Hello guys

Sorry to be a bit late but I saw this post, knocked it all together than took several days to join as the email hid away in my junk folder:mad:

Anyway most of the information has been pulled together in the above post but here is pretty well the complete picture and clarification

To answer the question about CF-QWJ……….yes it was the last Superfreighter to fly and the only other two existing had not flown since the demise of MAC and were delerlict by then.

There seems to be a little confusion about Superfreighters and identities due to original Mk 31 allocations being diverted to Superfreighter production

Hopefully I can help set the record straight

The original Mk.31 registrations were not used and in most cases re allocated. None of the nine aircraft concerned (G-AMWA – MWF, ’NWG – ‘WI) flew with the originally allocated marks. The whole Silver City fleet was registered in a follow on sequence WA-WN changing from G-AM to G-AN from ‘G onwards

There were 20 Superfreighters built….fourteen for Silver City (G-AMWA-‘WF, NWG-‘WN,………… ‘MWG-MWI mentioned in lists on this thread were Sycamore helicopters.

Air Charter had six, G-ANVR,’S, ‘OUU,’V, ‘PAU,’V.

In 1958 they required two more but the type had gone out of production

Two of their three Mk.31’s were converted to Superfreighters making 22 of the type in all. These aircraft, G-AMLP and G-AMSA were the only two built Mk.31’s converted to Superfreighters. The remaining member of the trio, (G-ANMF) remained as a Mk.31 and just made it to BAF.

Four of the Air Charter /Channel Air Bridge machines were converted by having a narrow, taller passenger door replacing the original. This door has a forward edge just behind the rear edge of the original. The aircraft concerned were G-ANVR, G-AOUU, G-APAU, G-APAV. Channel Air Bridge became a member of the British United group in June 1960 but retained their separate identity with British United Airways on the fin. On the 1st of January 1963 Silver City joined the fold and the two airlines were merged to form British United Air Ferries and a common livery was adopted.

The aircraft tended to remain based as they had with the separate operators until the BAF days which by then few of the ex Silver City aircraft were left in service. G-APAU however seems to have been transferred, as in the mid sixties it was at Lydd with its “V” name (Versitile) replaced by “City of Edinburgh”.

Midland Air Cargo were the last operator of the type in Europe. They bought four machines in all but only used three, G-AMLP, G-APAU & G-APAV. The fourth machine G-ANVR had been in store for a while and made one last flight to Coventry to be used for spares still in BAF liver minus titles.

G-AMLP was sold to Lambair as CF-QWJ and became the last of it’s type flying by far… G-ANVR had been scrapped while G-APAU and G-APAV now owned by dealers Shackleton Aviation and unflown since the demise of MAC lingered on in a derelict condition until after the crash of CF-QWJ

G-APAV was scrapped in summer 1975 and towards the end of that year G-APAU succumbed to the scrap man rendering the Superfreighter extinct.

Other operators were SABENA who operated a pool agreement with Channel Air Bridge and a Superfreighter was painted in full SABENA livery. It is said that only one aircraft at a time was in SABENA but it appears that for a short time two may have co existed. The aircraft was rotated and three were involved, G-AOUV, G-APAU, G-APAV….All retained their UK marks.

Air Ferry, a Manston based company within the BUA group but with its own identity, operated G-ANVR on lease for a while along with a couple of Carvairs. All these aircraft retained their dark blue BUAF livery with Air Ferry titles in the BUA red.

Compagnie Air Transport operated four in an adaptation of their previous Silver City livery and later two in over painted BUA stripes. One of these later machines, (F-BPIM) was returned to BAF to serve for a few months in the French adaptation with BAF titles restored as G-ANWM.

It is notable that to fit in with the Silver City/BUA fleet the French registrations kept the last letter of their British identity

F-BKBD (G-AMWD), F-BKBG (G-ANWG), F-BLHH (G-ANWH), F-BKBI (G-ANWI), F-BPIM (G-ANWM), F-BPIN (G-ANWN)

G-AMLP (13078) Built as Freighter 31E: Delivered Air Charter 20 Dec 1953 “Vanguard”: Converted to Superfreighter 1958: Channel Air Bridge Feb 1959: British United June 1960: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan 1963: British Air Ferries 01 Oct 1967: To Midland Air Cargo Nov 1970: Sold Lambair CF-QWJ May 1971: crashed 31 May 1974.

G-AMSA (13142) Built as Freighter 31E: Delivered Air Charter 09 Feb 1954 “Voyager”: Converted to Superfreighter 1958: Channel Air Bridge Feb 1959: British United June 1960: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan 1963: Wfu 30 June 1965: Scrapped Lydd 1967 Trooping XH385

G-AMWA (13073) was to be Mk.31E G-AMLK ntu . Converted on the line as G-AMWA. Delivered Silver City 31 Mar 1953. “City of London”: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan 1963 Crashed on take off Guernsey 23 Sep 1963, Rear fuse to Guernsey airport Fire Service. Burnt about 1970. Trooping as XF650.

Often causing confusion……..G-AMLK ntu at that time but eventually issued to 13060 ex ZK-EPD 10-Sep 1982 to Atlantic Airlines second Mk.31 ex ZK-EPD as a ‘period’ registration. It was one of very few Bristol 170’s that had never had a UK mark allocated on the production line.

G-AMWB (13127) originally allocated as Mk.31E. G-AMPE ntu.: Built as Superfreighter. Delivered Silver City 02 Apr 1953 “City of Salisbury”: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan 1963. wfu 1967 Scrapped 04 APR 1968 Trooping as XF651

G-AMWC (13128) originally allocated as Mk.31E. G-AMPF ntu.: Built as Superfreighter. Delivered Silver City 08 May 1953 “City of Durham”: wfu 1967 Scrapped Southend Trooping as XF652

G-AMWD (13131) originally allocated as Mk.31E. G-AMPG ntu.: Built as Superfreighter. Delivered Silver City 29 May 1953 “City of Leicester” later “City of Hereford”. Leased Cie Air Transport F-BKBD “Quatorze Julliet” 24-Jun 1961: Restored to British United Air Ferries 07 Jan 1963.: wfu & scrapped Southend 1967 Trooping as XF653

G-AMWE (13132) originally allocated as Mk.31E. G-AMPH ntu.: Built as Superfreighter. Delivered Silver City 12 June 1953 “City of York”: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan1963.: wfu Oct 1965:Scrapped Southend 1967. Trooping as XF654.

G-AMWF (13133) originally allocated as Mk.31E. G-AMPI ntu.: Built as Superfreighter. Delivered Silver City 23 June 1953 “City of Edinburgh” later “City of Coventry”: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan1963.: Scrapped Lydd 1968. Trooping as XF655

G-ANVR. (13251) Built as Superfreighter: Delivered Air Charter 24 Mar 1955 “Valiant”: Channel Air Bridge Feb 1959: British United June 1960: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan 1963. British Air Ferries 01 Oct 1967: WFU & stored Lydd August 1970 : To Midland Air Cargo, did not enter service, flown to Coventry and wfu July 1972, used for spares, scrapped Sep 1973.

G-ANVS. (13252) Built as Superfreighter: Delivered Air Charter 04 Apr 1955 “Vigilant”: Channel Air Bridge Feb 1959: British United June 1960: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan 1963. British Air Ferries 01 Oct 1967: Last flight 28 Nov 1967: Scrapped Lydd Aug 1970

G-ANWG (13211) originally allocated as Mk.31E. G-ANMG ntu.: Built as Superfreighter. Delivered Silver City 23 June 1954 “City of Winchester”: to Cie Air Transport F-BKBG “Quatorze Julliet” 03 May 1961: Scrapped 1968

G-ANWH (13212) originally allocated as Mk.31E. G-ANMH ntu.: Built as Superfreighter. Delivered Silver City 07 Jul 1954 “City of Hereford”: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan 1963: To Cie Air Transport F-BLHH “Dix Huit Juin” 07-Jan 1963: damaged beyond repair in ground incident Le Touquet 11 June 1969

G-ANWI (13213) originally allocated as Mk.31E. G-ANMI ntu.: Built as Superfreighter. Delivered Silver City 23 Jul 1954 “City of Glasgow”: To Cie Air Transport F-BKBI “Onze Novembre” May 1961:Scrapped 1968

G-ANWJ (13254) Built as Superfreighter. Delivered Silver City 31 May 1956 “City of Bristol”: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan 1963: British Air Ferries 01-Oct 1967: Last flight 03 Mar 1968: Scrapped Jul 1970

G-ANWK (13259) Built as Superfreighter. Delivered Silver City 19 Jun 1956 “City of Leicester”: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan 1963: British Air Ferries 01-Oct 1967: Last flight 20 Oct 1969:Scrapped Aug 1970

G-ANWL (13260) Built as Superfreighter. Delivered Silver City 05 Jul 1956 “City of Worcester”: Crashed Guernsey 01 Nov 1963 when failed to gain height after missed approach due to propeller malfunction.

G-ANWM (13261) Built as Superfreighter. Delivered Silver City 19 Jul 1956 “City of Aberdeen”: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan 1963: British Air Ferries 01-Oct 1967: To Cie Air Transport F-BPIM “Onze Novembre” 21 Jan 1968: Restored 22-Nov 1968: Re entered service with British Air Ferries: Scrapped Aug 1970

G-ANWN (13262) Built as Superfreighter. Delivered Silver City 31 Jul 1956 “City of Hull”: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan 1963: British Air Ferries 01-Oct 1967: To Cie Air Transport F-BPIN “Quatorze Julliet” 01 Feb 1968: Last flight ferried back to Lydd 04 Apr 1969: Scrapped Aug 1970

G-AOUU. (13257) Built as Superfreighter: Delivered Air Charter 18 Dec 1956 “Venture”: Channel Air Bridge Feb 1959: British United June 1960: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan 1963. Wfu 15 June 1965: Scrapped Southend 1967

G-AOUV. (13258) Built as Superfreighter: Delivered Air Charter 07 Jan 1957 “Valour”: Channel Air Bridge Feb 1959: British United June 1960: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan 1963. British Air Ferries 01 Oct 1967: Wfu 29 May 1967: Scrapped Lydd Apr 1968

G-APAU. (13256) Built as Superfreighter: Delivered Air Charter 07 Jun 1957 “Versitile”: Channel Air Bridge Feb 1959: British United June 1960: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan 1963: Transferred to Lydd as “City of Edinburgh” by mid 1960’s: British Air Ferries 01 Oct 1967: To Midland Air Cargo Apr 1971: Wfu Lasham: Scrapped 1975

G-APAV. (13263) Built as Superfreighter: Delivered Air Charter 26 Apr 1957 “Viceroy”: Channel Air Bridge Feb 1959: British United June 1960: British United Air Ferries 01 Jan 1963: To Midland Air Cargo: Wfu Lasham: Scrapped July 1975

Garry