DC-7C G-AOIE in BOAC/BEA colors

[ejoiner]

Just some pics of a new skin set I am working on for the Tom Gibson/Greg Pepper DC-7C. This aircraft G-AOIE, was delivered in December 1956 and served with both BOAC and BEA in her time before eventually being sold. She finished her service with Court Line and is now preserved In Waterford, IE.




Eric

[Garry Russell]

Nice one Eric

I've come across Britannia's like that....although pics are rare but the DC 7C is new to me

Was that at the time of the delayed Vanguards??

[DaveB]

A new one on me too.. and I've just spent half an hour looking Imagine my lot at Brooklands.. were that on display, no one would go onboard it

ATB

DaveB

[ejoiner]

Its real enough. I got the image from "Piston Powered Propliners" by Martin W. Bowman. Image appears on page 25 along with a couple of nice shots of BOAC DC-7C's G-AOIC and AOIA. BOAC had 10 DC-7C's that they purchased as a coping strategy waiting on the Vanguards. They operated them from late 1956 until about 1964. I'll scan the image of the BEA/BOAC G-AIOE depicted if it doesn't violate any rules here.

There are other BOAC DC-7C repaints around, so I thought I'd do something a little different.

Eric

[DaveB]

Its real enough.

Oh yes.. I appreciate that Eric It's most unusual seeing anything foreign (other than the DC3) being flown by BEA and especially BEARS and the DC7 isn't on any fleet lists I have. Perhaps they wanted to let that fact slip into history unnoticed I'm thinking they were 'on loan' rather than purchased as BEA don't admit to buying them and BOAC don't admit to selling them to BEA

ATB

DaveB

[Garry Russell]

HI Dave

I think as I intimated above, it is like the Britannias and used when they Vanguard was delayed.

The Britannia and DC 7 were already displaced in the BOAC fleet so they had them spare so to speak.

They also used BOAC Yorks to free the freight Viscounts and anything else they could.

Canadair Four G-ALHG was also flying for BEA at the end of it's BOAC time....again due to Vanguard delays.
There may have been others too, but that one I know for sure.

In the early days of BA when the European/Domestic division ran seperate to the overseas.still effectively BEA and BOAC.....the European division was operating Standard VC 10's....you never see that mentioned either.

[DaveB]

Yes indeed mate

I was having difficulty reconciling Erics version of events saying that BOAC purchased 10 DC7's as a coping strategy waiting for the Vanguard. BOAC 'did' purchase 10 DC7's but this was nothing to do with the Vanguards.. more a stop-gap until the Britannias came online

ATB

DaveB

[ejoiner]

Dave you are likely much more of an expert on British airline history than I am! So I will stand corrected if wrong on the vanguard thing.

Here is the image of the BEA/BOAC DC-7C I used as source. I will provide link only in order not to violate size rules on images.

http://ejoiner.typepad.com/BEA_BOAC_DC7C.jpg

Eric

[DaveB]

Hi Eric

That's a smashing shot.. thanks for posting it It's great when oddballs like this turn up out of the blue as shots of such events are usually as rare as hens teeth.. moreso. Thank goodness for many years of spotters

ATB

DaveB

[Garry Russell]

Indeed.....the Comet and Britannia caused BOAC to return some Hermes to service and then buy more Stratocruisers and Constellations to fill the gap as they were refused permission to buy new American

Eventually they did gain permission to buy new US with the DC 7 as long as they were sold on as soon as poss.

One note on 'OIE

It was owned briefly by Autair but never flew for them and that was before it was renamed Court.

Good subject Eric