Flying the Vanguard by G.R. Bryce

[VC10]

Flight dated 2 October 1959

[Garry Russell]

What a great read

Thanks for that VC 10

I think it was the largest.....well airliner at least.... with manual controls and what a pleasure to read such an enthusiastic account of a statley lady with a nippy turn when pushed .

This account stems from the days when such writings tended to be rather stuffy adding to the pleasure of the read.

A true professional at work

Garry

[PeteH]

Excellent!

And I actually understood a good part of it , no doubt as a result of the enthusiasm of the writer.

He seemed to like the Vanguard. A pity more didn't, or was it just marketing?

Pete

[DaveB]

Tks for that Paul.. a good read ;-) I was onboard EP at Brooklands today as it happens with an exBEA pilot. Have seen Jock Bryce there on a few occassions but I don't move in the same sort of circles
EDIT..
The Vanguard was a first class aircraft Pete. There were initial problems with the Tyne but these were sorted in reasonable order. The main reason for it's lack of success was all in the timing. When Vickers unleashed the Vanguard, jet's had started to creep into airline service so who needed a turboprop :roll:
ATB

DaveB :tab:

[TSR2]

To Add to what DB has said the freight Vanguards were still opperated into the 90's and were very popular.

[VC10]

Glad you enjoyed it. I've got another longer one (3 pages) by a Capt Broom of BEA published in 1960. I expect he thought the Vanguard would sweep all before it!

I'll post that soon if you like.

[DaveB]

Ooo.. yes please! ;-)

ATB

DaveB :tab:

[PeteH]

Dave,

I wasn't suggesting it was a bad aircraft, simply that perhaps the marketing wasn't what it could have been. The fact that the relatively few that were built were still giving good service into the 90s, jets or no jets, would show that maybe it's full potential was never exploited.

Pete

[petermcleland]

I remember a crowd of American gamblers boarding my Vanguard...I was taking them down to Gib or somewhere to play in a casino. There were many comments as they came on board, along the lines of "SAY, is this some kinda ANTIQUE??!!" :think:

[DaveB]

PeteH,

No mate.. I didn't think you meant that for a minute ;-) Airlines are a fickle bunch and I don't think Vickers marketing was at fault either. When the Vanguard was released, it represented the industries single biggest sale in terms of pounds sterling. Had the project not been dogged by RR not getting the Tynes online earlier.. the story may well have been different. Also, Vickers were keen to get onto the 'jet' ladder so just about everything that could be against it, was. Had the Tynes been ready from day one.. well, it's a lot of if's but's and maybe's isn't it. The manufacturers build what they think the airlines want/need and if the airlines change their minds (as they often do/did), you can be left high and dry. A classic example is the Trident. Had DH built what they wanted to build, they had a world beater.

ATB

DaveB :tab: