VC-10 steps

[Garry Russell]

I noticed that but thought Ian was pointing out BOAC didnt break their VC 10's so wouldn't be ferrying spare engines :roll:

Garry

[speedbird591]

I noticed that but thought Ian was pointing out BOAC didnt break their VC 10's so wouldn't be ferrying spare engines :roll:

Garry

Yeah, right!

The little bump and popping noise as another Conway gave up the ghost is imprinted on my memory! I actually only saw the pod used twice and this was because BOAC and BA used the scheduled 707 freighters to position spare engines to strategic stations. New York and Hong Kong always had a spare ready and of course Bahrain had plenty because of Gulf Air. So if you were crossing the pond and were less than half-way, you'd turn back to London, more than half-way you divert to JFK.

Anywhere around the Middle East you'd divert to Bahrain and the Australian services would try and make HKG. If Plan A wasn't possible, Plan B was to dump the pax at the next station and do a three engine ferry to the nearest spare engine.

The Pod was a last resort and I remember one time when a Super had lost an engine in Johannesburg, which was pretty much the worst scenario as you needed four engines just to get airborne! The next scheduled aircraft down carried a spare for it but only got as far as Nairobi before it, too, lost an engine and spent several days in NBO while the engineers flying on it down to JNB fitted the engine from the pod. Another attempt was made with a third aircraft and pod, which also suffered an engine failure somewhere in Africa. Finally, a 707 freighter was diverted from its timetable to fly an engine to the first aircraft in JNB.

So for the space of about a week there were four aircraft tied up with engine changes in Africa!

Ian

[Garry Russell]

Cheers for that Ian

I would think BUA/BCAL would have upt there in through the freight door (except 'RTA) so perhap that and I think some of the 707's had LFD would mean they didn't use it much. :think:

Wonder how much the trim was affected......well inboad but quite a lump of weight

I suppose you could seat all the fat blokes down the other side :roll:


Garry

[forthbridge]

I would think BUA/BCAL would have upt there in through the freight door (except 'RTA) so perhap that and I think some of the 707's had LFD would mean they didn't use it much. :think:

Wonder how much the trim was affected......well inboad but quite a lump of weight

I suppose you could seat all the fat blokes down the other side :roll:


Garry

Mind you... who is to say it *had* to contain an engine? Imagine if the RAF used them - not beyond the realms of possibility to make a few extra quid with some special duty free cargo......... 'oops I've just dropped that pod by accident in a field near my mates' house....'

;-)