack of space while the Space and Air building is completed will mean that the wings will not be attatched for a while.
mmitch.

York’s still flew occasionally from Heathrow into the early 1960s (Skyways mostly). I suspect the fire practice aircraft referred to was probably the ex.BOAC Argonaut that lingered well into the 1970s.

Didn’t realise the York was equipped to carry stand-off missiles !

Geoff.

Years ago – probably in the early 60’s my Uncle worked in ATC at LHR. On my frequent visits to the Tower from school I remember either a York or an Ambassador way out on it’s own, never moving. I assume that it must have been used for fire practice.

Anyone else recall that?

Tim.

changing the thread a little does anyone remember the lancastrian that hit a mountain in south america? apparently the last message heard from it was S.T.A.N.D.E.C. has anyone ever figured out what this means?

Yep, well sounds like the one. I never was one on passenger planes, but I remember it was a bit like a Lanc, but with three tails.

Nice to know it’s still around. 🙂

Sounds like the Avro York that’s under restoration at Duxford into
her former Dan-Air colours.