Category: Vickers VC10

Skypower Pt1: WAAC to VC10s

5/4/2017

Throughout the 1960s and 70s Nigeria Airways was one of the strongest and most affluent of the African airlines. The Nigeria state was far from stable however, enduring multiple coups and civil war, and these factors gradually built into the fabric of the state and the state run airline itself. In the long run this institutional weakness would prove terminal but in the 60 and 70s Skypower was a powerful symbol of Nigeria's pride and potential.

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MEA Cedar Jets Pt1: Lebanese Fleet Gifted

27/3/2017

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From the 1950s the history of Lebanon is one of sadness, destruction, and finally from the 1990s rebirth. Through it all the national carrier, Middle East Airlines, has kept flying showing a level of resilience unmatched anywhere in aviation history. The late 1960s was an especially difficult period for the carrier, which due to the hostile action of Israel faced extinction. Tied up in this was MEA's pair of VC10s, both leased aircraft and not the Super VC10s the airline had originally wanted.

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VC10s Take the Tartan: BUA to BCal

2/9/2015

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By 1969 British United had a new lease of life and was rapidly transitioning to an all jet fleet based around the BAC One-eleven and Vickers VC10. The latter were utilised on its scheduled network to South America, East, West and Central Africa as well as Affinity Tour Charters to the USA. Despite this it remained constrained and even though not state controlled it would be Government meddling that would dictate its future.

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Combis to South America: BUA's VC10s Pt1

31/8/2015

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British United was the leading independent British airline of the 1960s and unlike its state owned competitor BOAC it was an enthusiastic advocate of British aircraft. Under the audacious leadership of Freddie Laker BUA took over loss making routes from BOAC and turned them around using a cunning plan involving the VC10.

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Black Star Flagships Pt2: Ghana VC10s to DC-10s

13/4/2015

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Ghana Airways was quick to get an interest in the new jets on offer and during 1960 when it was ordering Viscounts and IL-18s it also ordered a pair of Boeing 707-420s and three VC10s. The airline had grandiose dreams of flying the 707s to the United States and Australia but the financial troubles of 1961 put paid to those and instead it had to wait a while longer before it could really join the jet age.

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Black Star Flagships Pt1: Ghana Strats - IL-18s

12/4/2015

1 Comment

Ghana Airways was always one of the airlines I most welcomed seeing at Heathrow as a child. Their colourful DC-10s were usually parked just out of sight from the viewing area on the Queen's building around the corner at the Terminal 3 gates. Still you could get a view from one of the car parks and their trijets always struck me as proud with the airline representing one of the better run African carriers. Sadly like so many they have now passed into history, but it is a rich and interesting history they had nonetheless.

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Gulf Air: Rise of the Golden Falcon

6/2/2015

1 Comment

Gulf Air has been flying since 1950 and the Golden Falcon always brightened up my boyhood trips to Heathrow on their lovely Tristars. The airline grew quickly from the mid 1970s through to the mid 1990s expanding its network to cover the Old World continents, including Australia, with a large fleet of modern Boeing and Airbus jets.

For the last twenty years the story hasn't been so happy but that hasn't stopped the carrier delivering to a high standard and introducing a beautiful livery in 2003. Here's Gulf Air's story...

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Skypower Pt1: WAAC to VC10s

MEA Cedar Jets Pt1: Lebanese Fleet Gifted

VC10s Take the Tartan: BUA to BCal

Combis to South America: BUA's VC10s Pt1

Black Star Flagships Pt2: Ghana VC10s to DC-10s

Black Star Flagships Pt1: Ghana Strats - IL-18s

Gulf Air: Rise of the Golden Falcon

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