Vanguard

[Garry Russell]

HI Keith

I don't thing the gearing problem was put about.

It's the first time I've heard about it

About the prototype...did it ever go anywhere?

Demos were done by BEA aircraft and Airshows by TCA and BEA machines but G-AOYW never seems to have been reported or photographed anywhere other than Wisley or Weybridge.

They seemed in no hurry to replace the dorsal on G-APEA until it went back for preparation for airline service?

[Dev One]

After the first flight I remember that a short report was published internally to all the workforce at Weybridge about the aileron tab gearing & I think later on about the dorsal enlargement, once more testing had been undertaken.
The bit about the rear fuselage size problem I know about because one of my apprentice friends was a toolmaker & I was in the main assembly shop working on the last Valiants ( Type 733?) refuelling systems, so anything going on on the Vanguard was obvious. Mind you thats a long, long time ago & memory can play some tricks!!!
Aeroplane note that OYW was used only by Vickers & that it was broken up in 64 at Wisley ( I think - as usual I cannot find the statement when needed!)
Keith

[Garry Russell]

HI Keith

Yes it was broken up in October 1964 and was always Vickers, but Vickers don't seem to have flown it anywhere apart from locals using airline machines for demo etc

Was it ever fitted with an interior?

[Dev One]

There is no mention of it being fully fitted out, or of being sent out on sales tours. Presumably only fitted out with a few seats & some instrumentation.
Keith

[Garry Russell]

Sometime to save money prototypes never have all the interior

The prototype Viscount 700 G-AMAV didn't have underfloor baggage hold for example.

Pics that show some interior of G-AOYW seem to show it empty in the door areas, perhaps some bulkheads missing and none of the pics I've seen show any hint of seat visible through the large windows.

It seems to have been used for the test that meant some sort of structural altering and other such things and leaving the general flying to other aircraft.

I'm sure if it had go anywhere it would have been photographed and recorded but I find nothing so it at least looks like Wisley and Weybridge were the only airfields it ever landed.

If it ever did go anywhere else it must have been rare, quick and without fanfare.

This is not something recently occurring to me, I've been wondering this for about thirty years

[Garry Russell]

I've caught up with the mag and it is nice to see the type gets some coverage

I must read trough it but first glance shows some funnies

The side drawing of G-APEC (a V.951) is in BEA Red Square with some details missing, no red wings, the small square in aligned where the front of the large square would be, the cockpit windows of a 952/953 and the cabin windows of a 952

Although that in itself is neither here nor there is does show a lack of basic research

A glance at the text sees reference to G-APEG being the first 953 (which it was) then goes on to mention BEA's twenty V.953 ( more than once) where it was six V.951 and fourteen V.953.

The 3 view has a Merchantman, again with the window arrangement of a 952.

The drawing of G-APES also has the window arrangement of a 952 and contains the starboard only last full sized cabin window superimposed over the small service door that occupies that space on the port side

As with the side drawing it lacks small round central window of the Merchantman and door details lacking too

An ordinary article could be overlooked but a 'Data Base' should not contain such errors.