Just found this, by our own Alex Crawford.
One wonders if that was as far East as a Stirling got?
http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_251.shtml
I quote “A replacement engine was soon fitted and the flight continued to Italy. The charter flights not only covered Europe but also included flight to China.” And, as they say read on…
By: DocStirling - 15th January 2005 at 14:48
You pull the gear lever, then ease the plane forward.. 😉 Would the plane need to be taxied up to a ramp from which you would load the a/c, or did they do it manually in those days? Climb up a ladder with the goods, and the bulky, or heavy stuff went in the back of the plane? How high is that thing of the ground anyway, 20ft? 😮
T J
The load master would use a block and tackle – that ran between the arms holding the nose up – to lift it in. The weight distibution must have been very tricky – what with the take-off swing the last thing a pilot would need is for the nose to drop because it was unevenly balanced.
DS
By: Alex Crawford - 15th January 2005 at 12:09
Hi,
This is a very interesting subject, although trying to find info on them is very difficult.
There were also reports of Stirlings going to Spain and Czechoslovakia as well, but I think that was a ruse to get them to Egypt.
By: turbo_NZ - 15th January 2005 at 10:53
Thanks, Alex.
Doesn’t look very practical to me.
TNZ
By: Alex Crawford - 15th January 2005 at 09:41
Hi,
Here’s a photo of the rear loading door and on of the nose section. Apparently you could get a ton of cargo in the nose. Bit of a tight fit if you ask me.
Alex
By: turbo_NZ - 15th January 2005 at 09:28
Not exactly C-5 Galaxy “kneeling” capability, me thinks…;)
TNZ
By: T J Johansen - 15th January 2005 at 09:22
You pull the gear lever, then ease the plane forward.. 😉 Would the plane need to be taxied up to a ramp from which you would load the a/c, or did they do it manually in those days? Climb up a ladder with the goods, and the bulky, or heavy stuff went in the back of the plane? How high is that thing of the ground anyway, 20ft? 😮
T J
By: turbo_NZ - 15th January 2005 at 09:04
Actually I’d love to see a pic of the Stirling with it’s cargo-nose open.
I’ve always wondered how they got cargo in there considering it’s a zillion feet off the ground.
Anyone care to share ??
Cheers
TNZ
By: Alex Crawford - 15th January 2005 at 08:46
Hi,
Here’s one of the crashed ‘OO-XAC’. I wonder if there are any parts of this stored away somewhere in China?
Image copyright Frans van Humbeek.
Alex
By: T J Johansen - 14th January 2005 at 22:52
Found this photo on the net somewhere. Might have been a forum actually. Shows XAC before on the ground (in Belgium I believe) but date is unknown.
T J
****!!!!!
Had I read the “what’s in a box” tread first I would have seen the photo. I have had it on an old harddrive together with two others for a couple of years!!!
By: Alex Crawford - 14th January 2005 at 07:26
Hi James,
It’s part of a larger article I’m working on about the use of the Stirling, Halifax and Lancaster in Egyptian Air Force service.
I’m also interested in the Halifax in the post war air forces of France and Pakistan.
So if anyone has access to info and piccies…….. 🙂
Alex
Sign In
January 14, 2005 at 7:11 am