Although officially conversion number 12 (from a C-54A), G-AOFW was the eleventh Carvair to be completed. She went straight to Aviaco in April 1964 on lease, with ferry marks EC-WVD and then became EC-AVD. After lease, she entered service with BUAF in March 1965 as G-AOFW and was not named. She is shown here departing Southend in January 1967 by which time she had lost the standard 'Carvair' script across the fin.
Carvair G-ASHZ
Carvair G-ASHZ
Carvair G-ASDC
Carvair G-ARSF
Carvair G-ARSD
B170 G-ANVR
In late 1967 the British United group restructured and BUAF became British Air Ferries.
A new livery was adopted, but this carvair retained the BUA dark blue band with the new BAF title in red above the band at the nose, until its next major check and full repaint. G-ASHZ is shown here in that one-off scheme, climbing out of Southend on 3 Nov 1967.
A new livery was adopted, but this carvair retained the BUA dark blue band with the new BAF title in red above the band at the nose, until its next major check and full repaint. G-ASHZ is shown here in that one-off scheme, climbing out of Southend on 3 Nov 1967.
Converted from C-54B N9326R, Carvair no.9 G-ASHZ first flew on 8 June 1963 and joined the BUAF fleet as ‘Maasbrug’.
In May 1964 an internal conversion saw an additional passenger cabin and total seating for 55 passengers, though with vehicle capacity reduced to three cars. In that configuration I shot it just getting airborne at Southend on 9 Nov 1964.
In May 1964 an internal conversion saw an additional passenger cabin and total seating for 55 passengers, though with vehicle capacity reduced to three cars. In that configuration I shot it just getting airborne at Southend on 9 Nov 1964.
Converted from ex-Interocean C-54A LX-BNG, G-ASDC was Carvair no. 7 and first flew as such on 19 March 1963. It joined the BUAF fleet as ‘Pont du Rhine’ and is here departing Southend on 25 Nov 1964.
It passed on to BAF and in Oct 1972 was renamed ‘Big Louie’.
It passed on to BAF and in Oct 1972 was renamed ‘Big Louie’.
Converted from a C-54B, formerly N88709, G-ARSF was the third Carvair. It was originally intended for Southend-based Channel Airways, which announced intention of starting car-ferry services, but was not taken up. After its first flight on 28 June 1962, from Stansted to Southend, it was handed-over to Channel Air Bridge on 7 July and named ‘Pont de l’Europe’.
G-ARSD was the second Carvair conversion and the first to be undertaken at Stansted. It was previously a C-54A N57670. It made its first flight, from Stansted to Southend, on 25 March 1962 and was handed-over to Channel Air Bridge on 2 April 1962, named ‘Chelsea Bridge’.
The picture shows it lifting out of Southend in BUAF sandstone and blue livery on 25 May 1967
The picture shows it lifting out of Southend in BUAF sandstone and blue livery on 25 May 1967
Carvair G-APNH
Carvair G-APNH
Carvair G-APNH
Carvair G-ANYB
Carvair F-BOSU
B170 G-APAV
When G-APNH was repainted at Southend in Nov 1966, the port side stylised bird logo in the main title faced rearwards instead of forward.
It was the only Carvair so painted and the error was never corrected, as this shot of APNH lifting off from Southend in the summer of 1967 shows.
It was the only Carvair so painted and the error was never corrected, as this shot of APNH lifting off from Southend in the summer of 1967 shows.
BUAF Carvair G-APNH ‘Menai Bridge’ gets airborne out of Southend on 4 August 1966.
C-54B G-APNH became Carvair no. 11, although the 12th to be completed, and it was not until April 1964 that it was rolled out of the Flight Shed, substantially complete and in primer finish. The photo was taken on 8 April 1964.
G-APNH remained there until year end, finally making its first flight on 4 Jan 1965 and joined the BUAF fleet as ‘Menai Bridge’.
G-APNH remained there until year end, finally making its first flight on 4 Jan 1965 and joined the BUAF fleet as ‘Menai Bridge’.
This was the prototype Carvair, one of three converted at Southend (the other 18 at Stansted). Pictured here in BUAF livery, taxying past ATL’s hangar at Southend on 8 May 1966. It was withdrawn from use in March 1967 and flown to Lydd, Kent, for storage, but after failing to attract a buyer, it was scrapped there in July 1970.
Originally going to BUAF as G-ATRV after conversion from C-54E OD-ADW, just over a year later it was sold to Compagnie Air Transport as F-BOSU and repainted in their colours at Southend, where this photo was taken on 6 May 1967, shortly before delivery. After just five years' service, she was scrapped at Nimes-Garons in Nov 1972.
The 212th and final B.170 was leased to Air Charter from April 1957 as G-APAV 'Viceroy'. The company, by then operating the cross-Channel car-ferry service as Channel Air Bridge, bought it outright in 1961.
The Southend-Ostend car ferry service was formally jointly-operated with SABENA, seen here departing Southend on 25 Nov 1964, soon after its second repaint.
The Southend-Ostend car ferry service was formally jointly-operated with SABENA, seen here departing Southend on 25 Nov 1964, soon after its second repaint.
G-ANVR was leased by Air Charter in March 1955 for operations on the airline’s new cross-Channel Southend-Calais car ferry service. After delivery it was displayed outside the public enclosure with doors open and ramps in place to advertise the service locally.
‘Valiant’, remained in service with them and successor companies Channel Air Bridge, British United Air Ferries.
‘Valiant’, remained in service with them and successor companies Channel Air Bridge, British United Air Ferries.
The Richard Goring Gallery Pt 2
The following photos were kindly sent in by Richard and I am pleased to be able to show them here
The following photos were kindly sent in by Richard and I am pleased to be able to show them here
