94 Airspeed AS57 Ambassador G-ALZN “Elizabethan”
Another blurry one
Caption “Ambassador LZN Hurn 11th October 1952”.
Potted history from Air Britain Spring 2003. c/n 5212, flew first commercial ‘Elizabethan’ flight with BEA (and was flagship), but returned to Airspeed until April 1953 for trials.
Involved in a mid-air collision with Air France DC-4 F-BBDP at 7000 feet over Paris. Although a large part of G-ALZN’s wing tip was lost, Capt Gilman landed the aircraft safely. He, the Air France pilot and the responsible ATC had a post-flight discussion of some vigour, by Gilman’s account.
iirc, this was also the aircraft that suffered locked elevators in flight due to ice on the control cables. The ice was formed from condensation of water vapour vented from the pressure cabin.
Never very lucky, it suffered collapsed undercarriage at Le Bourget in 1955, and dispensed with its front wheel somewhere over Rome in 1958.
Passed to Dan-Air in the 1960’s and used for ‘slush on runway’ trials to investigate the true cause of the Munich Air Disaster. Served until 1967 then broken up at Lasham. The colour photo is from somewhere on the net.
As flagship, G-ALZN featured in some of BEA’s best PR photos, post cards etc.
Next few are better quality…
Sign In
