BEA book by Charles Woodley

Davem2004 · Post by **Davem2004** » 08 Aug 2006, 15:52

Hi,

Bought 'HISTORY OF BRITISH EUROPEAN AIRWAYS 1946-1972' by Charles Woodley the other day. It's an excellent book with some very good rare photographs in it (even has a picture of G-APEE coming into land at Heathrow). On page 40 there is a photograph of Viscount 701 G-ALWE and I couldn't help noticing that the cockpit window structure appears to be that of the V.800 and not the familiar V.701 arrangement.

Has anyone else who has the book noticed this, and can anyone shed any light on this strange anomaly?

Cheers!!

Dave

Post by **DaveB** » 08 Aug 2006, 15:59

JohnP was eyeing this up at Duxford a few weeks ago but the seller was asking full retail so he let it go. Great looking book and one that I will eventually add to my collection

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Post by **RAF_Quantum** » 08 Aug 2006, 16:33

Hi

Yep, I've got it, full of interesting stuff. Got mine online from WHSmiths. I hadn't noticed the windows before but I see what you mean. I've also got the book Vickers Viscount and Vanguard by Malcolm L. Hill and there are several photos of 700srs a/c with different cockpit side window configurations. The protoype G-AMAV has photgraphs with one large side window and also later photos with a vertical seperating bar a' la 800srs. There are several photos of different 700srs a/c also with the 800 style sidewindows. My guess is they were either working with an early version of GMAX or FSDFS and it was very much a 'work in progress'

Rgds

John

VEGAS · Post by **VEGAS** » 08 Aug 2006, 16:57

Might look into that matey. Love a good read and that sounds just the ticket. Thanks for the HU.

BTW does anyone know why the 700 series had their side cockpit windows configured like that?

Post by **Garry Russell** » 08 Aug 2006, 17:19

The prototypeV.700 (G-AMAV) had large single cockpit windows on the side

Later it was fitted with the later arrangement that was designed for TCA.

G-ALWE was fitted with the later cockpit for trials and then modified as the rest of the 701 before delivery.

The TAA V.720 had the earlier cockpit but they were modified later.

G-APEE was the first Vanguard in service and in fact pics of it are quite common.

Garry

Post by **Garry Russell** » 08 Aug 2006, 17:24

Hi Eddie

The cross bars were as designed

TCA requested a change as they require hand signals out of the DV windows and also better vision.

The windows were modified to TCA spec.

Other airlines wanted them but it was a TCA shout and royalties were due.

Later a deal was done with the Vanguard where certain TCA requirements (Low wing) were adapted in a deal that saw TCA relinquish the cockpit widow design for the Viscount.

That then became standard.

Garry

VEGAS · Post by **VEGAS** » 08 Aug 2006, 17:37

Ta Garry.

Post by **Garry Russell** » 08 Aug 2006, 17:41

Say Eddie

When you next look at early pics of V.701 or V.708 have a look at the props.

Garry

VEGAS · Post by **VEGAS** » 08 Aug 2006, 17:53

Those early windows give off that 'just boarded up' feeling.

Post by **Garry Russell** » 08 Aug 2006, 17:57

You can see the problem there with hand signals.

The opening centre slat is just not adequate.

The 630 had a similar but different style

As did the Valiant

Notice also on this pic the large air-scoop fitted to all except the last two V.701 and all the 707 and 708

You can imagine what that was called :redface:

Garry