Gone but not forgotten ! HS.780 previews

Post by **Garry Russell** » 25 Jun 2006, 07:50

A very small number received UK marks.

This was so the brokers could test the aircraft and fly them for delivery to customers. A similar situation was done with ex RAF Argosys for onward sale abroad.

I don't think it was ever seriously considered for civil use in the UK as the capacity is about the same as a 748 with a lot of extra weight and complexity.

The systems and engines were to military spec so the cost of getting full civil certification was pointless as it would never pay it's way.

The only civil users have been in countries where the certification is minimal or perhaps non existent..........places where they accept types as is.

Also some of these countries have very rough operating conditions so the tough short field dirt strip rear loading capability could be useful.

So any certification cost could be justified in countries where aircraft need to operate under almost military assault condition.

None of this is any use plodding around the European circuit.

Garry

DispatchDragon · Post by **DispatchDragon** » 25 Jun 2006, 08:38

So any certification cost could be justified in countries where aircraft need to operate under almost military assault condition.

None of this is any use plodding around the European circuit.

No but great fun landing on tropical islands that are only 5 miles long
with poorly maintained ex US Navy crushed coral runways

Muhahahahaha

Sorry Garry couldnt resist

Leif

Post by **Garry Russell** » 25 Jun 2006, 10:01

:nahnah:

Garry

TobyV · Post by **TobyV** » 25 Jun 2006, 11:21

Right, after a little digging, 4 Andovers (at some point) on the UK civil register, those being:

G-BEBY
G-BVNJ
G-BVNK
G-BVZS

Post by **Garry Russell** » 25 Jun 2006, 11:24

Hi Toby

I think that last one is a 748

Garry

TobyV · Post by **TobyV** » 25 Jun 2006, 11:50

Well they are all listed as 748s on the CAA, but all have "Andover" as the "popular name". I'm guessing the reasoning is that although the manufacturer had a new design number for it, its clearly a derivative design in much the same way the Rimnod is Comet with extra bits

The African company that operates them now (as in Joe's link last night) calls them 748s too :think: Just checked one of them (CAA gives previous military reg as its c/n number

) and that definitely is an HS780.

Post by **Garry Russell** » 25 Jun 2006, 11:54

G- Info gives the first three as HS.748MF Andover CC1 and the other as HS.748 Andover CC.2

Probably to help certification like registering Fokker 100 as F.28-0100 and MD-83 as DC 9-83.

In effect treating them as a sub type rather than a different type for certification reasons.

Garry

Post by **DaveB** » 25 Jun 2006, 12:02

I don't have G-BVZS listed on my 748 production list (which includes military versions) but that doesn't mean to say it's right

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Post by **Garry Russell** » 25 Jun 2006, 12:04

There you go DB

Save you looking it up

http://www.caa.co.uk/application.aspx?c ... ark=G-BVZS

April/March last year

Garry

Post by **DaveB** » 25 Jun 2006, 14:49

Don't you just love reference books!!

I found it from the c/n and it was still at that point very much an RAF CCMk2 VIP (though it actually says CS2 VIP) :roll: That would certainly explain why I have no record of either the 'G' or '5' reg suffixes

ATB

DaveB :tab: